On paper, there isn’t much to say about the Chicago Bears hosting the New Orleans Saints. Both teams feature new head coaches trying to develop young quarterbacks. Ben Johnson has had more success thus far, going 3-2 in his first five games, while Kellen Moore is 1-5; however, the Saints have played better than their record suggests. You could argue there might be some hard feelings from Dennis Allen. New Orleans fired him last year after the team lost seven straight following a 2-0 start. Much of this was due to quarterback Derek Carr and other key players not being healthy.
The truth is the story isn’t about that. It’s about the quarterbacks. Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler have a history. They were teammates at Oklahoma in 2021. Rattler was the starter when the season began, but he was replaced during what looked like a blowout loss to Texas in favor of Williams. The freshman led a comeback victory and never relinquished the starting job. Rattler was forced to transfer elsewhere, ending up at South Carolina. It’s pretty clear that the two don’t have warm feelings for each other.
Rattler is likely still bitter about what happened three years ago. He was projected as a 1st round pick going into that season. He started off pretty well. Then, in the one game he struggles a bit, he loses his job. Meanwhile, Williams wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction at not being chosen as the starter, feeling he’d outplayed Rattler in practice all summer. He has zero remorse about how things went down.
The Chicago Bears hope to help their quarterback send a message.
Williams isn’t motivated by a personal desire to show up Rattler. He’s more like a racer who left somebody in his dust. His only goal is to win the football game. Still, reminding his former teammate that what happened four years ago was not a robbery but a course of inevitable events probably won’t hurt. Rattler has played well this season, managing to avoid costly mistakes. That said, he’s done it by not attacking down the field much, averaging just 6.0 yards per pass. Unless he’s willing to be more aggressive, it doesn’t feel like he’ll put up many points.
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At the same time, a Saints defense that is 25th in points allowed must go against a Chicago Bears offense that has scored at least 21 points in each of their first five games. Williams is playing some of his best football. If New Orleans can’t make him uncomfortable in this game, he’s liable to have a big afternoon.
This isnt even a story. Next!
I agree with @Tred on both counts. QB, Caleb Sequan Williams, “LLC” is improving at the LOS, weekly. His pre-snap process is much more deliberate– and that results in all his teammates operating in unison more consistently. Hopefully HC Ben and his Competent Crew have some plans to have CW18 find his TEs in 12 personnel sets more often — and get the ball to young Luther III — he’s a playmaker. Rome is a beast — and DJ needs to be on display (trade deadline is Week #9) — so let’s not forget them. I expect D’Andre Swift to… Read more »
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Don’t underestimate Rattler. He has legitimate talent. Not near as much as CW, but just don’t go in there thinking he’s a nobody.
That said, after re-watching the last game, I see clear improvement from Williams – and the thing is – there are still a ton of thiongs he’s not doing right yet which should be fairly easy to correct with more time in this offense.
There is still a lot of room for growth with him, that’s a good thing.
If they are professionals, this storyline won’t matter. They are playing one game, and trying to win it with their team.
Rome Odunze, as a member of the Washington Huskies, lost the National Championship game to Michigan. On that Michigan team were Colston Loveland, now his teammate, as well as Mike Sainristil, who plays in the Commanders secondary, Blake Corum, who the Bears will see later this season, Mason Graham, same. That was then, this is now, be a pro and do your job regardless of who you line up with or against.