Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) prepares to throw the ball during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
So many people would have you think Caleb Williams is a terrible quarterback. It is difficult to pinpoint why. That is because it comes from different angles. His team achieved the least last season in terms of wins, while other rookies like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix went to the playoffs. Then there is his personality. Williams comes across as aloof and lacking the serious mentality that top quarterbacks have. His interests outside of football have led some to label him feminine and soft. All of this comes despite everybody around him saying none of it is true.
If their opinions don’t sway you, it might be time to consider the numbers. Several great quarterbacks have been the #1 overall pick in NFL history. Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Troy Aikman, and Peyton Manning are in the Hall of Fame. Yet Williams has done something even they couldn’t accomplish. Analyst Matt Waldman revealed that the Bears quarterback now has 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions in his first 20 games as a pro.
That has since become 28 and eight. It is the best TD-to-INT ratio any #1 pick has ever had.
Stats don’t usually tell the whole story, but considering the stories we heard…this is big.
Caleb Williams isn’t making the typical mistakes of a young quarterback.
Most go through the usual pangs of frequent turnovers as they learn the speed of the NFL level. Not Caleb Williams. He’s protected the ball as well as any veteran in the league. That is a testament to his discipline, field vision, and accuracy. He rarely puts the ball in harm’s way. It shouldn’t happen this way for a quarterback barely into his second season. Granted, Williams hasn’t been overly prolific, but his efficiency is impressive given the tough circumstances he’s dealing with.
No running game.
Inconsistent protection.
A new offensive system.
Overcoming all of that to rank above-average in most passing categories is no small feat. One should imagine things will only get better as his comfort level in the system increases. If the Bears can take some of the pressure off with the ground attack, what we’ve seen is only the appetizer.
Sep 28, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Shane Smith (64) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
2025 was a year of growth and development for the White Sox under first-year skipper Will Venable. The team improved by 19 games from their history-making 2024 campaign, with several players making the most of their opportunities and emerging as key contributors moving forward.
Shane Smith
Shane Smith wasn’t even guaranteed an Opening Day roster spot after the White Sox took him as the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft from the Brewers. He had to earn every opportunity he got, and that is exactly what he did.
After a strong showing in spring training, Smith earned a spot on the White Sox Opening Day roster and never looked back. The 25-year-old right-hander made 29 starts covering 146.1 innings, putting up a 3.81 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 2.4 bWAR, and 2.2 fWAR. He was also selected as the team’s All-Star representative, joining Dan Uggla in 2006 as the only players to be named as an All-Star in the season following their Rule 5 selection.
Aside from a short stretch in late June and early July, Smith was the team’s best starting pitcher all season. He cemented himself as a building block moving forward, and he will undoubtedly enter the 2026 season with a spot in the starting rotation.
Mike Vasil
As a fellow Rule 5 pick, Mike Vasil entered the 2025 season in a similar position to Smith. Vasil wasn’t even in the White Sox organization in spring training, as the team claimed him off waivers from the Rays just a few days before Opening Day. What initially appeared to be an inconsequential move ultimately paid massive dividends.
He emerged as the team’s most dependable bullpen arm and a Swiss Army knife of sorts on the pitching staff. Across 47 games, he racked up a 2.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.32 FIP, 7.3 K/9, and 2.9 bWAR. He also recorded four saves, two holds, and even started three games. The 25-year-old right-hander excelled in any role he was asked to pitch in and will have a firm grasp on a roster spot in spring training.
Colson Montgomery
Unlike Smith and Vasil, who were unknowns until recently, Colson Montgomery had been on the radar for years. As the team’s first-round pick in 2021, he appeared on top 100 prospect lists for years. Fans penciled him in as the shortstop of the future well before his MLB debut.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Montgomery, though. He put up a mediocre .710 OPS in 572 plate appearances at the Triple-A level in 2024, and things got so bad in Triple-A to start 2025 that he was sent to Arizona to work individually with Ryan Fuller, the White Sox Director of Hitting.
Montgomery’s stint in Arizona appears to have changed his career. Following his call-up on the 4th of July, the 23-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop recorded an .840 OPS, 130 OPS+, along with 21 home runs in just 71 games. He recorded a 3.3 bWAR and 2.6 fWAR over that span while also being in the 92nd percentile in Outs Above Average. Montgomery has revitalized his career and now has a firm hold on the starting shortstop job heading into next year.
Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel is also no stranger to pressure and hype. As one of the centerpieces in the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade, the 23-year-old left-handed hitting catcher proved his worth immediately. He slashed .273/.375/.411 with 11 doubles and eight home runs in 297 MLB plate appearances, recording a 121 OPS+, 1.9 bWAR, and 1.9 fWAR. He was also an above-average pitch framer, per Baseball Savant. Teel will be one of the focal points on the team next year behind the plate.
Lenyn Sosa
White Sox fans waited years for Lenyn Sosa to break out, and that finally happened in 2025. The 25-year-old infielder had by far his best season so far at the MLB level, hitting 20 doubles and 22 home runs, good enough for a 101 OPS+. His defensive home is still a question, as is his inability to draw walks. Nonetheless, he showed enough this year to warrant the team keeping him around in 2026.
Will Venable
MLB managers don’t often get praised for winning 60 games, but that is the case for Will Venable. The rookie manager inherited a historically bad team and arguably the worst situation in all of baseball. Despite the odds stacked against him, he guided the team from 41 wins to 60 in his first year. There is a long way to go, but the 42-year-old passed his first test with flying colors. He will now have to guide this young group to take the next step in 2026.
Sep 14, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Well, we all saw it on Sunday. The now-viral moment between Bears head coach Ben Johnson and CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala started off awkward, with Johnson unable to hear her at first. But it quickly turned into a strange exchange fueled by miscommunication—one that Johnson later admitted he regrets.
On Monday, Johnson addressed the situation but you can see the full exchange in the video below:
“I am a little disappointed with how that looks. I didn’t hear very well, but that’s not an excuse. What was a question, I took as being told I needed to change things, which I didn’t take too well. I have to be better with those going forward.”
Johnson is taking the high road, even as opinions remain split on the moment—including from former legendary head coach Jon Gruden, who actually praised Johnson’s restraint.
“For Ben Johnson not to take that microphone and slam it on the ground, it’s a real credit to him.”
In the end, Johnson vowed to be better moving forward, showing he’s not dwelling on the incident. This moment really raises the question of whether interviewing head coaches live is worthwhile, as it can be challenging for both the coach and the reporter.
Matthew Boyd will get the ball for Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card series for the Chicago Cubs and although it comes after the crushing update of rookie Cade Horton it still represents an amazing accomplishment for the veteran lefty. Boyd began his big-league career back in 2015 and didn’t pitch in the postseason until 2022, an appearance that lasted one out with the Seattle Mariners. In 2024, Boyd appeared in three playoff games with the Cleveland Guardians and now he’s the Game 1 starter for the Cubs, which means a lot more to Boyd beyond the field.
While talking to the media on Monday, Boyd was asked about being named the starter for the first game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The 34-year-old couldn’t hold his emotions as he reflected what it meant to him personally as his grandfather grew up a die-hard Cubs fan.
These are the moments that will always keep even the most cynic fans coming back for more. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 2:08 pm. Boyd will matchup against Padres’ righty Nick Pivetta.
Jul 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) celebrates after the final out of a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Cubs will host the San Diego Padres, beginning Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field in the opening round of the MLB playoffs. Matthew Boyd has been named the Cubs’ Game 1 starter, while the Padres have revealed their entire starting rotation in case the series goes to a decisive third game. Nick Pivetta will square off against Boyd in the series opener, while a Cubs’ killer will take the mound in Game 2.
Pivetta has been great for the Padres this year, leading San Diego’s starting rotation with a 2.87 ERA over 181.2 innings. The right-hander posted 19 quality starts out of 31 games. Meanwhile, former Cubs’ pitching prospect Dylan Cease is lined up to start on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
The Padres will start former Cubs farmhand Dylan Cease in Game 2, per Mike Shildt.
Cease has eight career starts against the Cubs and has an overall 2.47 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. Those numbers have been even better following his first handful of starts against the Cubs when Cease was still with the White Sox.
Dylan Cease’s Last 5 Starts vs. Cubs 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 2 BB 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 4 BB 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 12 K, 2 BB 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 1 BB(2025 season)
Cease’s 2025 season hasn’t exactly been his most dominant. He still struck out a ton of batters, ending the year 215 strikeouts, sixth most in MLB. He averaged 11.52 K/9, which ranked No.1 among all qualified pitchers. However, he also had a 4.55 ERA and struggled to go deep in games as Cease was only able to throw eight quality starts in 2025.
Despite the down year for Cease he did end it on a good note. The right-hander recorded a 3.12 ERA in his last five starts in September with his only bad outing coming against the White Sox, who scored four runs in six innings against their former pitcher. In his other September starts, Cease gave up a total of six earned runs in 20 innings
If the series goes to a Game 3, then another familiar name will go up against the Cubs in Yu Darvish.
Padres manager Mike Schildt said Dylan Cease will start against the Cubs in Game 2 of the NL WC Series.
That leaves former Cub Yu Darvish lined up for a possible Game 3.
The 39-year-old veteran returned from injury in July. Darvish made 15 starts this year with the Padres and had mixed results, posting a 5.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 72 innings. Darvish hasn’t necessarily had many blowups, but he hasn’t gone deep in the majority of his starts, failing to go beyond five innings since August.
Yet, San Diego doesn’t really need their starters to go six or seven innings because the Padres’ bullpen is elite. They finished the 2025 season with a 3.06 ERA, the No. 1 bullpen in MLB by a pretty good margin.
The Cubs haven’t officially named the rest of their rotation for the Wild Card round, but it could very well be Shōta Imanaga in Game 2 against Cease. That would leave Jameson Taillon for a potential Game 3, unless Craig Counsell really shakes things up with an opener.
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on from the sideline during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Bears had a serious Maxx Crosby problem in the first half of Sunday’s win. Crosby was wreaking havoc and doing whatever he wanted. Something had to change, and the Bears made a bold move: they benched Braxton Jones and turned to rookie tackle Ozzy Trapilo. Here’s how he held up in his NFL debut.
Ozzy Trapilo vs. Raiders
26 pass-blocking reps
0 sacks allowed
0 QB hits allowed
2 QB pressures allowed
Here is Ozzy Trapilo's first offensive snap of the game with 3:55 left in the second quarter. He starts by helping out Jonah Jackson before going over to assist the Bears' tight ends, who were tasked with trying to block Maxx Crosby. pic.twitter.com/vXDoj6bXm4
Not bad at all for coming in during the 2nd quarter against one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushers. Former Bears star Kyle Long even gave Ozzy some love for how he handled being thrown into the fire.
“Ozzy looked patient in his sets and had a plan. When he had help in the form of a chip or double from the tight end, he helped his guard for as long as necessary. Part of the game is understanding where to help—and just as important, when to leave the guy you’re helping. He seems to get it.”
The Bears rolled with two young players—Trapilo and Theo Benedet—and both put some strong tape out there in a tough environment. These are exactly the kinds of developments you want from your young core. Braxton Jones has been serviceable at times, but he’s also been a major liability. That’s why seeing Ozzy step in and possibly already show a higher floor is such a big deal. Add in the fact that Darnell Wright will be back soon, and the Bears have plenty of encouraging signs as they head into the bye week.
May 11, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
I compared him to Drew Smyly after he was signed and I’ll happily say how wrong I was about Matthew Boyd. All around and a superb signing by Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs, who have officially named Boyd as the team’s Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Boyd ended the year by earning his 14th win of the season as the lefty tossed 5.1 innings against the New York Mets in a 10-3 victory. Boyd gave up two runs on two hits, while striking out three and walking one. It was an encouraging effort by the veteran, who appeared to be tiring in September. In his last two outings before last week’s starts, Boyd allowed eight runs in eight combined innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively.
There was a giant question mark with Boyd coming into the season as the left-handed starter had not pitched more than 100 innings in a season since 2019. He returned in August last year with the Cleveland Guardians, pitched well down the stretch and then signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Cubs. The 34-year-old was selected to his first All-Star team this year and finished the season with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts, completing 179.2 innings, the second highest total in his career.
A great signing by the Cubs and an incredible year for Boyd.
Of course, Cade Horton‘s rib fracture factored into the decision to bump Boyd into the Game 1 starter as Horton was placed on the 15-day injured list this past weekend.
Still, Boyd has been good to great for most of the year and pitched well in two games against the Padres. He threw six shutout innings on April 5, at Wrigley Field, and then took the loss after giving up a pair of runs in San Diego in 5.1 innings on April 16.
As a team, the Padres have been below average this season against left-handed pitching, posting a 96 wRC+ against lefties. Their team slash line vs. southpaws ranks 17th in baseball at .244/.316/.375.
Boyd hasn’t faced the Padres all that much throughout his career as Xander Bogaerts’ 16 at-bats are the most on San Diego against Chicago’s starter. Manny Machado has had the most success against Boyd, going 5-for-13, with a pair of doubles.
Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta will start Game 1 for the Padres. The right-hander recorded a 2.87 ERA in 181.2 innings this season. He pitched twice against the Cubs this year, first surrendering three runs in three innings in Wrigley Feld and then limiting the Cubs to one run over six innings in San Diego.
Game 1 between the Padres and Cubs is scheduled to begin at 2:08 pm at Wrigley Field.
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates after the game against Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Let’s not pretend this was pretty football. The Bears looked like they were sleepwalking through 50 minutes of that Week 4 showdown against the Raiders. But when it mattered most? Chicago finally found its pulse, ripped out a win, and hit a franchise milestone with their 800th victory. That 25-24 comeback didn’t just get them back to .500 heading into the bye — it felt like a gut-check, a culture win, the kind of moment good teams build off.
So who earned their stripes in this one? Who stepped the hell up and dragged this team over the finish line? Let’s break down the five Bears who were absolute dogs in Week 4.
This man doesn’t even start, but on Sunday, he finished the damn game.
With 38 seconds left, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson lined up for a 54-yard dagger. Enter Josh Blackwell, who flew off the left edge like he was shot out of a cannon and got his hands on the kick. Ballgame. Bears win.
It wasn’t just luck, either. This was all prep. According to the team, long snapper Scott Daly noticed Raiders snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer had a little twitch before snapping. Blackwell timed it perfectly and turned what should’ve been another Bears collapse into a win that snapped years of late-game PTSD.
Blackwell called it an “out-of-body experience.” Fans called it the happiest they’ve been in years. Either way, this play mattered. It was the kind of moment that’s been missing from Bears football since… hell, since Peanut Tillman was punching out footballs.
Let’s be real — when the Bears brought in Byard, the bar was set high. He had a solid year in 2024, but the start of this season felt flat. Until Sunday, the returns were just… mid. But against the Raiders? Dude flipped the switch and looked like an All-Pro again.
Byard picked off Geno Smith twice in the first half. Same damn route concept. Same damn quarterback mistake. And Byard read it like a children’s book. Those two INTs flipped the field and gift-wrapped the offense golden field position.
He also racked up 7 tackles and a TFL, but more importantly, he looked like the alpha of this defense. And considering this unit forced four turnovers for the second week in a row, Byard’s fingerprints were all over it.
If this is the version of Byard Chicago is getting the rest of the way, Dennis Allen’s defense might have some actual bite.
Four catches. 69 yards. One touchdown. A statement.
Odunze wasn’t just playing in front of his hometown Vegas crowd — he was reminding every scout who passed on him why he went #9 overall. His 27-yard score was the Bears’ first lead of the day, coming right after a Stevenson pick. He also added a clutch 17-yard grab on the game-winning drive.
Oh, and that touchdown? He’s now the only NFL receiver to snag a TD in each of the first four games this year. Five straight if you count last season. That ties Alshon Jeffery’s franchise record to start a season.
Look, 22/37 for 212 yards and a 73.3 rating isn’t lighting up the stat sheet. But numbers be damned, Williams showed why he’s that dude.
With 6:45 left, down two, and Maxx Crosby breathing down his neck, Caleb orchestrated an 11-play, 69-yard masterpiece. He hit 4 of 5 throws, scrambled for 18 yards, and milked over five minutes off the clock. Only faced one third down. Ice cold.
Maxx Crosby did punk him for a pick earlier in the game, but Williams didn’t flinch. That’s growth. That’s how you flip the script from “bust watch” to “this kid might actually be the guy.”
Coach Ben Johnson told him before the drive, “this is what you’re made for.”
Swift’s first half? Trash. One rushing yard. The whole team looked allergic to the run game.
But when it came time to seal the deal, Swift came alive. He converted a do-or-die 3rd-and-4 in the red zone and then punched in the game-winner from 2 yards out with 1:34 left.
His final line? 14 carries, 38 yards (2.7 YPC), plus two catches for 12. Still ugly. But when you needed a veteran back to get north-south and hit paydirt, Swift delivered.
The Bears’ rushing attack has been limp all year, and Swift hasn’t been the spark they hoped for. But on that last drive, he redeemed every stalled possession before it.
Let’s not crown him, but let’s be honest: the Bears don’t win this game without that run.
Final Verdict
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t dominant. But it was gritty, and sometimes that’s all you need heading into a bye week. For the first time in a long time, the Bears found a way to win instead of inventing a new way to lose.
That’s a shift. That’s culture change. And these five guys were at the center of it.
Let’s see if they can keep that dawg in them after the break.
It felt like Braxton Jones had been teetering on the edge for the past few weeks. Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t sound thrilled about choosing him as the starting left tackle after the competition in training camp. It was more that the Chicago Bears didn’t have any preferred alternatives. Jones went on to give up 13 pressures in his first two games. He played better against Dallas, but it felt like the protection issues weren’t what rankled Johnson. It was the run-blocking. This offense is built around running the football, and it can’t function if the left tackle can’t do anything.
Things didn’t improve against Las Vegas. The Bears struggled to move the ball on the ground all day. It appears Johnson finally reached his breaking point with Jones with five minutes left in the 2nd quarter. It was 3rd and 19 from the Raiders’ 23-yard line. Johnson called a draw play, hoping to give the Bears some easy yards to set up a Cairo Santos field goal. Jones appears to misdiagnose his blocking responsibility, choosing to help Joe Thuney double-team defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, leaving defensive end Malcolm Koonce completely unblocked.
The left tackle would appear four more times on the field during the game, all for field goal and extra point duties. That wouldn’t happen if he were hurt. Make no mistake, the guy was benched. Former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet stepped in at left tackle from that point forward. It’s worth noting the Bears averaged 5.27 yards per carry for the rest of the game after Braxton Jones exited. He may not have been the only reason for their rushing woes, but it’s clear Johnson felt he was one of the biggest.
It is difficult to know what happens now. The Bears have hinted at a possible offensive line shuffle happening during the bye week. Considering they benched Jones before even getting there doesn’t bode well for his prospects moving forward. It is unfortunate that things went this way after he had such a promising start to his career. Maybe he’ll get another chance.
Sep 28, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor (21) acknowledges the crowd and his dugout while being saluted after recording an RBI in the final at-bat of his career, against the Washington Nationals, during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
As Michael A. Taylor left the field for a defensive replacement in the ninth inning, he was met with a standing ovation from the fans at Nationals Park.
It was one of several tributes from Nationals fans after Taylor announced his retirement before the game—likely marking his final appearance on a Major League field. Taylor told reporters the decision had been made months earlier, following long conversations with his wife, Brianna. In the end, he said, the choice came down to spending more time at home with his family.
Taylor picked a fitting spot to call it quits.
Washington, D.C, was a place Taylor called home for seven years. After getting selected by the Nationals in the sixth round of the 2009 Draft, he began his MLB career with the Nationals in 2014.
Taylor spent the first seven years of his career in Washington, which included winning a World Series title in 2019. In his lone World Series at-bat in Game 2 against the Astros, he homered. But after two years in Kansas City, followed by stops in Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and the South Side of Chicago, the 34-year-old decided to call it a career.
Taylor went out on a high note, going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI en route to an 8-0 White Sox victory to cap off the 2025 season.
His final at-bat came in the eighth inning with Lenyn Sosa standing on third base. After hitting a ground ball to shortstop to bring home Sosa and extend the lead to 8-0, Taylor received applause from the hometown fans, some of whom were wearing his jersey as he walked back to the dugout.
White Sox manager Will Venable described Taylor as a “quiet leader” who helped develop the “fabric of culture” in the White Sox locker room.
“He made me better. He made the players better. He elevated everything that we did, from the way we communicated, our meetings. He was the one that really took charge in helping us define our non-negotiables and helped hold guys accountable,” Venable told MLB.com.
Taylor was brought in as a depth piece and quietly put together a solid season for the White Sox. While he batted just 200 with a .625 OPS, he came through with some big hits for the White Sox. Most notable was when he laced a two-run double at Target Field on September 3rd that came when the White Sox were trailing the Twins 3-2 in the ninth inning and down to their last out.
Taylor also bolstered the White Sox with his glove, posting 3 Outs Above Average and a Fielding Run Value that ranked in the 68th percentile among MLB outfielders.
He closes out his 12-year career with a .232/.288/.379 slash line, totaling 807 hits, 109 home runs, 388 RBIs, and 128 stolen bases. He recorded 59 hits, nine homers, and eight steals during his lone season with the White Sox.
“I don’t want to get emotional, but with it being my last year, I think I couldn’t have asked for a better group,” Taylor told reporters when announcing his retirement on Sunday. “It’s a younger group, but these guys are really just good baseball players, and even better guys. And I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
