Following a similar script in Sunday night’s loss at Houston, Chicago’s defense was dominant while the Bears’ offense fluttered into oblivion.
The game’s last two drives were a summation of the Bears’ season to date. Down 19-13 in the last two minutes and given another redemption opportunity by its defense — which had halted the high-powered Texans to force a punt — Chicago’s offense sputtered again. Caleb Williams opened the final drive with a 27-yard pass to Rome Odunze but then Gerald Everett dropped a pass and Danielle Hunter sacked Williams. Then, the game ended with a Williams incompletion, not on the same page Odunze.
But head coach Matt Eberflus has confidence that coordinator Shane Waldron will get Chicago’s offense to figure out how to play together.
“I thought we did a good job of distributing the ball yesterday, better than the first game, in terms of commitment to our skill players and targets to our skillsets,” Eberflus said Monday. “I have total belief in those guys. I was just up talking with those guys, talking about what we’re going to get done this week and how we’re going to do it, be on the details moving forward. The staff has been good. We’re always going to be about solving problems. It’s never going to be perfect and this week is no different.”
Asked about concerns with pass protection after allowing seven sacks, Eberflus said he was more concerned with getting quality yards on first and second down, establishing the run.
“When you’re able to run the ball and move the ball and stay ahead of the chains you don’t get those types of pressures.”
The Texans’ took full advantage of the Bears’ inability to stay ahead of the chains.
On Sunday night, Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans took a play out of Coach Bill Yoast’s playbook (“You blitz all night!”). In addition to those seven sacks, Houston recorded 23 pressures on 48 dropbacks. Ryans blitzed on 41.7 percent of Williams’ dropbacks.
Per NFL NextGenStats, when Williams was not blitzed he completed 20 of 25 passes for 159 yards and an interception. However, when the Texans blitzed, he completed only 3 of 12 attempts for 15 yards and an interception. There was some improvement from the team when linemen knew who to block.
After the game, a defeated Williams admirably took responsibility for the loss.
“Just trying to take in the moment. Understanding and trying to figure out what to get better at,” said Williams, who admitted he was sore but looking forward to Chicago’s next game.
Chicago (1-1) travels to Indianapolis (0-2) to meet the Colts on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).