Caleb Williams, Bears aim to level record with win over Rams

The Chicago Bears unabashedly went all-in on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in the offseason.

While the top overall draft pick has produced mixed results through three games, the Bears (1-2) hope to stabilize their attack as other members of the offense return to health for a Sunday home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Chicago received positive news Wednesday when veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen practiced in a limited role. Allen has missed the past two games, both road losses, due to plantar fasciitis.

“His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is gonna be great for us,” Williams said.

A known commodity in the middle of the field, Allen figures to provide security for Williams, who has remained under duress behind a transitioning offensive line.

Chicago yielded four sacks in a 21-16 loss at Indianapolis last week. Williams was sacked seven times the week before in Houston.

Right tackle Darnell Wright is day-to-day with a back injury, and his possible absence could mean further shuffling for Bears coach Matt Eberflus and Co.

“We’re looking at the best five (offensive linemen),” Eberflus said. “We don’t want musical chairs in there. It’s early in the season. We’re looking for that.”

The Bears struggled to run on a struggling Indianapolis rush defense. Williams passed for 363 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career but also was responsible for three turnovers — two interceptions and a strip sack.

Los Angeles avoided an 0-3 start by rallying from a 14-point, second-half deficit to edge the visiting San Francisco 49ers 27-24. Joshua Karty kicked the winning 37-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.

While the Rams (1-2) aspire to play from ahead on Sunday and throughout the season, they also find that reeling in opponents is made easier with quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.

Los Angeles defensive tackle Kobie Turner described Stafford’s calmness after the Rams forced a punt, giving the offense the ball back with 42 seconds to play in a tie game.

“Everybody’s hurrahing and everybody’s super excited and Matt is just still,” Turner said. “He’s just calm and he’s going on the field, it looks like it’s a normal day.

“And so when you kind of see that presence — never being too high, never being too low — and you see the fire that he plays with, you know and you have complete confidence in the fact that he’s going to put us in the best situations.”

Rams running back Kyren Williams rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns to go with a receiving score against San Francisco. Stafford passed for 221 yards and a touchdown even though top targets Cooper Kupp (ankle), Puka Nacua (knee) and Tyler Higbee (knee) were sidelined due to injury.

Nacua (injured reserve) and Higbee (physically unable to perform list) remain out. Rams coach Sean McVay said this week that while Kupp is “attacking every single day,” the former Super Bowl MVP won’t be able to play against Chicago.

Los Angeles tight end Davis Allen (back) was limited in practice on Wednesday.

Four Chicago players sat out the team’s Wednesday practice: Wright, defensive back Terell Smith (hip) and defensive linemen Zacch Pickens (groin) and Darrell Taylor (illness).

The Bears lead the all-time series with the Rams 54-39-3 and boast a three-game home winning streak in the series.

–Field Level Media

Saints, Falcons hunting early statement win in division showdown

Over the last two seasons, the NFC South has been less than impressive.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the division in 2022 despite going 8-9, then reclaimed their title with a 9-8 finish last season.

But the South has looked stronger so far this year, and the New Orleans Saints and host Atlanta Falcons will both aim to prove they’re a contender when they continue their longtime rivalry on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday’s matchup begins crucial three-game stretches for both the Saints (2-1) and the Falcons (1-2).

After playing Atlanta, New Orleans faces the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs before hosting Tampa Bay. The Falcons, meanwhile, gear up for three straight weeks of divisional opponents beginning Sunday.

But for now, all attention is fixed on the 111th meeting between the longtime rivals. Each team has 55 wins in the all-time series.

“The division is coming to town, and we better be ready to deal,” Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris said. “This will determine a lot about us at the end of it all, but right now we better focus on the New Orleans Saints.

“It is always a tough battle with those guys. They’ve got a lot of familiar faces that have been there over the years. It’s a built up rivalry when you get to play against these guys. It’s been special for a long time and hopefully it continues to be special.”

First-year Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will make his debut in the rivalry. Cousins has completed 66.7 percent of his passes and thrown for 626 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions so far this season.

An area of concern for Cousins and the Atlanta offense has been converting on third down. The Falcons have been successful on just 22.2 percent (6-for-27) of third downs faced this year, the league’s third-lowest rate.

Atlanta went 2-for-9 in Sunday night’s 22-17 home loss to the Chiefs.

“Our offense on third down has not been very good,” Morris said. “That has been an emphasis for us, to keep drives going so we can maintain and get through possessions. We need to have more time of possession, so we can have more plays and keep our defense off the grass more.”

The Falcons’ 16.3 points per game are tied for 26th in the league.

The Saints’ offense, meanwhile, was historically potent to open the season. New Orleans became just the fifth team all-time to score at least 44 points each in their first two games.

The Saints steamrolled the Carolina Panthers 47-10 in Week 1 before routing the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 in Week 2. New Orleans fell back to Earth last time out, dropping a 15-12 slugfest against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

As he prepares for Sunday, Saints head coach Dennis Allen may know the rivalry better than anyone.

The son of former Falcons player Grady Allen, Dennis was a defensive assistant in Atlanta from 2002 to 2005 before two stints as a coach in New Orleans.

“It’s a fun game to be a part of,” Allen said. “Whether we play them in the Superdome or their stadium, it’s always been a great environment and it’s always been a lot of fun to compete against those guys.”

New Orleans, which pummeled Atlanta 48-17 in last year’s regular season finale, has seen its offensive success carry into 2024.

Much of that can be attributed to the play of running back Alvin Kamara. His 285 rushing yards rank fourth in the league, while his four rushing touchdowns are tied for the most.

Kamra missed practice Wednesday with a hip/ribs injury. Offensive guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), cornerback Alontae Taylor (illness) and linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) were also no-shows at practice.

Atlanta center Drew Dalman was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, while tackle Kaleb McGary didn’t practice Wednesday with a sprained MCL. Ryan Neuzil is expected to make his fifth career start in Dalman’s absence on Sunday.

–Field Level Media