Bears QB Caleb Williams (Photo Credit: @richeisen, X).
Two things emerged from the Chicago Bears loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday Night: the offensive line is substandard and the defense has the makings of an elite unit.
The Texans’ pass rush overwhelmed the Bears’ offensive line, which was a question mark entering the season. They relentlessly blitzed Bears QB Caleb Williams, sacking him seven times, intercepting him twice, and smothering the run game.
The Texans’ pass rush, led by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr., caved in on the Bears’ beleaguered offensive line, particularly right tackle Darnell Wright and right guard Nate Davis. According to Pro Football Focus, both were credited with giving up three sacks and nine pressures.
Caleb Williams in the Chicago Bears backfield pic.twitter.com/wpRC4PIAMV
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) September 16, 2024
The result was that Williams, the University of Southern California product, did not have enough time in the pocket to target his receivers. He ended up going 23 of 37 for 174 yards and those two interceptions. He didn’t get much help from the running game either, as the offensive line failed to generate lanes for backs D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer.
🚨WILD: JUSTIN FIELDS & CALEB WILLIAMS HAD THE SAME REACTION ON THE BENCH.
Being a quarterback for the Chicago #Bears is not easy…
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 16, 2024
Against a Texans defense chock full of talented players from the front to the back, Williams and that offense, including receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze were overmatched.
6 different Texans recorded at least one sack tonight 🤘 pic.twitter.com/lx9EZlrN9A
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, either. As skilled as the Texans are with star quarterback CJ Stroud and his trio of talented receivers, Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, the Bears defense held this high-flying attack to three second-half points.
Stroud went 23 for 36 for 260 and a touchdown, down from a week ago when he threw two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts.
Linebacker Jack Sanborn, safety Jaquan Brisker, and cornerback Kyler Gordon were flying all over the field. While the Bears’ vaunted secondary had a hard time bottling up Collins, they kept Diggs and Dell in check for the most part.
It was gonna be a tall task for the #Bears to come down here and get a w. But the regression from this Offense was disheartening. The Defense, once again, did more than enough for you to win the game.
— Herb Howard (@HerbHoward411) September 16, 2024
After the game, Williams said, “We didn’t execute the way we needed to.”
“We’re going to keep getting better. I’m a young guy, and it’s a long season,” he said.
If the team doesn’t fix its leaky pass protection, the season will get even longer, and their talented rookie signal caller might get hurt. God willing, he doesn’t.
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