To say the Chicago Bears’ offense had a rough outing against the Houston Texans on Sunday night would be an understatement. (Never mind how the Bears came to Caleb Williams’ defense.) On an evening where the Bears’ elite defense hemmed in C.J. Stroud pretty well — despite Matt Eberflus’s worst challenge efforts — Williams and the Chicago offense that couldn’t block naturally couldn’t do anything in a 19-13 loss.
I’m not being hyperbolic, either.
Here’s a summary of the Bears’ offensive possessions in the second half:
- Punt (three-and-out)
- Punt (three-and-out)
- Punt (three-and-out)
- Interception
- Interception
- Punt
- Field goal
- Turnover on downs
That is bleak, dearest reader.
The Bears’ offensive evening was especially grim for Williams. Yes, he surpassed 170 passing yards (yay?), but the Texans pressured him an eye-opening 36 times (!) on 49 dropbacks. And let me tell you, it was clear that the relentless pressure — does the Bears’ offensive line know what a stunt is? — rattled Williams. Chicago now has just one offensive touchdown in eight quarters of football in 2024. Williams has yet to throw a touchdown pass and has less than 300 cumulative passing yards on the season.
The person perhaps most hurt by the Bears’ offensive futility through two games is D.J. Moore. His body language on Sunday, in multiple instances, said it all.
Here’s Moore staring vacantly into space after another teeth-pulling Bears’ offensive possession:
D.J. Moore on the sideline pic.twitter.com/QKPRhu3guj
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) September 16, 2024
And here’s Moore after Williams missed him when he was open on an “NFL throw” during a futile late comeback attempt. Please note how Moore immediately throws his hands up to his head on the ground before disinterestedly drifting off to the bench on the sideline:
D.J. Moore walking off the field after incomplete passpic.twitter.com/TABhDuNl6d
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) September 16, 2024
Moore is a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver who doesn’t have 100 total receiving yards yet. I get why he’d be annoyed.
We’re two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, and while it’s not time to panic, every Bears fan watching on Sunday night had the same thought come across their mind. Are they (the Bears) really about to do it (ruin another first-round quarterback) again? Even if Williams was actually shining, it’s hard to imagine Chicago’s struggling offensive line lasting long enough to ensure a full game’s success.
It’s definitely not over for Williams and this Bears offense. They’re working in a lot of moving parts and the line can (emphasis on can) get a lot better with everyone gelling together. But Sunday night was a massive, all-too-familiar step in the wrong direction.
