For as mature and efficient as Caleb Williams was during the Chicago Bears' victory over the Los Angeles Rams last week, the rookie quarterback reminded everyone on Sunday why he was the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
One of the biggest talking points leading into the game for the Bears was the connection, or lack thereof, between Caleb Williams and D.J. Moore. After the duo failed to connect on a touchdown pass last week, it was clear there was a need for better communication between quarterback and wide receiver. It took only one week for there to be improvement as Williams' first two touchdown passes in the Bears' victory over the Panthers were to Moore.
For as many hot takes as there was this past week, suggesting that the Bears once again got the quarterback position wrong, Williams put on a show. Williams finished the day completing 20 of 29 passes for a total of 304 passing yards and 2 touchdown passes.
Caleb Williams' growth is exactly where it needs to be for the Chicago Bears.
The start to Williams' career may not have been as flashy as Jayden Daniels's with the Washington Commanders, but it's one that the Bears should be encouraged by. Williams has shown growth with each passing game. Sunday's effort against the Panthers was the first time that Williams was in control of the game from start to finish.
While there is no doubt that the Bears' defense stifled the Panthers' offense, moving forward, performances like the one Williams had on Sunday should be the marker for improvement. As the Bears move toward the second-half of their schedule, Williams will need to be the reason why the team wins games.
Beyond a win where they controlled the game from start-to-finish, the Bears' offense needed to find consistent success on Sunday in order for confidence to be instilled moving forward for what this team can be.