NFL Draft Daily Dish: Caleb Williams has Bears looking like legitimate playoff contenders

The Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams are making a strong case as playoff contenders, riding a three-game win streak and showcasing a dominant offense and emerging defense. Williams, after a rocky start, has quickly matured into the leader the Bears hoped for, supported by standout performances from Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. Meanwhile, over in New Orleans, rookie Spencer Rattler made his first start for the Saints, showing flashes of potential but struggling with consistency and control. While the Bears look playoff-bound, Rattler's path will require further development to meet the demands of the NFL.

Chicago Bears are playoff contenders 

The Bears are proving themselves to be a legitimate contender this season, showing dramatic improvement with three consecutive wins and a dominant combined score of 71-26 in their last two games. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has quickly grown into his role after a rough start, and the Bears’ defense is shaping up as one of the best young units in the NFL. All signs are pointing to their first playoff appearance since 2020.

The biggest reason for Bears fans’ optimism is Williams' rapid development. Though he struggled in his first two games — completing under 50% of his passes against the Titans and throwing two interceptions against the Texans — he has since found his groove. Williams now looks every bit the playmaker the Bears expected when they drafted him first overall in 2024, displaying both a better understanding of the offense and the same dynamic abilities he showcased at USC.

Williams has also benefited from an improving cast of offensive weapons. Free-agent signing Keenan Allen broke out with two touchdowns last Sunday, while DJ Moore continues to deliver as the team’s top receiver. Rookie Rome Odunze is still building chemistry with Williams, and tight end Cole Kmet has been incredibly reliable, catching 26 of 29 targets this season. With these players stepping up, the Bears’ passing game has become one of the most exciting in the league.

On defense, the Bears are even more impressive. They rank fifth in points allowed per game (16.8) and have kept every opponent under 21 points. Their young secondary, featuring Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Jaquan Brisker, and Kyler Gordon, has been key to their success.

A major surprise has been the Bears' pass rush, which was seen as a weakness heading into the season. Now, the team is averaging three sacks per game (seventh in the NFL), led by defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, who has six sacks. The Bears' defense has also found success through creative schemes, with 13 different players recording at least half a sack, making it difficult for opposing teams to block effectively.

Despite the positives, the Bears still have areas to address. Their running game is ranked 25th in the league, averaging just 104.8 yards per game. Defensively, they struggle against the run, allowing 4.5 yards per carry, which places them in the lower half of the league.

The upcoming schedule poses additional challenges, with tough divisional games in the second half of the season. If the Bears can hold their own during this stretch, they stand a strong chance of earning a wild-card playoff spot.

Spencer Rattler’s first start

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler made his first start of his career this past week, completing 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards with two interceptions, and finishing with a QBR of 27.7. While there were some positives, a key issue stood out: his game felt rushed.

Rattler struggled to play with control, and this impacted several aspects of his performance. He appeared uncomfortable in the pocket for most of the game, often leaving prematurely when he still had time to make a throw. This tendency led to him locking onto one or two receivers rather than progressing through all of his reads. The Saints' decision to roll him out of the pocket frequently, rather than letting him operate like veteran Derek Carr, further reflected his discomfort inside.

Another area affected by Rattler's rushed play was his footwork. He often had jittery feet in the pocket, which hurt his accuracy. His second interception was a direct result of this, as he underthrew his receiver while throwing off his back foot.

Despite these issues, Rattler showed promising traits as a pro prospect. His mobility was a highlight, and it’s likely why the Saints leaned on rollouts to keep him moving. He also demonstrated good arm strength, zipping passes into tight windows on multiple occasions.

To develop into a reliable starting quarterback, Rattler will need to show more patience in the pocket and stop trying to force plays to happen. The raw talent is there, but he’ll have to refine his game to meet the expectations.