A career-best performance from Caleb Williams in London has the Chicago Bears sitting at 4-2 and on cloud nine.
The rookie quarterback was simply stellar in Sunday's seamless 35-16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing a career-high four touchdowns in a performance that should breathe confidence into a franchise that has been desperately seeking a star under center.
Williams displayed the type of poise and leadership not all No. 1 overall picks are able to produce in their sixth-career game, especially after overcoming a slow start on Sunday.
"You just got to keep going," Williams told NFL Network's Stacey Dales after the win. "There's going to be times throughout the game where there's plays that you don't like, plays that you messed up on like today. But to keep going, have the positive mindset, stay a constant communicator throughout the whole team -- offensive coordinator, everybody. And have, like I said, that positive mindset goes a long way for our guys."
Williams' slow start featured two three-and-outs to begin the game and an interception on a misguided pass intended for receiver DJ Moore in the second quarter, but the 22-year-old saw few mistakes following his only turnover of the game.
Williams was particularly effective on quick passes against the Jags, completing 13 of 14 passes for 111 yards and three TDs while picking up nine first downs. He finished 23-of-29 passing for 226 yards with the four TDs, owning a dropback success rate of 58.8% and +12.5% completion percentage over expected, according to Next Gen Stats.
But what made Williams' performance even more eye-opening was his playmaking under duress. The Bears QB was a headache for Jaguars pass rushers, slipping by pressure and scrambling out of the pocket to either make play-saving throws on the run or extending drives with his legs with 56 total rushing yards.
He became the fourth rookie QB ever with four-plus TD passes and 50-plus rushing yards in a game, according to NFL Research. He's also the first QB selected No. 1 overall in the common draft era to win four of his first six career starts.
Personal accomplishments aside, Williams was still looking at ways to improve while in the afterglow of his best NFL showing.
"It felt great," Williams said. "I think, obviously, we got to keep getting better -- I can't turn the ball over like that on a wide-open touchdown to DJ. A few things that were going on throughout the game that I got to be better at, but I think the progress that we've had is going to keep growing. I think we have great leaders and a great personality to this team that I've talked about many times. I think all that is going to keep growing, and I think we've got to keep going."
The Bears enjoyed a dominant win overseas as a result of Williams' efficient day. Chicago's offense produced four consecutive TD drives midway through the game, allowing the Bears defense to pin its ears back and make plays while the Jaguars were desperate to stay afloat. It even offered Williams a chance to watch the end from the sideline as backup Tyson Bagent went in to take the negative yards as the Bears kneeled out the clock.
It was a hopeful glimpse into the Bears' bright future with Williams at the helm. Chicago will relish the victory entering its bye in Week 7, which precedes a showdown with a Commanders team led by Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick who seemingly has a new rival in this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
