Indianapolis Colts (1-2) – Chicago Bears (1-2): 21-16
The duel between the two youngest quarterbacks in the league turned in favor of Caleb Williams (Bears). However, it was Anthony Richardson and the Colts who emerged victorious from the match.
The start of the game is sluggish. The defenses take precedence over the attacks and the penalties chop up the game. Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams struggle to get into the game. With a missed field goal by the Bears, the first quarter ends with the score 0-0.
After a nice drive at the start of the second quarter, Richardson is intercepted in the Chicago end zone. Indianapolis has to do it all over again. Despite a nice connection between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze (WR), the Bears give the ball back to the Colts a few plays later on an interception. Jonathan Taylor (RB) takes advantage to open the scoring on a 30-yard touchdown and Indianapolis takes the lead. The score stays there and the teams go to the locker room (7-0 Colts).
Right after the restart, Anthony Richardson throws his second interception of the game. The Bears score their first points on a field goal by Pineiro. A few moments later, Caleb Williams imitates his counterpart and throws his second interception. The defenses impose themselves and put pressure on the two young quarterbacks. The Colts end up concluding a nice offensive sequence with several big plays by Jonathan Taylor. Richardson pushes Sermon (RB) into the endzone.
Everything comes alive in the fourth quarter. Caleb Williams finds great connections with Cole Kmet (TE) and Rome Odunze. The latter catches his first touchdown on his quarterback's first touchdown pass. This even gives rise to a great sequence between the two players who “argue” over who will keep the ball. But the Bears fail on the two-point conversion. Colts rookie Laiatu Latu (DT) forces Williams' fumble and Taylor scores his second touchdown. Cole Kmet will go for his touchdown, but the Bears are too short and fail by a narrow margin (21-16 for Indianapolis).
Caleb Williams is improving
Caleb Williams lost three balls: two interceptions and a fumble. But there was improvement, much improvement in his game. The quarterback finished 33/52 for 363 yards, 2 touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble. After an average first quarter, he seemed to free himself up in the second quarter.
His choices were quicker, smarter. He found several different targets. Rome Odunze had his first reference game of his young career: 6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 touchdown. His alchemy with Cole Kmet was decisive on important plays. The tight end finished with 10 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. DJ Moore helped Williams with 8 receptions for 78 yards.
Not always helped by the play-calling of Matt Eberflus (HC), Caleb Williams progressed in this match and it showed. Despite mistakes, normal for a rookie, the quarterback seemed liberated and much more confident. The trigger for the rest of the season?
Colts defense dominates, Taylor saves Richardson on offense
Anthony Richardson was not there. With a 10/20 stat sheet for 167 yards and 2 interceptions, the quarterback continues to disappoint at the start of the season. Despite another impressive pass for Alec Pierce (WR), he forced his game and lacked precision. Fortunately for him, Jonathan Taylor did the job. The runner finished with 110 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 carries. He carried the attack all by himself in this game.
On the other side of the ball, the defense was not there to joke around. Four sacks on Caleb Williams, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and only 65 yards conceded on the ground. Jaylon Jones author of the two interceptions (plus five tackles including one for loss), Zaire Franklin (15 tackles)… it is hard to single out a player from the group so homogeneous was this squad today.
The downside for Indianapolis remains the number of penalties conceded (9 for 78 yards). It is almost a miracle to leave with the victory when you display such a statistic and Chicago can blame itself. Both teams will have many lessons to learn from this match and come out enriched from this disputed duel. Anthony Richardson will quickly have to do better if the Colts want to hope for anything from this season.
