Through one quarter, the offense couldn't get anything done for the Chicago Bears versus the New Orleans Saints. Spencer Rattler was ineffective, and the opponent got out to an early lead. A second quarter spark helped to turn the tide, and in the end, Caleb Williams won.
It's a story you may have heard before, because it's played out (in a sense) before.
Rattler, the starting quarterback for the Saints, used to be the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2021, freshman Williams was his backup. Those roles got reversed in early October that year, though.
In Oklahoma's big Red River Rivalry game against Texas, the Sooners' offense was struggling with three 3-and-outs and an interception in the first quarter. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma's head coach at the time, had seen enough and pulled Rattler in favor of Williams to start the second quarter.
Williams delivered on his very first snap with a 66-yard touchdown run. It was the boost the Sooners needed to turn a 28-7 deficit into a 55-48 win. And it was all Williams needed to show to be named the starter moving forward-- and Riley's QB at USC when the pair moved to Los Angeles the year after.
Williams eventually won the Heisman Trophy in 2022, and was the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Rattler transferred to South Carolina where he floundered for a couple of years. He was the No. 150 overall pick in 2024.
How Rattler and Williams fared against each other for the first time in the NFL
Just like that game four years ago, Rattler struggled early against the Bears on Sunday. Unlike that game four years ago, however, it was Rattler who provided the spark for his team.
Down 20-0 near the end of the first half, Rattler and the Saints took the ball over at their own nine-yard line. Things started well with a 13-yard throw to Rashid Shaheed. Two plays later, Chris Olave got behind Tyrique Stevenson, and Rattler hit him in stride for a massive 57-yard gain. If not for a shoestring tackle from Stevenson it would've been a touchdown.
But that was no matter. Two plays after that, Rattler hit Olave again for a 21-yard score.
When the Saints got the ball to start the second half, they picked up right where they left off. Rattler was sharp, the Bears defense was on it's heels and Olave scored again.
Two drives, 15 plays, 166 yards, 6:06 in game clock, new ballgame.
But again, just like that game four years ago, it was Williams who came out on top.
Rattler's good plays were better than Williams' good plays on Sunday. But Rattler's bad plays were worse than Williams', too. Rattler had several ugly interceptions and took big sacks. He looked out of sync more often than he looked in sync.
Williams didn't light up the Saints through the air, but he didn't lose the game for the Bears either. He made several throws with anticipation to get the ball to his receivers in time and made clutch plays when his team needed them the most.
Rattler and Williams will be linked for the rest of their careers, just like Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Read more: Bears' Week 7 inactives hit roster hard with three starters out vs. Saints
So far, it's Williams: 2, Rattler: 0.