INDIANAPOLIS — Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was surprised to learn how many times he threw the ball during Chicago’s 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

“I threw the ball 52 times?” Williams asked. “Jeez.”

Williams set the Bears (1-2) single-game rookie passing record against the Colts by completing 33 of 52 attempts for 363 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with an 80.8 passer rating. The No. 1 overall pick had combined for 267 passing yards in Chicago’s first two games of the season.

Despite facing a Colts defense that entered Week 3 allowing 237 rushing yards per game, the Bears couldn’t get their rushing attack going at Lucas Oil Stadium. Chicago produced 63 rushing yards on 28 attempts (2.3 yards per carry) and managed just four rushing first downs on Sunday.

The Bears’ penultimate series of the first half illustrates those struggles.

Trailing 7-0 at the end of a 16-play, 53-yard drive, Chicago ran the ball out of the shotgun on five consecutive plays inside the Colts’ 4-yard line. After failing to reach the end zone, the Bears ran an option play on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 1:46 left in the second quarter.

The Colts showed the Bears a different defense than they had seen on film, and Williams was immediately under pressure as he rolled to his left. The quarterback threw the ball early to running back D’Andre Swift, who was eventually tackled by Indianapolis defensive end Tyquan Lewis for a loss of 12 yards.

“It’s frustrating,” Williams said. “We were so close, and you get four tries. I think we were under the 5 (yard line) for four tries. And so not to get in, in those moments, it’s definitely frustrating. But I believe that was the 17-play drive or something, I believe. And so, to be able to march the ball and move the ball for 17 plays, that’s NFL ball. We just got to keep going, keep finishing.”

Tight end Cole Kmet said the Bears need to have a “better attitude up front” when it comes to passing the ball from short range.

“I think it’s just that mentality, that mentality change,” Kmet said. “It’s been a long drive and you’re tired at the end, but we’ve got to have that attitude that we’re going to finish these guys. We’ve got to think that whatever kind of run Shane calls, it shouldn’t matter. We should be able to dent that front end and obviously someone’s probably going to be unblocked in the back end, but we should be able to dent that front end and get a couple yards there and score there.”

Williams’ first NFL passing touchdown came in the fourth quarter when the No. 1 overall pick connected with fellow rookie Rome Odunze for a 1-yard reception. Two drives later, Williams hit tight end Cole Kmet for a 6-yard touchdown. Both touchdown drives came with the Bears down by two scores.

Williams said he was encouraged by the offense’s ability to finish drives with passing touchdowns and believes the Bears’ offensive identity is still “developing” and closer to the desired outcome than it was after Chicago’s first two games.

“I do what the team needs,” Williams said. “So if it’s (throwing) 50 times, it’s 50 times. I can’t have two turnovers on those 50 attempts. And then if it’s 10 times and I complete nine of those 10, and we have 300 yards rushing and four touchdowns, I’m fully aware, fully prepared to do whatever the team needs. And so, if it comes down to 50 attempts and we’re throwing the ball, if it comes down to 10 attempts — it’s what the team needs, what the team needs to win.

“We’re going to keep throwing it, we’re going to keep working on the run game. We’re definitely getting better as an offense. We’re going to get this going quick here.”

While Williams has plenty of volume, the Bears’ offense still struggles to create explosive passing plays.

According to ESPN Research, more than half of Williams’ 33 passes were thrown five or fewer yards downfield (18), and he completed 4 of 14 passes for 137 yards and an interception on passes thrown 15 or more yards.

Williams finished the game with 11 failed throws and now has 29 failed passes through three games, after throwing nine in each of his first two games.

DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 78 yards, echoed Williams about the offense having to create an identity that helps the Bears win games. Getting there quickly, Moore indicated, is Chicago’s top priority.

“I don’t know. Whatever gets us a win,” Moore said. “The first win (against Tennessee), the defense and special teams got us that win and lately they’ve held on and we haven’t. We’ve got to figure out our identity – like we’re doing now – for their sake.”