The Chicago Bears took down a surging New England Patriots team on Thursday Night Football. Most of that was because of how well quarterback Caleb Williams played. He finished with over 300 yards passing and 2 touchdowns without an interception. His efficiency was once again at peak levels. There is no way the Bears win that game without him. Drake Maye played too well in his own right to believe that was ever possible. Both quarterbacks made big plays. However, Williams made the biggest ones.
While there were some absurd throws throughout the evening, most agree the one that changed the game came in the 4th quarter. Chicago was nursing a 27-21 lead. New England had them 3rd and 9 from the 10-yard line. A failed conversion would force a punt, giving the Patriots good field position with plenty of time left. Williams had to have it. What followed was an absolute rocket in between four defenders to Rome Odunze for a monumental 1st down. It was so precise that it grazed the outstretched fingers of former Bear Kevin Byard.
Caleb Williams called his shot on that play.
Earlier in the half, Chicago was driving for a potential touchdown. Williams lofted a pass to Odunze in the end zone, but the wide receiver dropped it. He was called for offensive pass interference on the play.
Williams wasn’t discouraged. He sat with Odunze on the bench and talked it out. He gave the receiver encouragement and then immediately told him what would happen next. Williams told him on the next route to run at full speed, but to look for the ball quickly. If done right, he felt he could get the ball to Odunze on the back shoulder, where the defense couldn’t cover. That is precisely how it played out.
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Odunze hit the gas over the middle. The New England defender tried to stay in front of him. Caleb Williams saw the window and fired a missile right to the receiver’s back shoulder. Odunze twisted to make a perfect grab for the 1st down. Chicago drove down the field enough to give Cairo Santos a shot at a 58-yard field goal, which he nailed, putting the score at 30-21 with 1:30 left. That sequence decided the game. It’s amazing to think that Williams pinpointed how it would unfold.
Nothing better illustrates the quarterback’s growth.
It is one thing to be able to play the game at a high level. It is another thing to think about the game at a high level. That clip of Williams demonstrates how much he has come to understand football at a fundamental level. He’s starting to see pass patterns like a coach would. This is undoubtedly a benefit of all the work he’s been putting into honing his craft over the past two years. He understood where the window would be if Odunze ran his route as instructed. It worked exactly as intended. From there, all he had to do was deliver a good ball.
When was the last time a Bears quarterback had this strong a grasp on the game? You’d probably have to go all the way back to Jim McMahon to find him, at least from a mental standpoint. Most teammates agreed that his mastery of the Xs and Os was unrivaled. Now, try to imagine what would happen if McMahon had Williams’ talent. You’re starting to see how devastating a weapon that can be.
