Once again, the Chicago Bears came back in the fourth quarter, this time after being down by 10, and they pulled off a 24-20 win against the New York Giants. With this win, they advance to 6-3 on the season.
While some of their games have been ugly and often too close for comfort, this team is finding ways to win, something they have struggled to do under previous regimes.
The Windy City Honors superlatives are always easier to give out after a win. Let’s get into it:
Biggest Dud of the Game
While the Bears cleaned up their penalties this week, they made up for it in drops. Per PFF, the Bears’ pass catchers had six drops today, with two of those in the end zone. They caught 13 of their 29 targets, amounting to a 44.8 catch percentage. It’s frustrating to watch this offense at times because they haven’t even scratched the surface of their full potential.
Both rookies, TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III, caught every target they received on Sunday. Hopefully, they will start to get more heavily featured in this offense as they continue developing and garnering head coach Ben Johnson’s trust.
Biggest Improved Player
While the stat sheet might not show it, sophomore QB Caleb Williams had one of his best games this season, taking a promising step forward in his development. Williams recorded 220 passing yards, 63 rushing yards including the 17-yard touchdown run that secured the win, one passing touchdown, and zero turnovers. He posted an 83.1 passer rating and had a 74.3 adjusted completion percentage per PFF.
Williams looked significantly more comfortable and collected in Sunday’s outing and had zero sacks despite constant pressure from a top-five defensive line. His throws, especially on the run, were on time and accurate. From the eye test, he had a great game.
And there’s no doubt about Williams having the clutch gene. When the game is on the line, he delivers. Those are the moments that the game slows down for him. Hopefully this team can start putting games away earlier, but knowing you have a quarterback who can lead the team to a win is refreshing.
Williams put numerous skills on display, including his elusiveness and mobility, playmaking ability, and ability to put together game-winning drives. He still has work to do, but he is making the progress we all hoped to see from him. He received one of the two game balls after his performance today, and rightfully so, as he played hard and deserved this win.
This team is not without its flaws, but as Ben Johnson stated last week in his postgame locker room speech, there is no apologizing for winning in this league. The team plays the schedule they are given, and especially with a daunting and increasingly more difficult schedule ahead, the Bears need every win they can get.
As the rest of the season unfolds, we will see what this team is capable of. For now, let’s enjoy this Victory Monday!
