Bears QB Caleb Williams' struggles continue in loss to Texans, but who's to blame?

It's only been two weeks, but No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams hasn't flashed as anticipated with the Chicago Bears and there are multiple reasons why.

Following a tough debut against the Tennessee Titans, Williams had another lackluster outing in the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans on "Sunday Night Football." Finishing with 174 passing yards (23-of-37), the rookie quarterback failed to stretch the field, averaging only 4.7 YPA.

Part of Williams' struggles are on him. Too often, he seems unwilling to step up into the pocket, instead settling for a short pass or choosing to scramble before a play can naturally develop.

A marvel at creating something out of nothing while earning a Heisman Trophy at USC, Williams has displayed the same skill set during his brief time as a pro. Only, as was the case on Sunday night, he's rarely been able to capitalize on his escapes, either overthrowing his target or forcing low-percentage passes.

Williams got into trouble several times in those situations against the Texans. The result was two interceptions, which would've been three if not for a defensive penalty wiping one of them out.

Conversely, when given time to throw on anything other than an underneath route, most of Williams' attempts fell incomplete due to a lack of timing or simply missing his spot. However, the lack of a rushing attack and leaky offensive line play could have played a role.

The Bears' offensive line didn't help Williams, allowing 11 QB hits and seven sacks on the night. Likewise, running backs D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer combined for only 27 rushing yards (17 carries), offering little support out of the backfield.

The Texans blitzed early and often but also delivered consistent pressure even when rushing five defenders. With little time to throw and zero run-game to fall back on, it was open season on Williams.

If not for the 12 penalties committed by the Texans and a strong effort from the Bears defense, Sunday night's contest might not have been that close. Without those factors, Williams' play and that of the offense would be a more glaring weakness than they already are.

It's not time to push the panic button yet. But it's clear that the Bears and Williams have plenty to figure out before the expectations built in the offseason can come to fruition.