Bears seek consistency from Caleb Williams, offense after 27-24 loss to Vikings

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears entered their second week of the season searching for offensive consistency after surrendering a 17-6 lead and losing 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings in their opener.

Coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that the game revealed both the upside and the lingering issues with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams completed 21 of 35 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, opened the game with 10 straight completions and ran for a career-first touchdown, but struggled with accuracy at times as the Bears failed to find sustained offensive balance.

"It was up and down," Johnson said. "We had mixed results. There were some things that he did that were top notch and I would put him up there with some of the best in the NFL. He had a couple throws with guys in his face that he delivered on target that were very tough. I thought he did a good job evading when he felt pressure and yet there were still some that we would like to have back. There were probably three or four of them that we counted on tape that, at a minimum, that we would want back." Williams also led the team in rushing with 58 yards on six scrambles.

The ground game failed to provide a counterbalance. D'Andre Swift carried 17 times for 53 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per attempt, and no other running back recorded a rushing attempt. Wide receiver D.J. Moore had three carries out of the backfield for eight yards. Chicago entered the season with expectations of improved run blocking after signing center Drew Dalman in free agency and acquiring guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in a trade, but Johnson called the unit "subpar overall."

The pass rush showed flashes but lacked consistency. New addition Dayo Odeyingbo recorded a sack in his debut and the Bears finished with three sacks on Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but they were unable to turn defensive performance into a decisive advantage. Chicago held Minnesota to 134 passing yards and 254 total yards and committed no turnovers, yet still trailed in the fourth quarter.

Special teams and situational decisions also factored into the loss. Cornerback Nahshon Wright intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bears a 17-6 lead in the third quarter, but he was flagged for pass interference on another play and allowed a long catch that set up two Vikings field goals. Johnson drew criticism for a failed fourth-down gamble, an unsuccessful challenge that cost a timeout and for choosing not to have kicker Cairo Santos kick the ball out of bounds late in the game to save time. Johnson took responsibility for the sequence and for burning a timeout in the first half.

Chicago was flagged 12 times in the game, its most penalties in a season opener since Nov. 8, 2021, against Pittsburgh, a statistic Johnson said he wants to address by improving attention to detail.

With a quick turnaround, Johnson said the focus this week will be on sharpening the passing game and building consistency with Williams ahead of his return to Ford Field on Sunday to face his former team. He said the opener offered encouraging plays to build on, but left the Bears with clear areas to fix if they are to convert flashes into wins.