Head coach Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears do not have much going their way heading into Week 3, but the on-field rapport between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze has certainly qualified. Former Bears offensive lineman Tom Thayer took notice and broke the connection down on X.
So far this season, Williams has thrown for 417 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception on 61.5% completion.
Odunze has 13 receptions for 165 yards and all three of Williams’ scoring passes.
Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze Offer Silver Lining for Winless Bears
Bears Rome Odunze Benefiting From Improved Chemistry With Caleb Williams
Through two weeks, Williams ranks 22nd in passing yards, and his completion percentage ranks 24th out of 38 qualifying passers. However, he is also tied for the fourth-most TD passes.
Odunze is tied for first in receiving touchdowns, 10th in yards, and 15th in catches.
“Caleb & Rome continue to build their connection [handshake emoji],” the Bears’ social media team posted on X on September 3, along with a video of Thayer breaking down Odunze and Williams’ growing chemistry.
Williams had a 267-0-2 line on 56.1% completion through two games as a rookie, while Odunze had three grabs for 44 yards.
Both players had bigger days the following week, which could bode well for this season.
It certainly underscores the budding on-field chemistry that the 2024 draftmates Odunze and Williams have shown, really since the start of the Bears’ offseason program, into training camp, and all during the preseason.
Former QB Breaks Down Caleb Williams’ Week 2 Film
Former NFL quarterback and “All Things QB” host Tim Jenkins broke down Williams’ game, and it was a mixed bag in Week 2.
“All in all, ‘Is it time to panic,’ is kind of the question almost, right? Because it’s like, 0-2, Week 1 looked sloppy. Week 2, it’s hard for me because Week 2, I sit there and I go, ‘Man, that tape definitely didn’t look as bad as Week 1.’ You look at the end result, you kind of feel worse,” Jenkins said in the video published on September 15. “What I can tell you is I felt like he grew. I felt like Caleb grew on the shot plays.
“And then you take a big old step back with some of that other stuff, and you just kind of go, – you just don’t feel good, right? Is it time to full-blown panic? Are we in panic mode? Are we in, ‘Hey, let’s start looking at draft prospects?’ No. No, we’re not there. But are we thrilled? No. It’s kind of more of a depression, would be the best way to explain it. Like a dark … cloud.”
No matter how good Odunze is, the Bears will only be successful if Williams is consistent.
Bears Land on ‘Week 3 Panic Meter’
The biggest issue the Bears have faced is inconsistency, even with Odunze and Williams showing progress.
NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha placed the Bears on his “Week 3 panic meter.”
“Anybody who looked at the Bears’ schedule knew the first two weeks wouldn’t be easy for a young team trying to ascend in the ultracompetitive NFC North,” Chadhia wrote on September 15, noting the defense’s failings as a surprise.
“Two defeats to start the season were reasonable to expect. The problem in Chicago is how those losses have come.”
Chadiha’s warning looms large entering a Week 3 home date against the Dallas Cowboys.
“The Bears don’t get many breaks with the schedule over the next few weeks, either,” Chadiha wrote.
“Chicago had better find a way to slow teams down real fast. There are other areas to address — the penalties and the inability of Williams to play a complete game — but the Bears clearly need more defense if they want to hang with the heavyweights in the NFC.”