2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has yet to have a true standout game four weeks into his NFL career. But riding a steady uptick in production and with a favorable matchup ahead, the rookie could break out in Week 5.
On Sunday, Williams and the Chicago Bears (2-2) will host the Carolina Panthers (1-3), offering the first-year quarterback a golden opportunity to shine. No team in the NFL has allowed more points (129) than the NFC South basement dweller and, unsurprisingly, the Panthers have been friendly to opposing quarterbacks.
Carolina has allowed opponents to throw for two or more touchdowns in every game this season. Meanwhile, the unit has allowed quarterbacks to post a 107.8 passer rating (28th) and a 71.3 completion percentage (26th) with only one team failing to surpass 200 passing yards against them.
On top of having an advantageous matchup, Williams has looked more comfortable from game to game, which the numbers confirm.
Through Williams’ first two games, he completed 56 percent of his passes (37-of-66, 267 yards), recording a 53.0 passer rating with two interceptions and zero touchdowns. The highly touted rookie has shown improvement over the past two weeks, posting an 88.8 passer rating and 66.6 completion percentage (50-of-75, 520 yards) with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Furthermore, he’s begun to stretch the field more effectively. Through Week 2, Williams completed 4 of 15 attempts of 10 yards or more, going 0-of-9 on passes 20 yards or deeper. In Week 3 and 4 combined, the former USC standout went 11-of-25 on 10-plus yard attempts, completing 3 of 6 20-yard passes for 118 yards.
Williams has shown flashes of his ability, such as his Week 3 performance (363 yards) in a 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But a contest against the Panthers might be his first genuine opportunity to stand out.
