The Chicago Bears' heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders still stings, but it may have shown us what rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is made of.
Even though he's just a rookie, Williams showed resilience in the face of pressure in a must-win scenario.
In a below-average offensive showing for both the Bears and Commanders, Williams and the Bears saw themselves down 12-0 well into the third quarter. With 43 seconds left in the third, Williams led a drive that ended in running back D'Andre Swift scoring on a 56-yard run to cut the Commanders' lead to 12-7.
D'ANDRE SWIFT TAKES IT 56 YARDS TO THE HOUSEpic.twitter.com/2zKLRB8Ekq
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 27, 2024
Williams ended up leading another scoring drive, leading the team to the goal line for a one-yard score by running back Roschon Johnson. The Bears had a 15-12 lead thanks to their rookie quarterback. They just needed to make one stop and then the Hail Mary happened.
Bears Radio call of the Hail mary. Credit to @trustjvcob for finding it pic.twitter.com/MnmrPsqQUY
— will: Riley Greene Truther (@wrhiv_72) October 28, 2024
It wasn't Williams' fault the Bears lost. They lost due to questionable coaching decisions and a Hail Mary play.
When it comes to a rookie quarterback, you have to let them learn. Honestly, a quarterback's rookie year means nothing. Peyton Manning holds the record for most interceptions thrown by a rookie quarterback and his team only won three games. Did that stop him from winning two Super Bowls? Even Tom Brady struggled during his rookie year.
Williams should be given a free pass in his rookie year. The Bears, for the most part, have let Williams make mistakes and have given him patience, which is a huge plus for his development. It's paid off so far. Look at what he did against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. He threw four touchdowns! There have also been questionable moments, such as his performance against the Houston Texans in Week 2. These highs and lows are expected from a rookie.
What makes Williams so impressive is his resilience in the face of pressure. He almost led his team to a comeback win. This is shocking stuff from a rookie. Few quarterbacks have that leadership ability, especially rookies. After Sunday's loss, there's no doubt Williams is ready for the NFL.