Chicago @ Indianapolis preview
Lucas Oil Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2023 ) Chicago 17, Indianapolis 24
If pressure makes diamonds, the Bears can speak in absolutes when referring to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as a gem.
Williams and the Bears lick their wounds and take to the road for the second consecutive game with a short trek to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Chicago plans "no changes" to personnel protecting Williams, and head coach Matt Eberflus is confident the growing pains won't be quite as literal moving forward. The Texans sacked Williams seven times Sunday night in Houston and hit him in the pocket on four other plays, not including the sideline blast at the chains by Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
"There's some great learning moments there in terms of the pressure," Eberflus said.
Depending on who fields the question, Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, has lacked either the protection or the patience to utilize the array of weapons the Bears proudly assembled around him in the offseason. He enters Week 3 as the team's leading rusher with 59 yards and has only one completion over 20 yards, no touchdown passes and was sacked nine times in his first two NFL games. After going 5-for-5 on the opening drive at Houston, the Texans sent heavy pressure. On plays he was pressured, Williams' completion percentage dipped below 35 percent for a total of 33 yards with two interceptions.
"I'm a little bruised up still. Body-wise, moving all of that, I feel good throwing and running around," Williams said Wednesday.
The Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans in the opener with just 148 yards total offense. New coordinator Shane Waldron has a 44-66 run-pass ratio through two games and the Bears are converting 26.7 percent of third downs. No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore vented in the loss but said Wednesday he showed "too much frustration" on the sideline.
He emphasized the importance of the Bears "honing in on our identity, whether it's going to be running the ball or passing the ball."
Moore was not listed on the injury report for Chicago, but Keenan Allen (heel) is out for the second straight week and won't travel with the team. Rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) is cleared to play.
The Colts could be ripe for the picking on the ground. Packers running back Josh Jacobs gained 151 yards in Week 2 and Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
"Obviously a huge blow," Colts coach Shane Steichen said of Buckner's injury. "Phenomenal teammate, phenomenal player for our football team, phenomenal player for the NFL. That guy is so freaking tough."
With Buckner out, Indianapolis could lean more heavily on rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu to get to Williams. Latu began the week sidelined by a hip injury but is expecting to play.
Barring turnovers, the Bears are likely to test the Colts' reconfigured defensive front. Indianapolis has been roasted for 474 rushing yards and 5.1 yards per carry this season.
Williams said the two "stupid mistakes," referring to his interceptions last week, won't happen again but admits he's still adjusting to the NFL.
"Just getting used to getting hit again, it's been a while. It's been since Nov. 18 (his final game at USC) since the last time I got hit -- like really hit," Williams said." Getting used to that, getting used to having games like that, there's going to be games like that. It's the NFL."
The Bears' health also would be a concern if guards Teven Jenkins (thigh) and Nate Davis (groin) miss the game. Jenkins was able to practice Friday and isn't listed on the final injury report while Davis is questionable.
Eberflus, who is 11-25 as the Bears head coach, returns to his old stomping grounds at Lucas Oil Stadium. Before being hired by Chicago, Eberflus was the defensive coordinator of the Colts.
Indianapolis (0-2) lost to Houston in Week 1 and then dropped a 16-10 rock fight at Green Bay last week. The Colts' prized passer, 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson, threw three interceptions at Lambeau Field and has a passer rating of 63.1 (Williams is at 53). Richardson was drafted fourth overall but makes just his seventh career start on Sunday.
Steichen said Richardson is making the right reads and isn't going to overreact to a turnover-heavy game, following the same progression he used to help Justin Herbert develop as a rookie with the Chargers.
"Four games into it, maybe five, he was rolling," Steichen said of Herbert's development. "That's the thing, as long as the ball is going to the right spot -- with anything, it just takes time. It's a process going through this thing with young quarterbacks. But, shoot, he's a helluva football player and we're excited to have him."
Steichen, 9-10 as a head coach and in his second season with the Colts, would like to see the offense start faster. Prior to the fourth quarter in the first two games, Indianapolis has scored 16 total points. Wide receiver Josh Downs practiced all week and is cleared for his 2024 debut. The second-year target is a valuable slot receiver and outlet for Richardson.
"They had a good connection last year, it will definitely help having him back," Steichen said.
The Colts are averaging 6.1 yards per carry this season and the running game could help counter Chicago's aggressive front seven. Richardson has 10 carries for 93 yards and Jonathan Taylor has 151 rushing yards.
"They fly around pretty good. Got a lot of respect for 'Flus," Steichen said, noting the Bears' four takeaways and punt block. "They do a lot with movement. We've got to be ready for them."
This is the first meeting between the teams since the Colts beat the Bears 19-11 in Chicago in 2020.
--Field Level Media