From a stats standpoint, it was an NFL debut to forget for Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams struggled in the Bears' Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Between unsettled feet in the pocket, low throws, passes batted down, and overall uncomfort, Williams and the Bears' offense did not look comfortable to open the 2024 season.
While Keenan Allen dropped what would've been Caleb Williams' first touchdown, the Bears offense failed to score a touchdown on Sunday. Williams completed under 50% of his passes, becoming the first Bears' starting quarterback to throw for under 100 yards in a game but still earn a victory since 2006.
At the end of the day, for Williams, it was the victory that mattered the most to him.
Caleb: “Don’t care about stats as long as we win.” pic.twitter.com/Ql03eI2n24
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) September 8, 2024
The most important thing for the Bears is despite the struggles that Williams had on Sunday, the team won the game.
Caleb Williams' response after debut struggles proves he does not put himself above the team.
It goes without saying that Williams will need to be better. For as exciting as the Bears' comeback victory way, there is some truth to the idea that Titans' quarterback Will Levis handed the game to the Bears. What happened during the game on Sunday is not a formula that will lead to much success for the Bears this season.
Having said that, Williams' response to those struggles is yet another sign that he is a leader within the locker room. For all the talk there was about Williams' character and his motivations, the fact of the matter is that the rookie quarterback is only concerned with winning games. From a statistical standpoint, it can't get much worse than what fans saw on Sunday, but there are still reasons to be impressed with Williams' character.