(Photo: David Banks , USA TODAY Sports)
The most anticipated storyline going in and most talked-about performance coming out of Sunday's game was that of Caleb Williams, who looked sharp in his first stint of the preseason.
Williams made the most of the two drives he played on Sunday. In total, Williams finished with 107 yards passing on only 10 attempts for an average of 10.7 yards per attempt. Additionally, Williams threw a touchdown on the opening drive, connecting with Olamide Zaccheaus for a 36-yard completion that had Soldier Field rocking early on. Pro Football Focus was also high on Williams' outing, as he finished with an 86.6 passing grade, one big-time throw, and zero turnover-worthy plays.
Beyond the stats and underlying metrics, it was how comfortable Williams looked that stood out the most in his season debut. Williams' process was sound as he got the ball out on time and on target on a consistent basis. The types of throws Williams was making should also have Bears fans excited, showcasing great anticipation and a willingness to attack the middle of the field. One statistic that speaks to Williams' comfort within the offense was his average time to throw in this matchup, clocking in at an average of 2.60 seconds according to PFF. For reference, this would have been the second-lowest mark of Williams' rookie season, with his lowest coming against the Minnesota Vikings in his first matchup against them at home last season
Things weren't perfect for Williams, as he could have thrown a better ball to Rome Odunze on a third-down attempt that ended his second drive, but even that would be a nitpick as Odunze should have still caught the ball for a first down. It is also worth mentioning that this all came against the Bills' backups, so obviously, the next test will be whether Williams can keep up this level of play against a starting unit.
As the Bears prepare for their next preseason matchup, it's important to reflect on the steps that Williams has taken while learning a brand-new offense. One of the biggest talking points all training camp has been the development plan for Williams from this coaching staff, with the intent of challenging him early on before gradually building upon what he does well. So far, the early returns of that strategy appear to be strong after Williams looked calm and confident against the Bills.