PFF doubles down on Caleb Williams with ranking Bears fans won't love

PFF released its updated quarterback power rankings entering Week 2, and Williams checks in at No. 13 among the NFL's 32 quarterbacks. Yes, the same Williams who just accounted for 334 total yards and four touchdowns while leading the Bears to a 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

And PFF once again used its evaluation of Williams' Week 1 performance to explain why it isn't ready to push him higher.

PFF doubles down on its Caleb Williams evaluation

Williams' Week 1 grade has already become one of the more debated evaluations of the young NFL season.

He completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, added 65 rushing yards and two more scores, and finished with a 124.1 passer rating. Chicago scored a franchise-record 59 points in a season opener.

PFF saw the performance differently.

Earlier this week, the analytics powerhouse published an entire article explaining why Williams received only a 64.0 passing grade, pointing largely to five poorly placed passes and a would-be interception that was erased by a Carolina offside penalty. PFF negatively graded Williams for the decision because its system evaluates the quarterback's execution regardless of whether a penalty ultimately wipes out the result.

Now comes another reminder that PFF isn't suddenly changing its position.

PFF did note that Williams ranked third among quarterbacks in completion rate over expectation and seventh in big-time throw rate in Week 1. Then came the qualifier: Williams also ranked sixth-worst in accuracy over expectation.

Caleb Williams still trails one NFC North quarterback

It's important to understand that PFF's quarterback rankings aren't based exclusively on Week 1 performance. They explicitly say they incorporate preseason priors and will move slowly during the opening weeks because one game represents such a small sample.

Still, the quarterbacks surrounding Williams make his placement odd.

PFF has Williams immediately behind Jayden Daniels at No. 12 and ahead of Sam Darnold at No. 14. More notably for Bears fans, Packers quarterback Jordan Love remains No. 6 despite PFF acknowledging he "didn't play particularly well" in Green Bay's Week 1 loss to Minnesota. Love posted the NFL's second-lowest completion percentage over expectation in the opening week.

Detroit's Jared Goff sits behind Williams at No. 16, while Minnesota's Kyler Murray is No. 21 after his Vikings debut ended after only seven dropbacks.

For Bears fans already irritated by his Week 1 grade, ranking behind Love won't help.

The easiest way for Williams to change the conversation

PFF has explained its methodology. It has explained the grade. And now its quarterback rankings reinforce the same basic evaluation.

There were spectacular moments against Carolina, but PFF believes there were enough accuracy and decision-making issues underneath the box score to keep Williams outside the league's top 10.

Fair enough... I guess.

Williams gets another opportunity to prove Pro Football Focus wrong on Sunday against Minnesota. Another four-touchdown performance should be enough to convince their game graders to give him the respect he deserves.