Bears’ Caleb Williams could expose Mike Vrabel’s Patriots after perfect 24-for-24 clean-pocket day

Bears’ Caleb Williams could expose Mike Vrabel’s Patriots after perfect 24-for-24 clean-pocket day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Caleb Williams handed Mike Vrabel a math problem in Atlanta. Williams missed Weeks 3 through 5 with a hamstring injury. In his first game back, the Chicago Bears quarterback was perfect whenever the Falcons left him alone, going 24-for-24 for 248 yards on those snaps, according to Next Gen Stats.

His full line read 30-of-36, 305 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Williams connected on each of his first dozen throws and walked away with NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Chicago and New England both arrive at 4-2 for Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Soldier Field.

Will Compton, the former NFL linebacker, spelled out Vrabel’s dilemma on ESPN’s “Get Up.”

“Mike Vrabel, I don’t know how you’re going to win this football game pressuring Caleb Williams,” Compton said. He labeled the Bears passer “one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL against the blitz.” His fix was a four-man rush. Compton did get the number wrong, citing a “26 for 26” clean-pocket mark instead of the actual 24.

Williams’ season splits back up the broader point. Against non-blitz looks, he completes 87.5% of his passes, tops in the league. With nobody in his face, he ranks first again at 84.7%. Once pressure arrives, that figure falls to 50.0%, seventh in the NFL.

Put those numbers side by side and Vrabel’s path narrows. Pressure rattles Williams. Extra bodies, on their own, haven’t. New England needs its front four to win their matchups without help so the rest of the defense can stay in coverage. That’s a big ask against a quarterback who leads the NFL in completion percentage (72.5%) and CPOE (+9.8%).

Tom Brady Praise and Drake Maye’s Battered Line Raise Stakes for Caleb Williams vs. Patriots

The warmest praise for Williams this week came from the Patriots’ own past. Tom Brady, who attended the Atlanta game, ranked the Bears seventh in his FOX Sports power rankings. He pointed to 30 completions, 40 minutes of possession, and no interceptions.

“That’s the kind of football that brings a tear to my eye,” Brady said. “Caleb Williams, he really didn’t miss a beat. He looked great, just like he did in the opener.”

Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s former Patriots tight end, stayed loyal to Foxborough. On “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, he was asked to choose between the No. 1 and No. 3 picks of the 2024 draft. He went with the New England quarterback.

“I’m gonna go with Drake Maye. I just like the touch on his ball…” Gronkowski said.

That debate may matter less than Maye’s protection. New England lost three starting linemen against the New York Jets on Sunday: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ben Brown and right tackle Morgan Moses. Two are out, and Moses is questionable.

Compton flagged it: “Drake Maye, you’re going to have to win the football game when you’re down three starting offensive linemen.”

Here’s the wrinkle I like. Maye admires Williams for slipping pressure, and he may need that exact skill Thursday.

“He’s special in the way he can move and kinda escape and evade pressure,” Maye said of Williams.

Williams returned the compliment, calling Maye’s mobility a long-running weapon and adding, “we’ve gotta be able to bottle him up.”

This is their second NFL meeting. Vrabel isn’t taking Williams lightly, even though Williams looked slightly slower in Atlanta.