Packers will prolong Williams, Bears’ painful season
By GERY WOELFEL
Caleb Williams is just starting his pro career.
But there had to be times this season when he wished it was almost over.
That’s because the Chicago Bears highly-touted rookie, who was the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has endured the most trying of seasons.
While Williams has played just nine games, his mind, soul and body have been abused. He’s been sacked 38 time – or an average of 4.2 times a game. That, as you would imagine, is a league-high.
To put Williams’ woes into perspective, Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love has been sacked seven times. And when Love was sidelined by injury, his replacement, Malik Willis, was sacked five times. In other words, Love and Willis have been sacked a combined 12 times – or 26 times fewer than Williams.
Williams’ trials and tribulations can be attributed to two things: He has had to perform behind a dysfunctional offensive line and his penchant of holding on to the ball too long.
On the surface, you would think the Packers’ defense would extend Williams’ miseries when the Packers and Bears meet Sunday in Chicago.
But the Packers’ defense has underperformed for much of this season and struggled to rack up sacks. In nine games, they have only compiled 22 sacks. That ranks a lowly 19th in the league in that category. Their sacks leader is Devonte Wyatt with just three.
Whatever the number of sacks the Packers register against Williams, it probably won’t matter. The Bears are bad. The Packers should crush them in what could possibly be Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ last game.
Prediction: Packers 34, Bears 20.
