ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – After an enjoyable Saturday afternoon that ended in a 33-6 blowout at Highmark Stadium, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struck the right balance between excitement and composure.
Williams was pleased with the 20 first-quarter snaps he played against the Buffalo Bills, the four passes he completed, and the two field-goal drives he led.
The first-team offense racked up 142 total yards and secured seven first downs with Williams on the field. It was a promising debut for the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft, leaving Williams energized as he prepared for the return flight to Chicago.
“I felt good,” he said. “There’s always an extra focus when you head into games for some reason. Even if you work on that mindset during the week, there’s a feeling of control and progress that really increases once you’re in the game. All those factors usually boost your comfort level.”
Saturday marked 266 days since Williams last played in a real game—during his junior year at USC. Not that he was keeping track.
“The last time I was on the field, besides practice, was Nov. 18,” Williams said. “It’s tough when you go that long without playing.”
For Williams, simply returning to live action was satisfying. Despite the limited sample size, he appeared quite at ease during the two drives he played. Williams displayed glimpses of his pocket presence, field vision, arm strength, and scrambling ability.
He connected with DJ Moore on a 12-yard pass to convert a third-and-11 during the opening series.
“It was zone coverage,” Moore said. “I just found a gap, and he delivered the ball right to me.”
A possession that seemed likely to end in a three-and-out ultimately resulted in points.
On the Bears’ subsequent field-goal drive, Williams connected with tight end Cole Kmet for 26 yards on a play-action rollout to his right. The sequence was impressive, showcasing the play design, the execution, and the strong throw Williams made while on the move.
“That was great,” Moore said. For those watching with hopes of a promising future for the Bears, Saturday’s game was a perfect showcase. When asked after the win if his performance gave Bears fans reason to be excited, Williams smiled.
“I mean, the Bears won,” he said. However, while the optimism is high, it’s important to remember that Williams and the Bears’ offense will continue to evolve. “There’s certainly positivity,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “We’re not going to dampen that, but we have a lot of work ahead of us and many things to accomplish as a football team.”
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