“That’s a hope to kill you” – Is Peter Ustinov… Also Ted Lasso
If there’s one thing that’s becoming clear early in this NFL season, it’s that the rumors about the Bears’ comeback were greatly exaggerated. The Vikings may have eked out a narrow win on Monday Night Football, but that didn’t crush the spirit of Chicago fans. However, what unfolded in the second week was truly disappointing. The match, which was meant to signify a fresh start, turned into one of the worst showings this season.
I can accept losing to a team like Detroit, but it’s hard to swallow when it happens in such a disheartening way. This is the moment when you really need to show that you’re not just an old, tired team. Similar to their opener against the Vikings, it seemed like as soon as the Bears deviated from the initial playbook, nothing clicked. Their eight-play, 74-yard touchdown drive was basically the highlight of their day, showcasing their only real offensive success.
- 3 yards, 8 yards – punt
- 6 plays, 32 yards – fumble
- 4 plays, 9 yards – turnover on downs
- 4 plays, -8 yards – interception
By the time the Bears managed to score again, they were already deep in the hole, almost resigned to defeat. They really needed Caleb Williams to step up, but the quarterback was, unfortunately, stifled once more. He had been dealing with the fallout from their previous game against Minnesota all week, and it seemed that issues were lingering. Sure, there were flashes of brilliance, but there were also plays that raised eyebrows, like when Williams threw an interception that looked like he was playing in “full vibe” mode, but without a receiver in sight.
The worst fears are materializing—Ben Johnson and Williams are simply not clicking as coach and quarterback. Trying to work together feels a bit like witnessing a famed classical conductor directing a talented jazz pianist; one is stuck in a structured mindset, while the other craves freedom to improvise. It’s just not turning out well.
Williams lacks the mechanics and timing to hit Johnson’s offensive rhythm, especially when it comes to getting yardage. Most of his passes are just checkdowns. He managed three completions over 20 yards to Roma Odunze, which leaves his average at a meager 4.4 yards per completion on 27 attempts. If Tyson Bagent, a backup, comes in and looks more effective in just three tries than Williams has through the bulk of the game, there’s clearly something off with the offense.
Now, don’t get me wrong—Bagent isn’t a great QB, not even close to Caleb Williams’ level. But he’s somehow delivering what the team needs. It’s not exactly like Jared Goff’s early days in Detroit; it appears you don’t have to be a superstar to make Johnson’s system work.
So far, we’ve mainly looked at the offense, which, fair enough, has the spotlight. But the Bears’ defense on Sunday was just as hideous as an outdated bowling shirt on clearance. Jared Goff had as many incomplete passes as the Bears had touchdown receptions. The Lions managed to connect with eight different receivers, while Amon-Ra St. Brown was seemingly unstoppable, and everyone else had their moments too. Honestly, it was embarrassing to watch as Chicago couldn’t muster a single sack and only managed four QB hits.
The Bears couldn’t stop anything—the pass, the run; the defense was nonexistent. The linebackers failed to tackle effectively. Detroit amassed a staggering 511 yards of offense, aided significantly by the Bears shooting themselves in the foot.
It’s hard to predict where this team goes from here. The Vikings are a solid football team, and losing to them is not a shameful feat. But, fans aren’t exactly accepting of losses, and neither is Ben Johnson. It feels too soon to make drastic QB changes; doing so could backfire and create a public relations nightmare for Chicago. I have my doubts about whether Williams would handle being benched gracefully. Honestly, there’s a real chance he could spiral downwards, losing even more confidence.
Looking ahead, the Bears face a challenging three-week stretch against the Cowboys, Raiders, and Commanders. If they can’t rally, they’re looking at a potential 0-5 season, which might force management to seriously consider a quarterback switch.
Now, moving on to the broader NFL landscape, let’s highlight other notable winners and losers this week.
Daniel Jones has had his own transformational moment. Over the last two weeks, the Colts’ QB has played with an efficiency that’s hard to ignore, helping the Colts to a 2-0 record.
He threw for over 300 yards, scored a touchdown, and added another on the ground. Having running backs like Jonathan Taylor certainly helps, but Jones has been pivotal in their success. His ability to distribute the ball across the field has kept defenses guessing, as evidenced by him completing passes to seven different receivers on Sunday.
Is this sustainable long-term? Probably not. I mean, it could end up being a one-off spectacular performance, similar to what Sam Darnold displayed last year. But there’s something different brewing in the NFL; perhaps Jones might find his groove like Baker Mayfield did not too long ago.
Jaguars fans have been left wanting more. Sure, there was that controversial pass interference call that swung the game, but fundamentally, the issue is Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been able to get in sync.
All the excuses have been made for the former No. 1 overall pick, but he remains erratic. He can make some engaging plays, but there’s nothing particularly clutch or remarkable about him as a quarterback.
The Bengals’ defense showed ferocity. Jake Browning filled in for the injured Joe Burrow, but even with lower expectations, Lawrence managed to throw two critical interceptions and failed to manage the ball effectively. It’s clear something isn’t clicking for the Jaguars, and simply blaming the head coach won’t bring results.
The vibe in Jacksonville is pretty dire right now.
Winners: Drake May and the Patriots
Drake May is quickly establishing himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. He was one of my top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and displayed why on Sunday, achieving incredible efficiency with 19 completions on 230 yards, including a touchdown and a rushing score.
The Patriots still lack powerhouse players, especially in the passing game, leaning instead on their running backs, yet they’ve demonstrated offensive improvement against the Dolphins. In just two games, May has completed 71% of his passes, thrown for over 500 yards, and has accumulated four touchdowns against just one interception.
This team is shaping up to be May’s squad. There’s a newfound trust from coach Mike Vrabel, and their performance is steadily improving. It’s just a matter of time before they make another leap.
Now, the Patriots were beaten 41-17, so being labeled “winners” may feel odd, but there’s potential here. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are scrambling to secure two top-10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which could have significant implications.
Rodgers’ performance plummeted rather rapidly; he went from being a standout to the reason the Steelers fell to the Seahawks in Week 2.
With 4:17 left in the third quarter, he threw an end-zone interception that didn’t directly cost them the game, but it certainly deflated the team’s momentum. From that point, the Seahawks chalked up 17 points while the Steelers only managed a field goal.
This wasn’t the same story as Rogers’ initial week.
Loser: Anyone who watched Sunday Night Football
Kudos to the Falcons, but that was not a great game in my opinion. With plenty of exciting matchups throughout the day, that night game was kind of a letdown, especially after eagerly anticipating it all day.
