He can’t be very effective because Arizona ranks 27th in defense and 26th against the pass and run, but his cover tactics and unusual alignments could cause problems. They often force defensive players to move intensively at or just before the snap. The Bears referred to this as a “muddy” look.

“Well, the ability to move in non-normal alignments between different pieces, starting with (safety) Budda Baker and then (LB Zaven) Collins or (OLB Mack) Wilson,” offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “Those could be defensive line alignments. They could be linebacker alignments, so they can mix and match.

“I think coach (Nick) Rallis has a unique plan, so we started working on it on Monday and focused on it the whole process. This will be a good fight to attack.”

Blitzing isn’t something the Cardinals normally do. They rank 30th, almost last in blitz percentage. But they will probably make an exception for Williams.

It’s clear that Williams has his worst shots against the blitz on the road, but he’s especially under pressure in away games.

When he blitzes in away games, he is 15 of 34 for 169 yards, one interception, one touchdown and a 57.11 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus game stats. Regardless of the Lightning, he has been particularly ineffective under pressure in road games, and that’s especially important given the health of the Bears’ offensive line. He was 17-of-28 for 135 yards with one touchdown pass and three interceptions when pressed for a 45.09 rating.

Williams is a completely different passer against both pressure and home blitz.

He has a 112.92 passing percentage against the blitz in home games (35/22, 251 yards, three TDs, 0 interceptions). He has a 95.19 passer rating when pressured at home, regardless of the blitz, but is less accurate, going 11 of 26 for 121 yards with three TDs and no interceptions.

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The real key behind all of this is the quality of defense he faces.

None of the four home opponents, including the Jaguars in a game where the Bears were designated as the home team at a neutral site, had a defense that anyone would describe as intimidating. The Titans are No. 1 in the league, but this was Williams’ first game, and how good are they really defensively when the Titans have given up 106 points in the last three weeks?

The Texans and Commanders rank in the top half of the league in overall defense and scoring defense, while the Colts rank in scoring defense. They put pressure on Williams in home games and got positive results.

The confusion caused by the mixed coverage and alignments the Cardinals use may cause the QB to hold the ball, but knowing they have such an advantage when Williams has had so much trouble facing pressure on the road will lead to more blitzes.

As a result, the Bears need to find a way to keep Williams clean in this game despite a potentially revamped offensive line, or they could face another poor offensive start.

The finish may not have been as dramatic as last week’s, but their 0-3 away record and 3-17 away record under Eberflus suggest they don’t need drama away from home to be disappointed.

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