The Bears didn’t get off to the cleanest start, tossing an interception on fourth down to close out their opening drive. But credit to Caleb Williams and the offense-they bounced back in a big way the next time they had the ball.
On their second fourth-down attempt, Williams showed the poise that made him the top pick in the draft. Facing pressure and needing just a few yards, he calmly lofted a pass over Rams linebacker Omar Speights and dropped it right into the hands of DJ Moore for a three-yard touchdown.
It was a perfectly placed ball-just enough touch to clear the linebacker, just enough zip to beat the coverage. With Cairo Santos knocking through the extra point, the Bears tied things up at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
That scoring drive was a balanced effort. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai chipped in with solid gains on the ground, helping to keep the Rams’ defense honest. And tight end Colston Loveland made his presence felt with a 23-yard catch that helped flip the field and spark the offense.
At that point, Williams was 5-of-8 for 80 yards, with one touchdown and one pick. But the stat line only tells part of the story.
On the interception, Williams banged his hand on the arm of Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner-a tough break that had him shaking it off as he walked to the sideline. Still, there was no sign of lingering effects when he returned.
He looked composed, confident, and fully in control during the touchdown drive.
It’s early, but there were flashes of why the Bears are so high on Williams. Even after a shaky start, he showed the kind of short memory and bounce-back ability that separates the good ones from the greats.