HOUSTON — Trailing by double digits for the second week in a row, the Chicago Bears were carried by their defense in a game that unfolded similarly to their season opener. When the Bears depended on Caleb Williams and the offense on the final drive of Sunday Night Football, the unit couldn’t get the ball past the midfield and lost 19-13 to the Houston Texans.

After throwing for 93 yards in the Bears’ Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, Williams was better at times against the Texans but struggled on a night that highlighted Chicago’s pass defense and its running game weaknesses. The quarterback was pressured on 35% of his dropbacks in Houston, while Chicago’s running game gained 71 yards on 22 attempts, including five scrambles by Williams for 44 yards.

“When it finally clicks and we’re all in the same cylinder, it’ll be good,” said wide receiver DJ Moore. “Right now we’re still building – what can I say? – we’re building a puzzle together. Until we get that puzzle complete, it’s going to be a road with ups and downs.”

Williams completed 23 of 37 passes for 174 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and was sacked seven times. The Bears’ only touchdown drive came before halftime, when Williams took Chicago into the red zone — the second time in two games — and capped an eight-play, 49-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Khalil Herbert.

For an offense that entered the 2024 season with high expectations, achieving just 353 total yards in two weeks feels similar to the struggles of the past.

“It’s frustrating,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “It feels like I’ve been having this conversation for a couple of years. We understood this was going to be a process, so we have a lot of work to do. The reality in the NFL is starting to set in for us on offense. We’ve got to regroup here and look at the mistakes we made last week and last game and correct those and move forward with that.”

According to Next Gen Stats, the Texans generated 23 pressures on 48 pass attempts, including seven sacks for Williams. The quarterback reported no significant injuries after the game.

“I’m a little hurt,” Williams said. “I took a few hits today. I’m going to lay in ice tubs and do whatever I need to do to make sure my body is ready for tomorrow and practice and obviously the next game.”

Through two games, Williams has completed 14% of his passes under pressure. The Bears have struggled to mount a long-field attack, as Williams missed 0 of 11 throws of at least 15 yards against the Titans and Texans, with all of his throws missing.

Williams caused his first turnover of the season when Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted a pass intended for Moore in the third quarter. The Texans then extended their lead to nine after Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 53-yard field goal.

The rookie threw another interception early in the fourth quarter when he dodged a sack attempt by defensive end Danielle Hunter, who ripped Williams’ jersey in the process. Williams threw a deep ball into triple coverage while looking for Kmet and was intercepted by Kamari Lassiter.

“There were certain moments where I thought he did a really good job of running up in the pocket and making some good throws, so some really positive things to look at,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “Then he was also able to avoid the rush a couple times and get to the perimeter a couple times. Then he’s got to be careful with the football when he throws the ball in a scramble drill after he gets out there. So those were great learning moments for him in terms of the pressure you’re talking about, what to do and when to do it.”