Caleb Williams looked downfield and saw nobody open. He spun and hit Rome Odunze deep on the run, one prized rookie connecting with another on a 45-yard pass.
It was just the sort of play Chicago hopes to see on a consistent basis.
Williams made another good impression in his first appearance at Soldier Field since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick, running for a touchdown and leading two scoring drives, and the Chicago Bears beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 on Saturday.
Williams got off to a slow start coming off an impressive and brief showing last week at Buffalo in his first preseason appearance. Chicago went three-and-out on its first three possessions on a rainy afternoon. The former USC star then showed the arm and elusiveness the Bears are banking on, leading them to a field goal and scrambling for a touchdown.
Williams completed 6 of 13 passes for 75 yards against Cincinnati’s backups, including the 45-yarder to Odunze. That set up a 7-yard touchdown scramble late in the second quarter.
“We’re going to be explosive,” Williams said. “We’re two rooks, but we’re trying to catch up to some older guys as fast as we can. We’ve got to make sure we’re right there on par with them, to be able to be efficient, function, got out there and be explosive, be on the same page and win games. Ultimately, that’s what we’re here to do. And to have a guy like that who was drafted with me, we’re going to keep growing and keep building this connection.”
Odunze, the No. 9 overall draft pick, also had a 16-yard run on an end-around to help set up a field goal. Khalil Herbert carried five times for 31 yards.
Tyson Bagent started the second half for Chicago and threw two touchdown passes to Dante Pettis. He was 7 of 8 for 87 yards with a 151.6 rating before Brett Rypien took over midway through the fourth.
Simone Biles, fresh off winning three more Olympic gold medals in Paris, cheered on her husband, safety Jonathan Owens, from the Chicago sideline. The jacket had an image…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/caleb-williams-dazzles-bears-vs-bengals-were-going-explosive
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Publish date : 2024-08-18 00:16:51
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