In a thrilling matchup, rookie quarterback sensation Caleb Williams led his team to a nail-biting 21-16 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. Despite throwing an impressive 52 times, Williams was taken aback by his own passing output. “I threw the ball 52 times? Jeez,” he exclaimed.
Williams set a new single-game rookie passing record for his team, completing 33 of 52 attempts for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, earning an 80.8 passer rating. This marks a significant improvement from his combined 267 passing yards in the first two games of the season.
However, the team struggled to get their rushing attack going, managing only 63 yards on 28 attempts, averaging a mere 2.3 yards per carry. They also struggled to convert rushing first downs, securing only four throughout the game.
One pivotal series in the first half highlighted these struggles. Down 7-0, the team embarked on a 16-play, 53-yard drive, only to stall inside the Colts’ 5-yard line. They ran the ball on five consecutive plays, but ultimately failed to cross into the end zone. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Williams was pressured and pitched the ball to running back D’Andre Swift, who was tackled for a 12-yard loss.
“It’s frustrating,” Williams admitted. “We were that close, and you get four attempts right there. I think we were below the 5 [yard line] for four attempts. And so, not getting in, in those moments, it definitely is frustrating.”
Tight end Cole Kmet emphasized the need for a stronger mindset up front, saying, “I think it’s just that mindset, that mindset shift. It was a long drive, and you’re tired at the end, but we got to have that attitude of we’re going to finish these guys off.”
Williams’ first NFL passing touchdown came in the fourth quarter, connecting with rookie Rome Odunze for a 1-yard reception. He later hit tight end Kmet for a 6-yard touchdown, both scores coming when the team trailed by two scores.
Despite the setbacks, Williams remains optimistic about the team’s offensive identity, saying, “I do whatever the team needs. So, if it’s [throwing] 50 times, it’s 50 times. I can’t have the two turnovers with those 50 attempts… We’ll keep slinging it, we’ll keep working on the run game. We’ll keep getting better, definitely, as an offense. We’re going to get this thing going here soon.”
While Williams’ volume was impressive, the team still struggles to create explosive pass plays. More than half of his completions were thrown 5 or fewer yards downfield, and he was 4-of-14 for 137 yards and an interception on passes thrown 15 or more yards.
Wide receiver DJ Moore echoed Williams’ sentiments, emphasizing the need for the offense to find its identity quickly. “I don’t know. Whatever gets us a win… We’ve got to figure out our identity — like, now — for the sake of them.”
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