1. It’s happening: Caleb Williams is slowly turning into…HIM. The Bears haven’t exactly beaten a murderer’s row of teams thus far, but it doesn’t entirely matter. Williams turning one of the best starts
to a No. 1 overall pick’s career (28 TDs vs. 8 INTs), though? That’s the key. The Bears don’t look like a world-beating team right now, but their young quarterback is clearly growing into his understanding of Ben Johnson’s offense and pulled out yet another late-game clutch drive to beat the Raiders last Sunday—something he’s proven capable of early in his career. Right now, he’s looking like a real guy. Pretty soon, he could stamp himself fully as The Guy.
2. The Raiders really let Ashton Jeanty go back to the Michael Myers stance just in time to stab the Bears repeatedly like he was the lead villain in a slasher flick (155 total yards and three TDs, including a 64-yarder). I know D’Andre Swift had the go-ahead TD on Sunday and Colston Loveland will be a good player. But was it really too much to ask for the NFL to let Jeanty do this stuff in Chicago?
3. The Jets. Oh my lord, the Jets. Bears fans should be thanking whoever they thank in moments like this that they get to talk about the promise of Caleb Williams vs. the continued roller-coaster ride of Justin Fields. Again, great dude. Always rooting for him. He’s the only player in the league who could’ve pulled off that touchdown scramble (shades of 2021 against the 49ers). But man, it’s nice to have a QB who specializes in the forward pass.
4. On one hand, LOL at the Cowboys and Packers for tying in another defense-optional showdown. On the other…it annoys me to come to terms with Jordan Love being good. The Packers really couldn’t miss on a QB just one time?
5. Losing Malik Nabers for the season absolutely stinks, especially in Jaxson Dart’s first-ever NFL start. Metflie Stadium claims another body. Can’t we just stop being lazy and go back to natural grass? Maybe not Soldier Field grass, but still. Y’all are the billionaires. Figure it out.
6. The Ravens are done for. Cooked. Stick a fork in ’em. Their defense can’t stop a soul and is seemingly missing half its starters. Lamar Jackson is seeing ghosts—and now he’s hurt for a bit. Usually, you wouldn’t act like a team’s season is over at 1-3. But I kinda feel like it’s justified here.
7. Why do we even bother with starting retread QBs like Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson for a few games when you know you’re just going to end up going to a rookie a few games into the season anyway? You might as well just prep the kid to play from the start and have done with it rather than trot 40-year-old Flacco out there as a serious personnel decision. And if Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders weren’t ready to play at the start of the year, what’s going to make them more ready now?
8. Every once in a while, Rex Ryan just has to remind us that he’s still alive and in control of his vocal faculties. Why he has to use his voice box to rip on a 5th-round backup quarterback is beyond me. After all, this is a guy people mainly associate with feet jokes and coaching the QB that gave us the Butt Fumble. But you do you, Rex.
9. Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans are predictably bad, and Ward is going through the normal struggles of a No. 1 pick on a crappy team. But you best believe I’m tuning into these postgame pressers from now on. Because “We ass” is an instant classic. Put that next to the Denny Green and Jim Mora rants.
10. Dear wide receivers and ball carriers of all kinds: do not, under ANY circumstances, remove the ball from a secure grip when you’re running away for a touchdown. Don’t hold the ball out. Don’t drop it on the ground. None of it. Because, as A.D. Mitchell’s hilariously awful botched touchdown reminds us for the 1,000th time, karma WILL find you and make you look stupid. FAFO.
