The Chicago Bears had the most explosive offense in the league in Week 1, and it wasn't particularly close. Ben Johnson's team scored 59 points, including eight touchdowns, four of which came thanks to Caleb Williams' brilliance (2 pass, 2 rush).
While there's still plenty to clean up, going against Carson Wentz rather than Kyler Murray should make life easier for Dennis Allen's defense. On the other side of the field, Brian Flores will have to come up with something else to slow down the Bears' quarterback.
According to analytics guru Ryan Paganetti, the Vikings blitzed the Green Bay Packers on 40 of 46 dropbacks (82.1 percent). That might be fine against Jordan Love, but not against the Bears' blitz killer.
Caleb Williams can tear the Vikings' defense apart
Williams was absolutely elite against the blitz last season. SumerSports had him as the most-blitzed quarterback in the league (203 plays), and he actually had a better EPA/play when blitzed (+0.280) than when not, trailing only Lamar Jackson (+0.348) in that regard.
The Panthers blitzed him on 32 percent of his dropbacks, and he responded by throwing for 148 yards and one score. He's too elusive and quick to find gaps on the defense, and his willingness to push the ball downfield makes defenses look extremely vulnerable when they bring in additional help.
The Bears emphasized that Williams shouldn't do all the heavy lifting this season, and they want him to be better at the little things. That doesn't mean he can't dice up a defense if they dare him to make plays; he's done it over and over.
Also, unlike the Packers, the Bears actually have a pretty decent offensive line, despite concerns surrounding Braxton Jones. They can give Williams a clean pocket and more time to throw than Jordan Love had, and with a myriad of playmakers at his disposal, he can make them pay.
Brian Flores is a savvy defensive coordinator and a mad scientist of sorts, so he'll certainly have something in store for Williams and the Bears. But given his love for disguised coverages and blitzing, the Bears can certainly bait him into trying the same approach that worked for him in Week 1.
The Bears might still have lingering questions on defense, but they can hold their own against anyone on the other side of the field. Williams is still a work in progress, but those who have tried to corral him and keep him on his toes have paid the price. Hopefully, that will be the case again in Week 2.
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