Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus dismissed any glaring flaws in his assessment of No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams’ NFL debut during Chicago’s electrifying 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
“My assessment is he took care of the ball. I know he had two sacks, but he really took care of the ball,” Eberflus stated confidently on Monday.
Williams, displaying the unflappable demeanor of a future star, celebrated with his teammates in the locker room and expressed indifference towards the stats, despite completing 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and a quarterback rating of 55.7.
Eberflus praised Williams for his game intelligence, citing his ability to make smart decisions and avoid forcing throws into coverage, which enabled the team to surge back from a 17-0 deficit with an incredible 24 unanswered points.
“That was the difference in the game,” Eberflus emphasized.
In a gritty performance, the Bears managed just 11 total first downs and scored no offensive touchdowns, but showed immense resilience.
Chicago’s defense continues to be a revelation, shifting the narrative for the Bears, who are riding an impressive six-game home win streak. Sunday’s victory marked the seventh consecutive game where the Bears held their opponent to 20 points or fewer, boasting a record of 5-2 in that span.
“It was one of those dirty wins that we really needed,” said safety Kevin Byard on Monday, emphasizing that the locker room was unfazed by their stellar defensive performance or the players’ contributions to flipping the script in the second half.
Reflecting on Eberflus’ trajectory, it’s worth noting that as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, he declined an interview request from the Texans for their head coaching vacancy in January 2021. This decision came just before the Texans appointed Nick Caserio from the Patriots to helm the front office.
Eberflus, who also interviewed with the Chargers and Jets that offseason, was eventually hired by Bears General Manager Ryan Poles in January 2022, a decision that has been vindicated by the team’s burgeoning success.
As the Bears continue to build on their momentum, there’s a palpable sense of excitement in Chicago. Fans can feel the energy, the passion, and the renewed hope for a team that’s increasingly matching its storied history with modern-day heroics on the gridiron. Go Bears!
