4 Takeaways From Bears’ Loss to Lions: ‘Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze’

Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears’ losing streak now sits at nine games, all since the bye week, following their 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 16. In the locker room, tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver Keenan Allen offered differing takes on moral victories as another season that began with hope will end with disappointment and question marks across the board.

Amid the uncertainty, Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze’s on-field connection is critical.

Bears-Lions Takeaways: ‘Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze’

Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze’s Short Memories Good for Bears

Odunze got off to a rough start. He fumbled on his first touch; a failed handoff from Williams in the first quarter that the Lions recovered. The former Washington Husky fumbled on his second touch as well.

That was a 19-yard completion that had gotten the Bears into Lions territory.

Williams went back to Odunze on each of the Bears’ next two possessions. They missed on their next time out. But the duo connected on two plays for 28 yards on the Bears’ third drive.

“I’m not going out there … trying to make up or anything,” Odunze told Clocker Sports after the game. “I just plug the next play, try and do my job on the next route. I think when you do that, things come to you and plays come to you.”

Odunze finished with four receptions for 77 yards, his third-most in a game this season. He could have had an even bigger day with the missed connections and another reception called back by an offsides.

Keenan Allen is in the final year of his contract. He says he is open to returning. But after a season like this, both sides will have plenty to evaluate.

DJ Moore is under contract for another season at least before the Bears can move on without taking a significant penalty. And if they tear it down – again –  Moore could be made available to the highest bidder (though trading him without a replacement would not make sense either).

Odunze, taken eight spots after Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft, is the team’s future.

Odunze has also shown why he was a top-10 pick, which should only encourage the Bears. That is why it was good to see Williams going back to him.

It is also good to hear Odunze say he is not in his head after such significant mistakes. He was not the only one. Allen had an early drop. Moore fumbled on one of his carries, though his workload on the ground is a separate issue.

Caleb Williams Shoulders Blame

Talk about Williams’ leadership should have been settled long ago. The so-called diva QB has not once thrown his coaches or teammates under the bus despite many moments when doing so may have benefited him in the long run.

He has also been quick to acknowledge his own inconsistent play this season when he could have easily leaned on franchise and NFL records he has set in this lost campaign.

On Sunday, he again showed leadership, shouldering the blame for the fumble with Odunze.

“Going versus a team like that, you can’t you can’t have those moments,” Williams told reporters after the contest. “Whether it was the fumble, the first fumble between Rome and me, putting it all the way right in the middle so it’s not near his hip and things like that so he can clamp down on it. And then the second one, obviously, understanding that a bunch of guys around you [and] protecting the football.”

Williams says he is still encouraged by the fight the team has shown despite the turmoil they have endured. He touted the growth that he sees from week to week, whether that is trusting the routes of his receivers more or that resilience.

More OL Injuries

Williams’ job got tougher on Sunday against the Lions, with Bears offensive linemen Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins both exiting the game with injuries. Jenkins suffered a calf injury while Jones, whose injury appears more severe, was carted off the field with an ankle injury.

That left Larry Borom and Jake Curhan to protect Williams’ blindside. Boron was inactive behind rookie Kiran Amegadjie last week.

Amegadjie was inactive this week but should have a shot to suit up in Week 17 with the injuries.

This is in addition to the Bears being on their third right guard. They cut Week 1 starter and 2023 free agent pickup Nate Davis and offseason trade acquisition Ryan Bates has been injured most of the season.

Bates was also supposed to compete at center with starting Coleman Shelton – the only Bears player to start all 15 games this season – in a battle that never happened because of injuries.

The Bears must evaluate four of five positions up front for next season.

They have to come back next season with at least two certain upgrades and a better contingency plan for any holdovers than they executed this season. Nothing else they do will matter until they fix the trenches in front of Williams (and the running backs).

Bears Young DTs Make Noise vs Lions

The Bears were without Gervon Dexter Sr. against the Lions. It was the second straight absence for Dexter. The Bears lost Andrew Billings to injured reserve several weeks ago. But in two more positive moments, Bears defensive tackles Chris Williams and Zacch Pickens flashed for a maligned group.

Williams was credited with a hit on Lions QB Jared Goff on Sunday in the Bears loss. Moreover, he is quietly having a career year with 3.0 sacks, tied for the fourth-most on the team.

Williams has recorded at least 1.0 tackles in all but one of his 15 games played this season.

“It feels good because I’ve been working at it for so long. So I’m really just grateful … with the Bears, giving me this opportunity to play and show what I can do and show what I can bring to a team. So it’s really just like – just been knowing I could do stuff like this all along. Just taking advantage of the opportunity.

“[I’m] just staying focused, treating every day the same, as in approaching it with my routine, and what I’m doing for my body and for my mind before the game. And just not focus on what I can’t control and just focus on the things I can.”

Williams, a former undrafted free agent who was with former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis with the Colts, understood the latter’s firing this season as “part of the game.”

Williams also said that he would like to return next season if the Bears will have him.

Pickens was a third-round pick by the Bears in 2023. He has battled a groin injury this season and has not taken the step forward that he or the team expected. On Sunday, Pickens recorded the first full sack of his career.

He entered the week with 0.5 sacks in his career, splitting his lone QB takedown with defensive end Dominique Robinson.

That was against the Denver Broncos in Week 4 in 2023.

“It feels good to get that first one, especially get that first one,” Pickens told Clocker Sports amid cheers from teammate Darrell Taylor. “Feels good to get my first one for the season instead of it being the preseason.

“Me, Chris, we all worked on it this whole time in practice and just covered each other. Chris did a good job, Dom a good job pressing it, I just wrapped around.”

Pickens said the play only builds his confidence but that he is eager to do more.

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“Just continue to get better. Work on what I need to work on, especially – it’s some stuff that I can work on to get better food for Thursday [versus the Seattle Seahawks]. So just continue to go through my progressions and keep working.

“Really, just staying in my gap, make sure nothing hits my gap, continue to get pressure on the quarterback, and work together as a unit. I feel like it helps us a lot.”

Pickens also praised the defensive tackle room for trying to step up without Billings or Dexter.