Did Bears make yet another QB mistake by drafting Caleb Williams?
Finding a franchise quarterback has been a lengthy and never-ending fight for the Chicago Bears. They typically get it wrong.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bears owned the No. 3 overall pick and traded up one spot so they could select Mitch Trubisky. It did not work. Eight picks later, the Kansas City Chiefs took a young quarterback by the name of Patrick Mahomes.
After it became clear that Trubisky was not going to pan out, the Bears used the No. 11 pick in 2021 on Justin Fields. While that ended up being a weak quarterback class, the next pick after Fields was star pass-rusher Micah Parsons.
After a couple of disappointing years, the Bears again decided they did not have the right quarterback, and thanks to a shrewd trade in 2023 with the Carolina Panthers that allowed Carolina to move up to take quarterback Bryce Young with the top pick, the Bears found themselves with the No. 1 overall pick in a quarterback-heavy 2024 class.
They selected Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. Just a year-and-a-half into it, Bears fans have to be asking if the team got it wrong at the most important position. Again.
That's not only because of what Williams is doing, but also because of what the Daniels and Maye have done so far.
Caleb Williams looks least effective of top three QBs from 2024 class
Through his first 24 games in the NFL, Williams has looked mostly okay. He has not been a clear bust who is unplayable, but there has also not been a lot of progress in his game. He has not yet taken a significant leap forward.
He's not yet been a game-changer, even though the Bears have done everything they possibly can to surround him with playmakers on offense and an offensive-minded head coach in Ben Johnson.
He still looks very indecisive on a lot of plays, and even worse, his accuracy seems to be regressing. He misses a lot of throws that you expect a top-tier starting quarterback to make. The fact that he is not getting better in that regard through a significant part of his second season has to be discouraging.
He was outplayed by Tyler Huntley on Sunday in a 30-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, throwing a horrific, game-changing interception in the fourth quarter.
All of that is bad. What should really make it discouraging is that the two quarterbacks taken after him — Daniels and Maye — have already taken their big leaps forward.
Daniels was by far the best rookie quarterback in the NFL in 2024 and helped lead his Washington Commanders team to the NFC Championship game. He has been outstanding again this season when healthy.
Maye, meanwhile, is having a breakout season with the New England Patriots and looks like one of the rising stars in the NFL as a dual-threat quarterback. Every week, he makes eye-popping throws, generates plays with his feet and has the Patriots at 6-2 and in serious contention for the AFC East title far earlier than anybody expected.
The Bears, meanwhile, seem stuck in the same situation they have been in for years: wondering when the quarterback they did pick is going to improve, mired in mediocrity as a team and just feeling like an organization stuck in the mud.
Maybe Maye and Daniels would not have succeeded in Chicago, given the organization. Maybe Williams would have excelled elsewhere. Those are all fascinating hypotheticals. But when it comes to the facts in front of us, the Bears had the top pick in 2024 and do not currently have the best quarterback from that class.
That is a problem. It is a recurring problem for the Bears.
Bucs vs. Eagles Final Score Predictions: Will Tampa Bay bounce the defending champs for the third time in a row?
It's safe to say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten the best of Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles since he became head coach in 2021.
The Bucs are 4-1 against the Eagles over that span, including two dominant playoff wins in Tampa Bay. The Eagles got waxed on the road last year, too, but that was without key players like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson. So it's ok if that outcome is taken with a grain of salt.
Regardless, both teams are 3-0 heading into this matchup and are looking to climb to the top of the ranks in the NFC. A win on Sunday would go a very long way in aiding that quest.
When it comes to a win, there's plenty to like for both teams. Therefore, A to Z Philadelphia's Kelsey Kramer has entered the chat so we can give perspective from both sides of the ball.
With that being said, let's dive into the final score predictions for the Week 4 Bucs-Eagles matchup.
Bucs 27, Eagles 24
As of Friday morning, both Chris Godwin Jr. and Tristan Wirfs have logged a full practice session. That's absolutely huge when it comes to their potential availability and right now, it looks like both will suit up against the Eagles on Sunday.
That changes multiple dynamics heading into this game. Wirfs helps fortify the offensive line by allowing Graham Barton to move back to center and Ben Bredeson to move back to left guard. Next, Godwin Jr. helps the passing attack by replacing Mike Evans and taking pressure off Emeka Egbuka, who is currently the lone receiver of the "Big Four" that's still around.
Those two guys will undoubtedly help the Bucs offense move the ball against an Eagles defense that is talented but is still a bit vulnerable through three weeks. Especially on the ground.
I think the Bucs offense can score points on Sunday and I think the defense will be able to shut down Saquon Barkley and force Jalen Hurts to make plays. We saw him put the Eagles on his back against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, so that's certainly not a death knell for Philly. However, given Hurts' noted struggles against Todd Bowles' defensive scheme and how well the Bucs defense is playing - it's still an advantage for the Bucs.
It'll be a high-scoring affair and I'm taking the Bucs to win by a field goal.
– Evan Winter, A to Z Tampa Bay
Eagles 31, Bucs 24
There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles and their offense identity this season, even though they are 3-0. However, the Eagles finally started clicking in the second half of their Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
If they can replicate that second-half offense for four quarters against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Eagles shouldn't have much trouble getting their way. Even if they play inconsistent ball, they've already proven three times that they're not giving up until the final whistle blows, even if it comes down to their defense having to save them.
The Eagles also face a major advantage with Bucs star receiver Mike Evans out, and unlike last time when they faced off, Philly will have all of their weapons available for this Sunday. Additionally, the Eagles' defense looks healthier than expected after some injury scares earlier in the week.
Sure, the Birds have had a tough time going to Tampa Bay in recent years, but they mean business this week, and that includes going down an extra day early to get used to the Florida heat.
I think the Eagles' offense quits playing conservatively altogether and gets more comfortable with their identity, and it ends up being a back-and-forth brawl, but Philly ultimately comes out on top.
