CHICAGO — Caleb Williams is finding his rhythm, and with him, the Bears are accumulating victories. Overall, the complexion in Chicago is looking increasingly positive.
Heading into their bye week, the Bears boast a 4-2 record, having achieved three consecutive victories, highlighted by a 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. This marks their best winning streak since the end of 2020, and they have a chance to extend this run to four games for the first time since their NFC North championship season in 2018.
As they gear up for Week 8, the Bears will face Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. This matchup is particularly notable as both quarterbacks were selected with the top two picks of the current draft.
Statistically, Daniels holds the advantage. However, Williams, who hails from Washington, seems to be gaining momentum. Coach Matt Eberflus remarked on Monday, “The way he has prepared from Week 1 through Week 6 has shown his growth. He’s demonstrated improvement each week, and as a team, we’ve improved as well.”
Over the last three games against the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, Williams has completed 60 of 81 passes for 687 yards. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has recorded seven touchdown passes and only one interception during this stretch, a notable improvement from the two touchdowns and four interceptions he had in the season’s opening three games.
In the game against Jacksonville, Williams threw four touchdown passes and was poised to make it five if not for a high pass intended for DJ Moore that resulted in an interception. He completed 23 of 29 throws for 226 yards and posted a quarterback rating of 124.4, narrowly missing his previous week’s rating of 126.2 against the Panthers. Notably, the highest rating by a Bears rookie after the AFL-NFL merger was Jim McMahon’s 121.1 in 1982.
What’s working for the Bears is their no-huddle offense. Williams has appeared more at ease in this offensive strategy over recent weeks, which has kept rival defenses on their toes. Additionally, the Bears are achieving a better balance between passing and rushing, with a combined 81 pass attempts and 96 rushes over the last three games following an earlier loss to Indianapolis where Williams had 52 passing attempts.
However, pass protection remains an area needing improvement. Despite the Bears’ dominant performances in their recent victories, they have continued to allow too many sacks. Williams was taken down three times during the game against Jacksonville, bringing his season total to 20 sacks, only surpassed by Deshaun Watson’s total of 31 entering Sunday.
Now, when discussing players on the rise, RB D’Andre Swift stands out. After what could be considered a slow start following his three-year contract with the Bears, Swift has made a significant turnaround. In the latest game, he recorded 17 carries for 91 yards and found the end zone, in addition to catching four passes for 28 yards. Over the last three contests, he has accumulated 257 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 15 receptions for 147 yards.
On the flip side, RG Nate Davis has seen a decline in his standing. Once a starter, he was benched and did not feature as part of the game day roster on Sunday. With LG Teven Jenkins returning from an ankle injury sustained against Carolina, the Bears opted for backup offensive linemen Bill Murray, Doug Kramer, and Kiran Amegadjie.
Eberflus praised Davis, stating, “He has remained professional, engaged, and is working every week. We’ll need all our players moving forward, and he knows that.”
Injury updates revealed that CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and long snapper Scott Daly (knee) were undergoing further testing. Daly sustained his injury early in the game, resulting in TE Cole Kmet stepping in as a substitute. Gordon exited in the second half, while the Bears were already missing two key secondary starters due to their injuries.
Highlighting some notable statistics, the Bears have secured nine consecutive home victories, including the latest win in London, where they were designated as the home team. Additionally, Chicago has kept opposing teams to 21 points or fewer in 12 straight matches—this is currently the longest active streak in the league, whereas Washington boasts a strong offensive output of 29.7 points per game, ranking among the highest.
The Bears now have a week to recover from their overseas travel and focus their efforts ahead of their October 27 matchup against Washington.