Bears defense can't sleep on Spencer Rattler

The Caleb Williams vs. Spencer Rattler showdown of former Oklahoma quarterbacks and teammates was overshadowed this week by Williams vs. Troy Aikman, Dennis Allen vs. the team that fired him and the “Are the Bears for real?” storylines ahead of the Bears' game against the Saints on Sunday at Soldier Field. And the reality that there was no juice in that angle.

Both quarterbacks downplayed the matchup, probably because their relationship was ultimately awkward at Oklahoma. Rattler, a former five-star recruit, was the Sooners’ starting quarterback in 2020 and 2021 until he was benched in favor of Williams in the second quarter against Texas in 2021. Williams famously rallied Oklahoma to a 55-48 victory and Rattler never started another game for the Sooners and transferred to South Carolina, where he went from next-in-line to the NFL behind Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts to being taken in the fifth round of the 2024 draft — 149 spots after Williams was taken No. 1.

“We haven’t really spoken much,” said Williams. “I don’t really speak to Baker and all those guys that much anyways. I know Spencer’s with me. We don’t really keep up that much, but I’m excited for the matchup. I know he’s excited. We’re going to go out there and have a blast.” 

Rattler also dismissed the Oklahoma angle when it was brought up this week, but there’s little doubt he’s still competing with Williams — and the other quarterbacks in the so-far impressive Class of 2024. 

“I like to put myself up against those guys in that class,” Rattler told Saints reporters Wednesday. “I’ve been competing with those guys since high school ball. I’m still doing it to this day. I love to compete against those guys and I definitely want to be mentioned in that group, because I like confidence-wise, I’m up there with those guys.” 

Rattler is playing catch-up, but already has made up significant ground. After starting six games as a rookie — his first three for Allen and three more for interim head coach Darren Rizzi — Rattler is establishing himself as a potential long-term starter in six games under new head coach Kellen Moore. 

The Saints are 1-5, but it’s not because of the quarterback. Since a choppy opener against the Cardinals, Rattler has a 98.2 passer rating in his last five games — 71.3% completions, six touchdowns and one interception. He’s also rushed for 143 yards (5.5 per carry) — more than Williams (28-108, 3.9 per carry). In NFL.com's QB index, Rattler (19th) ranks ahead of Williams (23rd).

Few if any outside of Halas Hall are worried about Spencer Rattler, but he presents a challenge for Allen’s defense — to prevent Rattler from getting that confidence that can transform him from a nuisance to a threat. The last time the Bears faced an unproven quarterback, they knocked down J.J. McCarthy with a pick-6 in the season opener, but failed to knock him out. McCarthy recovered, got stronger with every snap and rallied the Vikings to a 27-24 victory.

McCarthy was a first-round draft pick. Rattler was a fifth-round pick — the difference is noted. But there was a time when Rattler was every bit the prospect McCarthy is. The challenge for a Bears defense still getting its footing in 2025 is to not give Spencer Rattler a chance to beat them. It's happened before.

---