The Bears have struggled when Rome Odunze is highly productive

The Chicago Bears began their preparations for their Week 9 matchup against the Bengals in Cincinnati this Sunday. This follows their first loss in five games last Sunday in Baltimore. All eyes will be on quarterback Caleb Williams to see if he can finally have a bounce back performance. He has struggled in Chicago’s last two contests. Despite Williams’ struggles, he has found success throwing to second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze. However, there is a negative trend developing in contests where Odunze is highly productive. Especially when going over the 100-yard receiving mark.

The Bears have lost every game in which Rome Odunze has gone over 100-yard receiving

When the Bears selected Williams first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the goal for Ryan Poles was to use the team’s second first-round selection and ninth overall pick on a wide receiver. This was to provide a passing target to his young quarterback. Odunze was the third wide receiver taken in the top ten picks of the 2024 draft. He was taken after Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. One of the reasons why the Bears were enamored with Rome Odunze was due to his mix of size and speed. His large frame allowed him to win contested passes. Furthermore, his speed allowed him to make downfield catches.

Through 24 games in the league, Rome Odunze has emerged as Chicago’s number one wide receiver. He has shown potential to be an elite-level wide receiver. Odunze has demonstrated a quality ability to make plays lined up both inside and outside, while also making all different types of catches. Throughout 2025, in Ben Johnson’s new offensive scheme, the second-year wide receiver has been the Bears’ best pass-catching threat. He hauled in 31 catches for 471 yards along with five touchdown receptions.

Unfortunately, there is a negative trend developing with Rome Odunze, especially when he has a highly productive game. The Bears have lost all the games in which he has recorded a 100-yard receiving day. Through his 24 games in the league, Odunze has recorded four 100-yard receiving games. Chicago has lost all four, with two being last year and the other two being this season. Furthermore, there is also a glaring overall theme with the Bears’ offensive performance in those four losses.

The recurring theme in the four losses in which Rome Odunze has recorded 100 yards receiving or more, has been that the offense struggled significantly to score touchdowns. They only scored more than two touchdowns in just one of the losses. Additionally, Caleb Williams has thrown an interception in all four of those contests. This is partially due to the fact that he has targeted Odunze one too many times. Consequently, opposing defenses have been able to home in on coverage.

In a loss to the Lions in Week 2 and the Ravens in Week 8, Chicago’s second-year quarterback targeted his second-year wide receiver and was intercepted.

Rome Odunze’s high production is a key marker for the four losses over the past two years. He was targeted 10 or more times in three of those losses. Williams’ overt focus in targeting Odunze created a massive discrepancy. Other pass-catchers in getting targets, receptions, and yardage were affected. This could be the driving reason why in all but one loss, the Bears’ offense had to settle for more field goals than touchdowns. Their offensive drives bogged down in the red zone in several of the contests.

The Bears offense needs to start working off of Rome Odunze’s success

The issue of Rome Odunze’s high production in Bears’ losses speaks more to the issues with Caleb Williams than it does about Chicago’s wide receiver. The main reason why Ben Johnson was hired as Chicago’s head coach was to help develop the franchise’s promising quarterback. One of those ways to drive development is not overtly targeting one pass-catcher. Although Odunze is showing signs of becoming an elite wide receiver, Williams needs to start working off the success of his draft partner.

One of the concerning issues with the Bears’ passing offense this season has been the lack of production and focus of DJ Moore. Especially with the intense defensive coverage being placed on Rome Odunze as of late. Moore has only recorded one game of five receptions or more. He also only recorded one game in which he had 70 or more receiving yards. During their one and half seasons together, Odunze and his veteran pass-catching partner have never had a contest where both of them recorded 100-yards receiving.

Can Caleb Williams find success moving forward?

For Williams to be successful going forward, Johnson must help his quarterback learn how to find the open target.  The interception that Chicago’s quarterback threw in Sunday’s loss against the Ravens demonstrates this problem. He threw the interception on a target where Rome Odunze was double covered. Meanwhile, running back Kyle Monangai was wide open underneath with room to run after a potential catch.

It is wide open targets like the way Monangai was that Williams can’t miss moving forward. Johnson is starting to design pass plays working off of his top wide receiver.

The fact that the Bears have lost all the games in which Rome Odunze has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark speaks more to the flaws of his quarterback than himself. In those four losses, Chicago’s offense has experienced extended moments of stagnation. This issue was especially evident during the middle part of the contests. For the Bears’ offense to succeed moving forward, Williams must know when to incorporate others in the passing offense. This is especially critical when Odunze is on pace towards having a highly productive game.

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