Let's Break Down Caleb Williams' NFL Debut

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams made his official debut in Sunday's 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Williams completed 14-of-29 passing attempts for 93 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions. It was a lackluster performance by the Bears' offense with some flashes littered throughout from their No. 1 overall pick.

The Bears did not score a single offensive touchdown. Williams benefited from a game-winning pick-six thrown in the fourth quarter by Titans quarterback Will Levis. Earlier in the game, the Bears scored a touchdown on special teams via a blocked punt.

The Bears became the first team in NFL history to capture victory in a contest in which they trailed by 17-plus points and had fewer than 150 total yards of offense, per ESPN Stats & Information. Williams became the second quarterback in modern NFL history to attempt 25 or more passes in his debut game and throw for less than 100 yards. Putting it lightly, it was an uneven offensive showing.

Some instances proved Williams is a rookie quarterback who's going to make mistakes. At one point, Williams scrambled backward due to pressure from Titans nose tackle Keondre Coburn. Sebastian Joseph-Day cleaned up the play for a *check’s notes* 19-yard sack that moved the Bears’ possession from Tennessee's 25-yard line to the 44, resulting in a punt.

Williams' best throw of the afternoon was one that displayed his natural off-script playmaking ability. Williams rolled to his right while evading another pressure from Joseph-Day. He located D.J. Moore for an off-platform 13-yard completion, his longest of the afternoon.

Though Williams was a tad erratic and inaccurate at times, he was also hampered by his more experienced teammates on occasion. Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen dropped a would-be touchdown on 2nd-and-goal. Williams' next pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage and the Bears had to settle for three instead of seven.

The analytics weren't particularly kind. Williams' Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE) was -19.7 on Sunday afternoon, which ranked dead-last (28th) among all qualifying quarterbacks. Chicago's offense was discombobulated for all four quarters.

Williams' average completed air yards was 2.7, fourth-worst among signal-callers that played on Sunday, with rookies Jayden Daniels (1.6) and Bo Nix (2.5) in similar territory, per Next Gen Stats. His 93 passing yards were the fewest of any starting QB in Week 1 (Monday Night Football, pending). Williams' 48.3% completion percentage was third-worst, trailing just Bryce Young (43.3) and Anthony Richardson (47.4).

It was not a fruitful debut for Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who's tasked with maximizing Williams' upside. Williams' intended air yards of 7.8 per attempt was the 10th-highest among all QBs, and Waldron didn't do enough to get his inexperienced quarterback into a rhythm. The Bears were constantly behind the sticks, leading to just 64 net passing yards and a 15.3% conversion rate on third down (2-of-13).

Williams was sacked twice and the Titans were credited with eight tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. Williams' debut performance was bumpy, but I'm far more concerned with Waldron's play-calling tendencies and the effectiveness of Chicago's new-look offensive line (that looked awfully similar to last year's).

Williams must also take responsibility, but Sunday was simply indicative of a rookie quarterback taking his typical bumps and bruises. The play of Chicago's supporting cast was far more concerning. Williams will need his coaching staff and teammates to step it up if he's to reach his rookie-season potential.