It wasn’t a great statistical day for Caleb Williams on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. He completed just 50% of his passes for 193 yards. No touchdowns. It was a frustrating afternoon. Granted, his receivers still struggled with drops and left tackle Theo Benedet remains a liability in pass protection. Still, some people couldn’t understand why Williams couldn’t put together a better afternoon. The answer is simpler than you’d think. It is because Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores refused to let him.
Most defensive coordinators would’ve had a careful game plan meant to contain Williams in the pocket, daring him to win without the benefit of his legs. Not Flores. Without top pass rush Jonathan Greenard, he decided to do something almost no coach would dare. He blitzed—all the time. By the time the game was over, Minnesota had sent five or more rushers at Williams a staggering 66.7% of the time. It didn’t allow much time for thinking. It should be considered a minor miracle that Williams managed not to turn the ball over.
Brian Flores has that effect on many quarterbacks.
People forget he did the same thing to Lamar Jackson last week. The two-time MVP only had 175 yards and a touchdown when Baltimore went into that same building. He also fumbled once, but luckily didn’t lose it. People shouldn’t act like Williams is the only one to struggle against Brian Flores. He has that effect on plenty of quarterbacks. Besides, it’s not like the Bears asked their quarterback to be overly aggressive. They ran the ball 39 times in the game. It is possible that head coach Ben Johnson opted for a more conservative approach, likely sensing Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was struggling. The Bears played for ball control and security.
It worked out. Williams and the offense didn’t turn it over. Minnesota did twice. One of those interceptions by McCarthy turned into a field goal, which proved the difference in the game. Flores accomplished his goal of slowing down Williams, but the Bars wisely didn’t let it dictate their approach to the game. They remained composed, played the chess match, and made the necessary plays to secure the win.
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