The Chicago Bears are 3-2 as they head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for a Week 6 matchup with the 1-4 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Many can say that “a win is a win” or “it might’ve been ugly but it’s a win.” If you aren’t familiar with that phrase, you might not be a Chicago Bears fan.
It’s okay, on the flip side, I am a Milwaukee Brewers fan.
QB Caleb Williams’ last start against the 1-4 Carolina Panthers, went 20/29 for 304 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-10 win.
Caleb Williams is shushing the haters due to his last two starts. It’s understandable. He’s the standout guy from USC, the first pick overall in the draft— of course pundits will sing the praises.
A 36-10 win over the Carolina Panthers isn’t necessarily ugly, because it’s not.
Let’s be completely real with ourselves: When is a performance such as this one worthy enough to quiet the haters? Is this 3-2 record for the Bears truthfully enough for people to say “We are SO BACK LFG”?
Is Caleb Williams Him?
Last year, then rookie QB, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns in a 39-37 win. That Tampa Bay team made the playoffs and beat the Eagles 32-9.
I’m not saying Williams is flat-out BAD, but his numbers don’t prove anything. The litmus test of whether or not you’re proving the naysayers wrong as a rookie is not a 470-yard game, that’s a little crazy (even though the Bucs had the ninth-ranked defense in the league last year). Though, two out of the three wins the Bears have had this season come against the 28th and 29th-ranked defensive teams.
A rational turn of the head toward Williams will have to come with a big showing against Jacksonville this Sunday. Jacksonville is coming off their first win, but are ranked 31st in the league for defense and allow nearly 400 yards per game.
Bear down for real?
Of course, team stat leaders for the league, five weeks through the season isn’t the best hill to die on, but it’s starting to paint a real picture.
The combined record for the three teams the Bears have beaten this season is a whopping 3-11. Losing to the Colts does not make that 3-2 record any more attractive.
As the season progresses, the Bears schedule looks tougher but not for another three weeks. After this matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bears face Washington, Arizona, New England, and then all three divisional opponents in a row.
Perhaps the Bears and Caleb Williams can keep their head above water and make what seems like a facade, a reality. Let’s watch in London on Sunday.
Leave a comment