Caleb Williams’ Flawless Start Fades: What Went Wrong with the Chicago Bears QB’s Accuracy?

CHICAGO — For a brief moment on Monday night, the Chicago Bears seemed to capture their potential.

Caleb Williams started strong. He led a 10-play drive for 61 yards, completing all six of his passes and scoring a touchdown. It felt like he was on fire. But as the game wore on, that spark faded.

Williams finished the first half impressively, completing 13 of 16 passes for an 81.2% completion rate. Things took a drastic turn after halftime. He completed only 8 of 19 passes, dropping to 42.1%. This stat placed him 28th in the league for Week 1—far from where he aimed to be.

“Momentum was not on our side after halftime,” Williams said. He pointed to issues like missed easy passes, penalties, and even batted balls that disrupted their flow.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson praised Williams’ early performance but noted that the Vikings made effective adjustments. “It felt like it dried up a little bit,” he said.

The Bears went for it on fourth-and-3 from the Vikings’ 24-yard line, but Williams missed DJ Moore with an open throw intended for the end zone. Similar misfires occurred later, leading to missed opportunities in critical moments.

Statistics reveal that during the first half, Williams faced blitzes on 30% of his drop-backs. This increased to 43.5% in the second half, complicating his efforts.

Williams also reflected on the need for smoother execution in the huddle and the importance of completing simple passes. “We did that in the beginning,” he said. “We’ve got to do better.”

As the clock wound down, Williams shot two high passes to both Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. With the game slipping away, his final drive ended in missed chances, showcasing how difficult it can be to maintain consistency against tight defenses.

Even as Williams improved his accuracy to 60% for the game—ranking him 11th among quarterbacks in his 18 starts—it’s still a question of how to achieve that 70% target set by the coach.

Recent trends show that completion percentages can greatly influence game outcomes. A study by the NFL showed that quarterbacks completing over 70% of their passes statistically lead their teams to victory more often. Johnson emphasized that the key lies in reading defenses and finding the right outlets: “It’s about working through the reads.”

Last season, the Bears struggled to find their footing, showing glaring issues in the opening quarters. But this time, Williams started with a perfect 9-for-9. Over the course of his NFL career, consistency remains his biggest challenge.

A significant element for the Bears moving forward is how they defend against mental lapses. Williams acknowledged the frustration of missed opportunities, saying, “I’ll be better with it.”

As the Bears gear up for a tough game against the Lions, it’s evident that Williams needs to find ways to recapture the precision from that opening drive. Can the early success translate into sustained performance? Time will tell.

For further insights on quarterback performance, check out NFL’s analysis on passing efficiency here.

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