Caleb Williams has been at his absolute best with the game on the line.
“It seems like he really just comes to life, and he meets that moment head on. It’s almost like he wants that to happen each and every week because that’s when he’s at his best.” Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams
In each of his last two starts, the second-year quarterback has engineered late scoring drives to lift the Bears to thrilling 25-24 comeback road victories.
Trailing the Raiders 24-19 Sept. 28 in Las Vegas, Williams completed 4 of 5 passes for 42 yards and rushed for 19 yards on two carries to set up D'Andre Swift's go-ahead 2-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining. Down 24-22 to the Commanders Monday night in Washington, Williams directed a 9-play, 36-yard drive that led to Jake Moody's winning 38-yard field goal as time expired.
"He's done a heck of a job just controlling his emotions in those situations," said coach Ben Johnson. "It seems like he really just comes to life, and he meets that moment head on. It's almost like he wants that to happen each and every week because that's when he's at his best. He's not surprised by it. This is who he's always been. It's big moments like that that he really lives for, and I think he's doing a great job with it so far."
Williams has now led three fourth-quarter comebacks in the Bears' last six games, dating back to last year's season finale in Green Bay. In that contest, he engineered a 6-play, 47-yard drive in just :54 to set up Cairo Santos' 51-yard field goal as time expired, turning a 22-21 deficit into a 24-22 win. Williams put Santos in position with an 18-yard completion to DJ Moore with :03 remaining.
"In those moments, I do feel calm," Williams said. "I try and portray that to my teammates, that I'm calm, that this moment right here is our moment, it's our show, and in those moments it's time to go win the game. That's all it comes down to. There's nothing more important than that moment … so it's the patience, the calmness, the belief in each other, and then from there, you just go out there and execute the plays the coach calls."
In the trenches
With the offensive line playing its best game of the year versus the Commanders, the Bears rushed for a season-high 145 yards and one TD on 27 carries. Swift gained 108 yards on 14 attempts, a 7.7-yard average.
"I equate it to better fundamentals up front," Johnson said. "I thought our guys did a great job with their combinations. They had two really strong interior players (defensive tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw) and we were looking to get double teams on those guys as much as we could, whether it was our gap schemes or our zone schemes.
"Those double teams were really good. We were able to displace them and create some cavities that way. We had some motions and shifts to help soften that linebacking crew in particular up a little bit, because that's a hard-nosed, downhill unit. We were looking every which way we could to try to give them a little eye candy and slow them down."
First-year pro Theo Benedet played a key role on the line for the second straight game. Against the Raiders, the University of British Columbia product started at right tackle before moving to left tackle in the second quarter. On Monday night, he started and played the entire contest at left tackle.
"He's done a really solid job for us," Johnson said. "The biggest compliment I could probably give him last week is I didn't feel him out there, which, as a play-caller, that's what you're normally doing: 'Hey, why's a play breaking down?' And if it's a particular person, you're looking to help him out somehow, some way, and I never felt that with him last week.
"I think the confidence is growing with his ability to perform in the league, and our confidence with him continues to grow as well."
Turn it up to 11
The defense has generated 11 takeaways during the current three-game winning streak, the most in the NFL during that span. It's the first time the Bears have forced at least three turnovers in three straight contests since 2023.
"When you emphasize something, you normally get it," Johnson said. "That whole staff has done that from the get-go. Our players have embraced it. They're very ball conscious. We're looking to punch it out in practice. We're looking to do that in individual drills. That's carrying over to the team periods in practice and to the games as well. Same thing with the interceptions. Our scout-team quarterbacks aren't trying to throw them, and yet, it's happening almost every single day."
The Bears rank second in the NFL with 12 takeaways and eight interceptions, trailing only the Jaguars, who have 14 and 10, respectively, but have played one more game than the Bears.
Safety Kevin Byard III is tied for second in the NFL with three interceptions. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has two picks, and safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright have one apiece. Wright returned his interception 74 yards for a TD in the season opener against the Vikings.
"When you emphasize something and the guys take it to heart, that's when good things happen," Johnson said. "It's not luck; it's by design."
