In a hard-fought matchup between two young NFL quarterbacks, the Indianapolis Colts pulled off a 21-16 victory against the Chicago Bears, with Jonathan Taylor’s strong rushing performance and the Colts’ much-maligned defense proving to be the difference. This Week 3 game saw both teams struggle offensively, but the Colts capitalized on key plays to hold off the Bears.
Indianapolis came into the game in desperate need of a win to avoid an 0-3 start, and it was their star running back Jonathan Taylor who set the tone early. Taylor scored two touchdowns, rushed for 110 yards on 23 carries, and put the Colts ahead 7-0 with a dazzling 29-yard scoring run in the second quarter. His second touchdown, a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, helped seal the victory for the Colts. Taylor’s performance marked his second straight game of rushing for over 100 yards, signaling a return to form for the 2021 NFL rushing champ.
“It’s a lot of momentum, especially being here at home,” Taylor said after the game. “All we needed was one, and now we’ve got to continue to build on this.”
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a rollercoaster day under center. He threw his first two NFL touchdown passes, but turnovers plagued the Bears offense as Williams threw two costly interceptions and lost a fumble on a strip-sack that led to Taylor’s game-clinching score. Despite these struggles, Williams posted career highs with 33 completions, 363 passing yards, and 52 attempts. However, his decision-making was erratic under pressure, with the Colts sacking him four times and frequently disrupting his rhythm.
Chicago struggled to establish a run game, gaining only 63 rushing yards against a Colts defense that had been giving up over 230 rushing yards per game coming into this contest. Williams was forced to shoulder much of the offensive load and ended up passing 52 times — a heavy burden for a rookie quarterback still adjusting to NFL defenses.
Indianapolis’ defense had been under fire after two poor performances to start the season, but against the Bears, they stepped up when it mattered most. A critical goal-line stand late in the first half kept the Bears from scoring a touchdown, as Colts safety Julian Blackmon and linebacker E.J. Speed combined to stop Bears receiver DJ Moore at the 1-yard line. The play preserved the Colts’ 7-0 halftime lead and gave the defense a much-needed momentum boost.
“That stop was big,” said Colts head coach Shane Steichen. “Any time you get those big stops down in the red zone like we did, the momentum swings a little bit there. Obviously, the defense played a helluva game.”
The Colts also forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by Williams and a strip-sack by rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu that set up Taylor’s second touchdown.
For Chicago, the offensive growing pains under rookie QB Caleb Williams were apparent once again. The Bears’ inability to establish a running game and frequent breakdowns in pass protection put Williams in difficult situations throughout the game. Chicago’s offensive line, which was supposed to be the most stable unit, allowed constant pressure on Williams, leading to hurried throws and mistakes.
“We left one out there today,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said after the game. “There were definitely some good things that happened for us, but at the end of the day, it’s about winning football games.”
One positive for the Bears was the emergence of rookie receiver Rome Odunze, who had over 100 receiving yards for the first time in his NFL career and developed strong chemistry with Williams. Their connection was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging day for Chicago’s offense, with Odunze catching one of Williams’ two touchdown passes.
For the Colts, this win provided much-needed relief, as they avoided an 0-3 start. Jonathan Taylor’s return to form and the defense’s rejuvenation will be key factors as Indianapolis looks to build momentum in the coming weeks.
The Bears, on the other hand, are still a work in progress. Caleb Williams continues to show flashes of potential, but the offense needs more time to gel under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. The Bears have emphasized patience as they rebuild around their rookie quarterback, but fans’ frustration is growing as the team has yet to secure a win this season.