NFL Week 6 Big Questions, Takeaways: Bears' Caleb Williams throws 4 TDs as Jags fall to 1-5

Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season featured another London game and another strong performance by the Chicago Bears' offense against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Thursday night, the explosive San Francisco 49ers pulled off a crucial NFC West victory on the road over the Seattle Seahawks.

Our NFL Nation reporters react to all the action, answer lingering questions coming out of every game and detail everything you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.

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the bear

Has Bear's offense finally established its identity? Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns doing what the coaches had been stressing all week: playing point guard. A week after the Williams and DJ Moore connection came to life, the rookie threw two TDs to Keenan Allen and Cole Kemet. Chicago looked for balance heading into the bye week with 91 more rushing yards and a touchdown from De'Andre Swift and feeling confident about the state of its offense.

Describe the game in two words: Williams' order. The two touchdown passes Williams threw to Allen are examples of the quarterback's precision — keeping the ball in tight windows where only his receiver can get it — and control. On multiple occasions, Williams maneuvered the pocket and created outside the structure (notably a cross-body throw to Kemet that set up Chicago's fifth TD). Williams' four touchdown passes bring his total to nine through six games, the second-most by a Bears rookie QB.

Most amazing performance: Elijah Hicks, who played in place of safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), helped ease the sting that came with the Bears secondary going down three starters (cornerback Tyreek Stevenson sat out the pregame with a calf injury and nickel back Kyler Gordon left the third quarter with a hamstring injury). . Hicks came up with five tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass in the end zone. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: At Commanders (Oct. 27, 1 p.m. ET)

jaguar

How does the loss affect coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Ball's job security? It doesn't help. A day after owner Shad Khan said he still believes in Pederson and Bulk, the Jaguars played a sloppy game to drop to 1-5. That makes it to the playoffs — which Khan said he expected before the season — is highly unlikely. Only four of the 201 teams that have started 1-5 since 1966 have made the playoffs. The Jaguars are now 2-10 in their past 12 games, with the only wins coming against Carolina and Indianapolis, which is a good indication of the direction the franchise is headed.

The biggest hole in the game plan: The Jaguars didn't press rookie QB Caleb Williams. While the Bears went up 35-10, Jacksonville blitzed him just six times and pressured him on 10 of his 32 dropbacks. That included just one blitz and five pressures on 18 dropbacks in the first half, when Williams torched them for 128 yards and two TDs.

Blindness: The Jaguars had four potential touchdown passes dropped, including two by Gabe Davis. Christian Kirk also dropped a potential TD — the ball went through his hands and hit him in the facemask — and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. had a potential deep TD pass that he was unable to catch. — Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Patriots in London (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

49ers

What will a win in Seattle do for the 49ers as they begin an important stretch? It's an exaggeration to say it saved the 49ers' season, but it's not far off. Instead of 2-4 and 0-3 in the NFC West, the 3-3 Niners are tied for first place (with one leg up in the tiebreaker) with Seattle. They'll get a few extra days of rest, which is no small thing given their injury woes, and they'll face the Chiefs and Cowboys in each of their bye weeks. If the 49ers reach their Week 9 bye with at least a 4-4 record, they can regroup, get healthy and make a run in November and December when they've traditionally been at their best under coach Kyle Shanahan.

Most amazing performance: The 49ers rookie class is filled admirably. Safety Malik Mustafa made his first career interception to stop Seattle's first drive in the red zone before suffering a sprained ankle. Cornerback Renardo Green got his first career pick in the fourth quarter and running back Isaac Guerredo ran 76-yards to set up the final touchdown to seal the win.

Eye Catching Status: QB Brock Purdy was excellent on throws with 10-plus air yards. He went 6 of 8 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Seahawks QB Geno Smith was 5-of-14 for 89 yards and two interceptions on such throws. — Nick Wagner

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

Are the Seahawks close to beating the 49ers? The 49ers have won the previous five meetings by an average of 15.2 points, either dominating throughout or pulling away in the second half. The game was competitive with the Seahawks pulling within five points in the fourth quarter and needing a defensive stop to have a chance at the winning drive. Then again, Seattle benefited from a missed call that cost San Francisco at least three points. The 49ers were also without Christian McCaffrey and were down to their third string late in the game. The Seahawks have had their own injury problems, but if they can't beat the 49ers at home with San Francisco missing its best offensive player, when will they?

Blindness: Seattle pressured Brock Purdy on 15 of his 31 dropbacks (48.4%). For context, the Dolphins lead the NFL on Sundays with a 40% pressure rate this season. But while the Seahawks got close to the 49ers' quarterback often, they couldn't get to him, finishing with no sacks and just four QB hits. They'll be happy to face a quarterback in Kirk Cousins ​​next week who is far less elusive than Purdy.

Preliminary predictions for next week: Byron Murphy II will return from his hamstring injury and make an impact. The absence of Seattle's first-round pick in the past three games has forced them to play Leonard Williams, Jaran Reed and Johnathan Hankins more than they would have liked. With Murphy back, their D-line rotation will be deeper, and life will be easier for their second-level defenders, with Murphy there to control gaps and command double-teams. –Brady Henderson

Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)