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Bears, rookie QB Caleb Williams face gold standard in Texans' C.J. Stroud

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[September 12, 2024] Early during his Wednesday presser, Bears coach Matt Eberflus was asked how the historic production Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud enjoyed as a rookie last season could be used as a template for Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, whose debut last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans could reasonably be described as inauspicious.

Eberflus adroitly sidestepped making a comparison that would only add to the already enormous expectations resting on Williams' shoulders. While Stroud crafted one of the greatest seasons for a rookie quarterback in NFL history, Williams struggled in his first career start and relied on the Bears' exceptional defense and special teams to steer the way to a 24-17 home win over the Tennessee Titans.

The Texans (1-0) will host the Bears (1-0) in a showdown on Sunday highlighting the standard Williams is charged with meeting. Stroud thrived in a 29-27 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.9 rating.

Williams, conversely, averaged 3.2 yards per attempt, threw for only 93 yards, posted a 55.7 rating and helmed an offense that didn't score a touchdown. His handling of a middling performance struck Eberflus.

"He's been really good," Eberflus said. "Him and I watched the plays Monday morning. He comes into my office and was really good there. He's really good with the players owning up to everything and taking responsibility for performance and accountability. That's what you need from leaders on the football team, not just him.

"And then moving forward to coming in (Wednesday) morning and figuring out what we're doing, how we're doing it and having conversations with him. I think he's in a good spot."

The Bears were buoyed by a pair of touchdown returns, including a 43-yard interception return by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson with 7:35 left in regulation that sealed the win. Chicago sacked Titans quarterback Will Levis three times, picked him off twice and limited Levis to 4.0 yards per attempt.

The Bears might need another stifling performance against the Texans, not only to cover Williams as he develops but to help a Chicago offense that had a pair of receivers -- Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (MCL strain) -- sidelined for practice on Wednesday.

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Wins can mask warts. But Williams acknowledged that ample work remains for the offense.

"We're here getting better," Williams said. "Just getting back out here making sure we're focused on the small things, the details. Whether it's myself of footwork, drops ... or whether it's the routes, whether it's the run game, hand placement, all these other things when blocking to make sure as an offense we're successful."

The Texans had no such problems offensively. Houston seamlessly inserted veteran newcomers Stefon Diggs (two touchdown catches) and Joe Mixon (30 carries, 159 yards and a touchdown) into their potent mix, with Mixon earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

Stroud was sacked four times but did not commit a turnover and was in complete control even under duress, finding Nico Collins (six catches, 117 yards) when the moment was dire.

In the aftermath of its win, Houston had reason to be optimistic that more can be unlocked.

"I think watching the film from last week, there's definitely a lot of play left on the field," Stroud said. "We can clean up a lot of things. So, yeah, I definitely think that we barely showed what we've got. But it's kind of cool because we still did kind of play pretty good once we stopped shooting ourselves in the foot.

"The plays that we ran good looked great. But the ones that we just barely missed on, it was just the little, little, small things. If we clean those up, man, I think we would've had a way better day, but definitely great to learn in a win."

--Field Level Media

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