CHICAGO (AP) — Just before the bye week in Chicago, it seemed as if Caleb Williams had turned a corner. It seemed as if everything was going well for the number one overall pick in the NFL draft.
These days, not so much. And that’s a big issue for the Bears as they face the toughest part of their schedule.
Playing behind a shaky offensive line, Williams was sacked nine times and passed for just 120 yards during Sunday’s game. defeat 19-3 to the humble New England Patriots. The Bears went 1 for 14 on third down and finished with just 142 yards in their third straight loss.
“We’ve got to do a better job, starting with us, starting with myself, on situational ball, negative plays and things like that,” Williams said. “When you are good at not having negative plays, when you are good at executing, when you are good at executing situational balls, you are a difficult team to beat.”
Chicago (4-5) failed to score a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since December 2004. It has scored a total of 27 points during its streak.
When it comes to getting out of an offensive slump, coach Matt Eberflus said everything is on the table, including having someone other than offensive coordinator Shane Waldron call the plays.
“We have to take a hard look at everything we’re doing,” Eberflus said.
Williams, who will turn 23 on Nov. 18, lost his first NFL matchup with each of the two quarterbacks who were taken immediately after him in the draft. The bears lost 18-15 in Washington on Oct. 27 on Jayden Daniels’ last-second Hail Mary, and Drake Maye led New England to its third victory of the season.
Chicago had won three games in a row before its current loss. Williams completed 74% of his passes for 687 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception during the winning streak. The promising streak culminated with Williams throwing four touchdowns in a Victory 35-16 about Jacksonville.
The Bears had their open week after defeating the Jaguars in London on October 13. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, it seems as if Williams and company have lost their way.
“We have to, as a collective offense, do a better job of sustaining drives and those types of things will come if we are more efficient on offense,” tight end Cole Kmet said.
Williams has completed 50.5% of his passes for 468 yards over the last three games. He has no touchdown passes or interceptions during the losing streak, and has been sacked 18 times.
“Caleb is strong. He is strong inside. It’s strong outside. “He is a strong individual,” Eberflus said. “And he has gone through adversity. And he knows how to do it, he knows how to overcome adversity by working together.”
The adversity for Chicago right now includes a series of injuries to its offensive line. The Bears played without Braxton Jones (knee), Kiran Amegadjie (calf) and Darnell Wright (knee). Nate Davis was inactive after experiencing some back tightness, and Teven Jenkins left in the first half with an ankle injury.
Amid all those offensive line injuries, Chicago is heading into a brutal final stretch of its schedule. Jordan Love and Green Bay will be in town next Sunday. The Bears also have two games remaining against Detroit and Minnesota, plus a trip to San Francisco and a home date against Seattle.
“I think we, as an offense, you know, have to find it right now here on this one just because we’re getting close, and it starts this week, playing teams like Green Bay and Detroit and Vikings and all that,” Williams said.
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Jay Cohen, Associated Press