(670 The Score) It wasn’t supposed to be like this anymore for the Bears.
This was an embarrassment in front of a national television audience in primetime, another young quarterback left without a chance, an offensive line seemingly lost on each play — all producing a familiar result. The Bears lost 19-13 to the Texans in a Sunday Night Football Showdown at NRG Stadium, where the six-point margin didn't properly reflect how lopsided the game felt in Chicago.
Here are the observations as the Bears dropped to 1-1.
QB1 doesn't have a prayer
Over the course of three offseasons rebuilding the Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has made significant improvements in most areas of the roster. The glaring weakness remains on the offensive line.
Though four of the Bears' five starting offensive linemen were acquired by Poles, the collective talent level hasn’t improved. That was clear in the Bears offensive line's abysmal performance Sunday.
The Texans recorded an astonishing 36 total pressures on Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who was 23-of-37 for 174 yards and two interceptions while being sacked seven times. Williams was blitzed on 41.7% of his dropbacks. Ten different Houston defenders registered at least one pressure. Top pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter combined for 17 pressures. It was simply unacceptable for the Bears.
Williams was 3-of-12 for 15 yards and an interception against the blitz, and he was sacked five times on those designed rushes. He was 20-of-25 for 159 yards and an interception when he didn't face a blitz.
Williams doesn't deserve blame for his struggles Sunday night. The blame should start with Poles, whose evaluations of the offensive line have let his team down. More so, he has let the 22-year-old Williams down.
Third-year left tackle Braxton Jones is a nice story as a Southern Utah product who has made the most of his NFL opportunity, but he hasn’t played well enough to secure that position for the long term. Left guard Teven Jenkins is in a contract year and hasn’t secured his future. Center Coleman Shelton has been horrific through two games. Right guard Nate Davis, whom the Bears signed to a $30-million contract in 2023, hasn’t been reliable in any way. Right tackle Darnell Wright, the No. 10 overall pick in 2023, is Chicago’s lone offensive lineman who seems to be a cornerstone piece.
In his first two NFL games, Williams hasn't had a clean pocket to operate in. Had he not been so elusive in scrambling from pressure, the Texans would’ve registered double-digit sacks instead of seven.
What’s especially maddening is the offensive line can't run block either. The Bears were No. 2 in the NFL in rushing in 2023 after ranking No. 1 in 2022. Lead running back D’Andre Swift – whom Chicago signed to a three-year, $24-million deal in March – has carried 24 times for 48 yards in two games. On Sunday, Swift had 14 carries just 18 yards. He has been a complete non-factor behind this offensive line.
The Bears’ running game was supposed to be a key element to support Williams in his rookie season. Instead, it has exacerbated the offensive problems.
The offensive line concerns extend beyond how they affect Chicago's team performance and record in 2024. The Bears are at risk of jeopardizing their quarterback prodigy Williams and his development track if this continues.
All the work rebuilding the Bears — with the stated goal to “take the North and never give it back,” as Poles put it — will be lost if Williams fails to become a franchise quarterback. And as it currently stands, he doesn’t have a fair opportunity to be successful behind this offensive line.
Poles seems to have positioned the Bears for lasting success, but those aspirations will fade if this offensive line can’t protect its prized quarterback.
Challenged
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was unsuccessful on two ill-fated challenge calls Sunday, neither of which had a chance of being overturned.
In the second quarter, the Bears challenged a catch by Texans star receiver Stefon Diggs, believing he didn't complete a catch along their sideline. That play was upheld after the official review. The second unsuccessful challenge came late in the third quarter after nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon reached for a potential interception. The ruling on the field said the football hit the turf, and that call was upheld by review.
Addressing reporters in Houston after the game, Eberflus indicated his staff didn't get an immediate replay to look at.
“We have a good process for that," Eberflus told reporters. "So, it's a little bit different when you can't see the monitor right away, and it's a critical play like a third down or a takeaway. But we have a great process.
"We’ve been pretty clean overall since we’ve been here. Those were just situations where we didn’t get a great look at it and they were critical downs. We made a decision to do it, and it didn’t work that way.”
Eberflus is now 2-for-7 on challenge attempts over his three seasons coaching in Chicago. Clearly, he and the Bears need to revise their process of throwing the red flag.
Undisciplined, unacceptable
Head referee Land Clark should’ve iced his flag-throwing arm late Sunday night.
The Bears were penalized nine times for 60 yards, including three penalties on special teams. Chicago was also guilty of four false start penalties.
The Bears were outdone by the Texans, who committed 12 penalties for 115 total yards. But from the Bears’ perspective, their penalty woes were a reflection of a team that was poorly prepared.
NRG Stadium isn’t a hostile road environment by any means. There’s no excusing those penalties on the Bears’ side.
The Bears are already facing enough challenges offensively as they attempt to form their identity. The penalties are making the climb even steeper.
Extra points
--- By some miracle, the Bears trailed by just six with 1:37 remaining and had the chance to produce a game-winning drive. But anyone who had watched the game knew well that Williams didn’t have much of a chance to lead such heroics.
--- At the least, this Bears defense looks great.
--- Tight end Cole Kmet played 77% of the Bears’ offensive snaps. That was better than Week 1 but still not enough.
--- Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards will likely receive a fine for his hip-drop tackle on Texans running back Joe Mixon, who suffered an ankle injury as a result. It wasn't called on the field, but those plays are reviewed by the league.
--- Kyler Gordon is becoming one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL.
--- The Bears really missed veteran receiver Keenan Allen, who was sidelined with plantar fasciitis.
--- When did NFL kickers become automatic from 50 yards out?
--- The Bears are fortunate Williams didn't get hurt.
--- Did anyone else see former White Sox general manager Rick Hahn sitting front row? That was Hahn, right?
--- The Bears have lost that type of game so many times before.
--- That was one of the uneven six-point games ever.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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