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Former first-round QB nails assessment of Caleb Williams, Bears in Week 2

Originally posted on Chicago Bears on SI | By Bryan Perez | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 10:30 AM ET

The Chicago Bears got humiliated by the Detroit Lions in Week 2's 52-21 blowout loss at Ford Field. And while it's been easy to point fingers at Caleb Williams' slower-than-expected development at quarterback, the reality is this week's loss had nothing to do with his level of play.

Williams finished Sunday's loss completing 19-of-30 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Yes, his interception was the result of a poor decision. But he played an otherwise clean and effective game that should score well inside Halas Hall.

What Williams couldn't do, unfortunately, was take the field on defense and help prevent Jared Goff from throwing the five touchdowns he put on the scoreboard. He couldn't lend a hand in tackling Jahmy Gibbs, who ran for 94 yards and a touchdown, or David Montgomery, who added 57 yards and a score.

Get the point?

The Bears (+6.5) answer right away as Caleb Williams connects with Rome Odunze

✅ Anytime TD Scorer (+225)

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/6HSaHYZwJ6
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) September 14, 2025

If not, former first-round QB Robert Griffin III took to social media to lay out the case for Williams in even more detail.

Caleb Williams didn’t give up:

-334 pass yards and 5 TDs to Jared Goff

-177 rush yards and 5.9 yards per carry

-Two 100 yards WR

-6 redzone TDs on 7 drives

The Chicago Bears have big problems and their promising young QB making a few mistakes is the least of them.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 14, 2025

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has some explaining to do.

Chicago's pass rush was non-existent. The defense would eventually lose starters Jaylon Johnson and TJ Edwards, both of whom re-aggravated their pre-existing injuries (Johnson hurt his groin while Edwards' hamstring acted up). It doesn't seem like the defense will get any better anytime soon.

But the biggest takeaway is arguably the most important for the 2025 NFL season: Caleb Williams is not the reason why the Bears are 0-2. The defense choked in the second half of Week 1, and they failed to show up at all against the Lions.

This article first appeared on Chicago Bears on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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