Caleb Williams’ Harry Houdini act has Patriots on high alert vs. Bears

Comparing one NFL player to another has become quite popular over the years; this player looks like this one, or he reminds of that, or whatnot. While not always an accurate way of describing what is happening on the field, those player-to-player comparisons have become quite normal in football discourse.

The Chicago Bears ' Caleb Williams, however, is anything but normal.

One of the most intriguing quarterback prospects to enter the NFL in quite a while — arguably since Andrew Luck in 2012 — he is the prototypical modern day quarterback. Not only does he possess impressive natural arm talent and the ability to make every throw in the book, he also can do so off of every platform and from every spot behind the line of scrimmage.

So far this season, Williams has shown his ability to keep plays alive while still remaining a threat as a passer throughout the play. As a result, his comparison so far this season has not been another NFL player.

It has been legendary escape artist Harry Houdini.

"Caleb Williams is kind of like Houdini back there," New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones said on Thursday. "The things he's able to do to escape the pass rush, I think that'll be a big focus for us this week; handling him in the pocket and handling the receivers."

Jones is not the first to draw the comparison between Williams and Houdini this season. Unlike his teammates, who also made the link between the 22-year-old QB and the magician who has been dead for 98 years, he will have to help find a way to defend the act come Sunday's game at Chicago's Soldier Field.

"He's always looking to make a big play, especially when he's scrambling around," Jones continued. "He does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield. So, as a defensive back, the play is not over at any point."

Williams' ability to extend plays is one of his best and most consistent skills halfway through what has been a solid if somewhat inconsistent rookie season. On the year, the first overall selection in this year's draft has completed 162 of 264 pass attempts (61.4%) for 1,665 yards with 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Playing within an offense featuring the likes of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze at wide receiver, Williams has not always done the best job of accurately getting the ball to his targets. However, his elusiveness in the pocket has allowed him to cause stress on defensive coverages time and again — something the Patriots are also worried about happening in Week 10.

"This guy is able to extend plays. He's very athletic," said head coach Jerod Mayo. "He's elusive. He has great vision in the pocket, and I would say he scrambles more to make throws. On the other side, you go against some quarterbacks in there, they'll take off and get down the field. Not saying that he doesn't do that, but he definitely does a good job keeping his eyes down the field and making those throws."

"Good quarterback. Definitely uses his feet very well," defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. added. "Can throw the ball also pretty well on the run, but in the pocket he's outstanding. Definitely have to rattle him a little bit, get him moving but not down the field."

The Patriots are no strangers to quarterbacks being able to keep plays alive out of structure, or move the pocket within the context of the play call. After all, they have one of their own under contract.

Drake Maye, selected two picks after Williams in this year's draft, offers a similar skillset. Entering the league together in April, Maye naturally knows a thing or two about Williams and what makes him dangerous as well.

"The play is never over with Caleb. That's the biggest thing" he said. "I think it's his talent of throwing, making difficult throws. The normal, the regular eye of your quarterback, you kind of see, 'Man, that's a good throw.' I think watching them play the Jags earlier this year, he hit Keenan Allen on a little seam, back shoulder. You see throws like that, and you take that for granted. He's just so talented."