ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Caleb Williams showed signs of promise in the No. 1 draft pick’s preseason debut, overseeing a pair of drives ending in field goals in the Chicago Bears’ 33-6 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
The 22-year-old out of Southern California completed four of seven attempts for 95 yards, and also converted a third-and-9 by bolting out of the pocket for a 13-yard gain. Though he wasn’t perfect — Williams was late in nearly throwing an interception on a play wiped out by a Bills defensive penalty away from the ball — the quarterback oversaw the Bears gaining a combined 152 yards and seven first downs on 20 plays over two possessions.
The game was decided a minute into the fourth quarter when Bears linebacker Micah Baskerville stepped in front of Shane Buechele’s pass intended for Frank Gore Jr. and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to put Chicago up 19-6. Velus Jones scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter, and Ian Wheeler scored on runs from 7 and 8 yards in the final six minutes.
For Buffalo, Josh Allen went 2 for 3 for 22 yards, and also had a 7-yard run in being limited to playing the first quarter in the Bills preseason opener. Though the Bills had the ball, Allen gave way to backup Mitch Trubisky to open the second quarter on a drive that ended with Tyler Bass making a 24-yard field goal to cut Chicago’s lead to 6-3.
Bass also hit a 49-yard attempt. Buffalo was limited to 200 yards offense, and crossed midfield just twice on 11 possessions.
Bills starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver appeared to hurt his leg on Chicago’s first offensive series and did not return.
Otherwise, Williams was the focus after he and the starters were held out from the Bears’ preseason-opening and storm-shortened 21-17 win over Houston in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 1.