The Bears completed 2023 with one of many league’s hottest defenses. They added a quarterback drafted first general in a stacked class for passers. Caleb Williams and new addition D’Andre Swift each started to come back on-line round Week 4, the place they beat an overwhelmed Matthew Stafford in a 24-18 residence victory.
Regardless of all these factors in Chicago’s favor, it nonetheless ended up barely favored in video games towards two of the league’s worst groups. In Week 5, that meant a 3.5-point unfold earlier than a 36-10 dismantling of the Carolina Panthers. In Week 6, the road flipped forwards and backwards between the Bears and a Jacksonville Jaguars group that had recorded its first win per week earlier.
And so, Chicago went out and proved oddsmakers unsuitable. Once more.
Williams shined as soon as once more towards a nasty protection and the Bears improved to 4-2 regardless of accidents that sapped them of key gamers all through the secondary. There’s going to be loads of reward for the younger passer this week after a four-touchdown efficiency — which was almost 5 if not for an overturned fourth quarter toss to D.J. Moore dominated wanting the purpose line. We’ll get there, however let’s begin with the fellows who’re making this all potential.
The offensive line that allowed its rookie QB to be sacked 13 occasions in a 1-2 begin has given up solely seven sacks the final three weeks — not coincidentally, three wins. Swift averaged 1.8 yards per carry en path to 68 speeding yards to start out his Chicago profession. Within the three video games since he’s run for 257 yards on 54 handoffs for 4.8 yards per rush.
A few of that success has been the results of a clock-grinding technique late in wins towards drained defenses, however Swift is prospering in area. The dancing and jukes that may be complications behind the road of scrimmage are much more tolerable when he’s five-plus yards downfield and accelerating into chaos.
Hell yeah.
In fact, that merely set the stage. Williams obtained up there and danced throughout it.
Because the throw above suggests, Williams’ near-80 % completion charge wasn’t the product of huge open home windows (although these definitely existed). He thrived behind a playbook loaded with quick passes. Whereas he didn’t do a lot within the deep vary, he accomplished eight of eight passes on throws that traveled between 9 and 19 yards downfield — with FOUR touchdowns.
Williams made the proper learn and put the ball the place it wanted to be frequently. He proved he couldn’t solely play inside offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s construction however fill it to the brim with massive throws. He additionally proved he’s prepared to exhaust each possibility on his play sheet earlier than escaping the pocket… the place he’s additionally devastating.
That is exceptional, even when it might not be sustainable. Williams has seven landing passes over his final three wins, however they got here towards the NFL’s three worst defenses by way of DVOA and anticipated factors allowed per dropback. Weeks 4 by 6 weren’t a problem for Chicago, they had been a launching pad.
However hooooooo buddy, Williams took off. He will get a bye after which the league’s Twenty sixth-ranked cross protection to bump his hype prepare as much as unsafe speeds earlier than November hits.
