CHGO Digest: Caleb Williams, Bears 'measure shots' in big win against Panthers

Good morning, friends!

More of that, please.

The Bears did exactly what they were supposed to do against an inferior Panthers team on Sunday. That’s not a good thing… that’s a great thing.

Ahead of the first divisional game for the Bears in Week 11, Chicago gets 1-4 Jacksonville, 4-1 Washington, 2-3 Arizona, and 1-4 New England. Can the Bears host Green Bay in November at 6-3?

One week at a time. Onto Week 6. Across the pond, we go.

— Patrick Norton

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From ‘measuring’ shots to taking them

When the game called for Caleb Williams to be fast and accurate in Week 4 against the Rams, Caleb delivered. For the Bears’ quarterback, it was all about measuring his shots. Were there attempts to strike downfield? Sure, and Caleb would’ve liked to have connected on the few shots he took.

But Williams also went 15/15 on throws under 15 yards downfield. He took what Los Angeles’ defense gave the Bears, and more importantly, didn’t put the ball in harm’s way. That was a step in the right direction for the No. 1 overall pick with room to keep growing.

On Sunday against the Panthers, Caleb grew even more. Against a secondary that allowed the shots, Williams was 4/5 on passes longer than 15 yards downfield, including his two touchdowns to DJ Moore.

• When asked at Halas Hall on Wednesday about taking more risks downfield, Caleb Williams emphasized the need to protect the ball. “You honestly have to measure your attack … I think that’s the toughest thing. You may want that shot,” Williams said. “You’ve got to measure your shots, you’ve got to measure it in the game. Obviously, there’s going to be turnovers, things that happen but not making a bad play worse, not making the situation worse. And then also even if the situation is bad, understanding the situation.”

• After Sunday’s win, Caleb still weighed his big day through the air (20/29, 304 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions) on the “measuring shots” scale. “When you’re able to be efficient down the field — and obviously we had to Cole [Kmet] down the sideline, a couple screens and things like that — and playing well with each other on short passes, good runs, check downs and then obviously opening up and being able to hit a couple of deep balls, I think it limits kind of what defenses can do in a sense of, when you’re hitting on different things, now the defense is trying to scramble and trying to figure it out.”

• Passer rating is an imperfect metric to measure a quarterback’s success, but in Caleb Williams’ case, it goes hand-in-hand with the 22-year-old’s steady growth through five weeks. Week 1 against the Titans? 55.7. His first professional loss against the Texans in Week 2? 51.0. A sloppy, air-it-out loss to the Colts? 80.8. A safe, ‘measured’ performance that led to a win in Week 4 against the Rams? 106.6. Mix in a few deep shots with similarly successful results in the short game? 126.2.

• The Bears have done a good job of improving in one big area each week. Two weeks ago, the buzzword around Halas Hall was “communication”. Then against the Rams, the communication in and out of the huddle was better, and so was the overall operation. Last week’s “communication” was “explosive”. Entering Sunday ranked last in the NFL with just 12 “explosive” plays (20+ yards passing, 10+ yards rushing), the Bears made massive strides, posting nine (seven passing, two rushing) against the Panthers.

🔎 GO DEEPER | Nicholas Moreano on the Bears offense’s “explosive day” with input from within the winning locker room.

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Briggs & Brown

🎧 SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS | Caleb Williams STARS in Bears blowout win vs Panthers

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Fun facts by the numbers

• 8 — The number of consecutive wins by the Bears at Soldier Field. It’s the longest active streak in the NFL. Chicago’s last home loss? Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings last season. Justin Fields left that game early with a thumb injury that would hold him out the next four games.

• 11 — That’s how many games in a row the Bears have held opponents to 21 points or less — you guessed it, also the longest active streak in the NFL. Last time Chicago’s defense allowed more than 21 points? Week 11 last year against the Detroit Lions when the Bears led by 12 with three minutes left. Last time the Bears allowed more than 21 and won? Week 3… 2020! The Nick Foles comeback against the Falcons when the Bears won, 30-26.

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Not saying, just saying…

Numbers are NOT the whole story

BUT…..
Caleb today- 69% completion, 300+ yards, multiple TDs. 5th NFL game

Mitch did that four times, the first coming in his 15th start. 51 games total as a Bear.

Justin did it only once, in his 30th start (Denver), 40 games total#different

— Joey Christopoulos (@joeysportsguy) October 6, 2024

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Join us for an upcoming CHGO event!

⛳🏈 11/1 – 11/4 | CHGO Bears Road Trip to Arizona, including Desert Duel
🍻 11/10 | CHGO Bears Tailgate at Wabash & Cermak! — Week 10 vs. Patriots