Bears see improvement in Caleb Williams' performance, but it comes in a 21-16 loss to Colts

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams produced promising numbers in his third career NFL start.

They came with a disappointingly familiar result Sunday for Chicago.

While the No. 1 overall draft topped the 300-yard mark for the first time and got the Bears into the end zone twice with the first two TD passes of his pro career, Williams could not complete a fourth-quarter comeback attempt at Indianapolis, suffering his second straight defeat.

But Williams remains optimistic.

“Got our first two passing touchdowns of the year, which obviously feels good," Williams said. "I think the offensive identity is brewing. I think it's a lot closer than it was the week before or weeks before, I think it's right there. I think we were one small detail away on a lot of these plays and that includes me.”

After last Sunday's loss at Houston, the bruised and battered Williams hobbled off the field so sore that the effects were lingering three days later.

This time, he walked off the field, quickly passing people, his chin pointed up and with a look that said he was ready to start all over next week against the Los Angeles Rams.

The primary problem, so far, for the Bears (1-2) continues to be pass protection.

While Williams was a solid 33 of 52 for 363 yards, all career bests, and finished with a passer rating of 80.8 — more than double Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson's 39.0 — the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner spent most of the game operating on the run. Again.

The result: Williams threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, had a halftime heave batted down in the end zone while getting sacked four times, hit a total of seven times and harangued into a series of throwaways including on a 2-point conversion pass that would have cut a 14-9 deficit to three.

A fourth-quarter strip-sack led to Jonathan Taylor's second scoring run of the day, a 1-yard plunge with 5:21 to play, that made it 21-9 and essentially sealed Chicago's fate despite Williams throwing for the most yards in an NFL game this season.

It was that kind of day again for the Bears — as it has been for much of the first three games.

“The quick game was there. When we needed to throw the ball down the field, we could,” said receiver DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 78 yards and 9.78 per catch. "When you look past the turnovers and the penalties, you can start to see the offense coming alive.”

Clearly, though, Williams needs more help.

Chicago only rushed for 63 yards and was thrown for a 12-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the Colts 1-yard line in the first half — against a run defense that started Week 3 yielding a league-worst 237.0 yards per game.

With Matt Pryor replacing injured right guard Nate Davis in the starting lineup and left tackle Braxton Jones leaving briefly in the first half after appearing to hurt his right leg, the Bears' offensive line again struggled to keep Williams upright.

And yet Williams still held up relatively well.

“I was pleased with the distribution of the football by Caleb,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “That allowed the receivers to have confidence. I thought we were committed to the run. I’m proud of the way the defense played. But the most important thing is winning.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, left, and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) greet following an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) fumbles as he is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles under pressure from Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) knows the ball away from Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Taven Bryan (96) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Billy Horschel became the first American to win the BMW PGA Championship twice when he holed an eagle to beat four-time major winner Rory McIlroy in a playoff on Sunday.

Horschel showed no sign of nerves when he sank a long putt from near the edge of the 18th green on the second playoff hole. Horschel and McIlroy each closed with a 5-under 67 and were joined at 20-under 268 by Thriston Lawrence, who had a 65.

Lawrence was eliminated on the first extra hole with a bogey on the par-5 18th.

Horschel won at Virginia Water three years ago. Arnold Palmer, in 1975, was the only other American winner of the flagship event on the European tour.

Matteo Manassero, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, closed with a 73 and tied for fourth. McIlroy was runner-up for the third time since winning at Wentworth in 2014. He also was runner-up last week in the Irish Open.

MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Lydia Ko turned a two-shot deficit into a five-shot victory Sunday with a 9-under 63 to win the Kroger Queen City Championship for her third LPGA Tour title of the season.

Ko won for the third time in her last four starts, which includes her Olympic gold medal that gave the 27-year-old from New Zealand enough points for the LPGA Hall of Fame. It also includes another major in the Women’s British Open, this one at St. Andrews.

Jeeno Thitikul, who had a two-shot lead after eight holes, made birdie on the par-5 18th for a 70 to finish alone in second. Haeran Ryu (67) finished third.

Ko, who finished at 23-under 265, now has 22 career LPGA victories. It was the fifth time she has at least three wins in the same season on the LPGA, her biggest year coming with five wins when she was 18 and reached No. 1 in the world.

CARROLTON, Texas (AP) — Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert delivered clutch putts late in the round Sunday to lead Australia-based Ripper to its first team title in the LIV Golf League.

Herbert, who looked as though he might have cost his team with a double bogey and a bogey on two of the par 5s at Maridoe Golf Club, responded with four birdies over his last five holes, the final putt a 12-footer for birdie for a 69.

Smith hit a 60-yard pitch to 12 feet and holed the birdie putt on the 17th to give Ripper the lead for good, and then drilled his tee shot down the middle on the 18th that effectively sealed the win. He shot 68. Matt Jones birdied two of his last three holes following a double bogey. He had a 70, along with Marc Leishman.

Ripper finished at 11-under 277, three shots ahead of 4Aces and Iron Heads.

Ripper won $14 million, with each player getting $1.4 million and the rest going to the team management.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Frankie Capan III closed with a 1-under 70 and won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship by two shots on Sunday for his first Korn Ferry Tour title.

Capan already is assured of finishing in the top 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list to get a PGA Tour card for the 2025.

He won by two over Carter Jenkins (67), William Mouw (69) and Thomas Rosenmueller of Germany (70). All but Jenkins are assured of getting PGA Tour cards. Jenkins moved up to No. 37 in the points list with one tournament remaining.

The top 75 advance to the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in two weeks.

Dan McCarthy had a closing 69 to tie for seventh, while Rick Lamb, Cole Hammer, Jacob Solomon and Davis Shore joined him in moving inside the top 75 to at least give themselves one last chance.

Kensei Hirata closed with a 7-under 65 for a three-shot victory in the Panasonic Open for his fourth Japan Golf Tour title this year. At 23, he became the third-youngest player with four wins in a Japan Golf Tour season behind Ryo Ishikawa (18) and Hideki Matsuyama (21). ... Jenny Bae closed with a 1-over 73 and held on for a one-shot victory over Therese Warner and Lauren Stephenson in the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout on the Epson Tour. ... Helen Briem of Germany closed with a 6-under 66 for a two-shot victory over Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France in La Sella Open on the Ladies European Tour. ... John Parry won the Italian Challenge Open with a 3-under 68 to win by one shot over Justin Walters. Parry won for the third time this year on the Challenge Tour and earned an instant promotion to the European tour. ... Yurav Premlall rallied from a four-shot deficit with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot victory over Martin Vorster in the Vodacom Origins of Golf-Sishen on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. ... Yuka Yasuda shot 2-under 34 for a three-shot victory in the Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open. The Japan LPGA event was shortened to nine holes in the final round and a 27-hole tournament because of rain. ... Jeongmin Moon closed with a 4-under 68 for a two-shot victory in the Daebo Haus D Open on the Korea LPGA. ... Van Phillips shot 4-under 68 and won a three-man playoff over Adilson da Silva and Phillip Archer to win his first Legends Tour event in the Winston Golf Senior Open in Germany.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Lucas Herbert, of Ripper GC, hits from the 12th tee during the final round of LIV Golf Team Championship Dallas at Maridoe Golf Club, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Carrollton, Texas. (Katelyn Mulcahy/LIV Golf via AP)

Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, poses for photos with the trophy and a golf ball after winning the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Billy Horschel of the U.S. displays the trophy following day four of the PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, England, Sunday Sept. 22, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)