Caleb Williams walked into Seattle facing the test that was supposed to slow him down. Instead, he walked out with his Most Valuable Player case louder than ever.
No quarterback had thrown for 200 yards against the Seattle Seahawks this season. Williams went 46 of 34 for 247 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers during the Bears' 34-17 win. USA Today has placed Williams fifth in their MVP rankings, behind the likes of Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, and Brock Purdy.
All of those guys are undeniably having excellent respective seasons, but that's no reason to count Williams out despite missing a few early games in the season.
Williams case begins with efficiency
Williams has completed 70.9 percent of his passes this season for 1,267 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. At present, Williams is fifth among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating, with the same four above him as in USA Today's rankings listed above.
Williams completion percentage of 70.9 is second only to Joe Burrow, who boasts a 73%.
Since returning from his hamstring injury, Williams has been sharper. In three starts, he's completed 73.8 percent of his passes for 860 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Each of those starts yielded over 30 points for the Bears.
The biggest obstacle facing Williams in the MVP race is the time missed. That hole in the case is purely due to volume. Five games in comparison to eight from other elite quarterbacks can truly make the difference. The voters will always have that in the back of their minds when it comes time to vote at the end of the season.
But there's a long time between then and now, and a lot can happen. As we approach Week 9, Caleb Williams has been excellent so far this season. The path to an MVP award might be glossed over by missing a few games, but that doesn't change the fact that the Windy City is finally enjoying an quarterback who can bring a game-changing effect.
The missed month will trail Williams all winter, but if he keeps playing this clean while Chicago keeps winning, voters will run out of reasons to hold September against him.
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