Chicago Bears fans didn’t want to think about what would happen if Matt Eberflus came to town and shut down their offense. Thankfully, it never came to that. Caleb Williams led a spirited effort from the offense, which racked up 31 points. The quarterback threw for 298 yards, completed 67.8% of his passes, and connected on four touchdowns to four different receivers. It was one of the best performances of his career, and right when the Bears needed it. Even better, he wasn’t sacked. That is the first time that has happened in his career.

However, the numbers get even better as you dig. Williams suddenly has some of the best numbers of any quarterback this season.

• 715 passing yards (8th)
• 7 passing touchdowns (1st)
• 1 INT (T-2nd
• 107.6 passer rating (6th)
• 11 passes of 20 yards (T-3rd)

You are reading that correctly. Through three games, Williams ranks in the top 10 for every major passing category. It’s a small sample size, but hearing that about a Bears quarterback is not normal. If you project this pace over 17 games, it gets even wilder.

• 4051 passing yards
• 40 passing TDs
• 6 INTs
• 550 rushing yards
• 6 rushing TDs

That would be a 6.67-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio. Not only would it be the best in Bears history, but the 14th-highest in NFL history, putting him in the same breath as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Lamar Jackson.

Caleb Williams has weathered the early storm.

Now he has a big opportunity to do some real damage in the coming weeks. Next, he faces the Las Vegas Raiders, who entered this week 27th against the pass and just got picked apart by Marcus Mariota for 41 points. Then you have Washington out of the bye, who is 18th against the pass and just allowed Geno Smith to throw for three touchdowns. Next is the New Orleans Saints, one of the worst teams in football. This schedule gives Caleb Williams a potential runway to make a statement. He’s out to prove everybody wrong about himself and this Bears team. It is unlikely he reaches those gaudy numbers, but there is no doubt he is on pace to set multiple single-season records. If he finishes strong, the Bears will go into 2026 with a chance to finally put together a possible contender.

The first two weeks of the season were essential lessons for Ben Johnson. Opening night was a reminder that a game isn’t over until the final whistle. You must learn how to close things out in the 4th quarter. The second game was an introduction to how things can rapidly spiral out of control. Johnson faced a crossroads going into week three against Dallas. The Bears were reeling from their 52-21 beatdown in Detroit. Previous versions of this team would’ve folded like soft tortillas. Johnson had to get them ready.

What followed was the type of response that was desperately needed. Chicago seized control of the game early with touchdowns on two of their first three drives. Then in the 3rd quarter, Johnson orchestrated a 19-play march that slowly ground down Dallas’ defense, capped by a daring call on 4th and goal that went for a touchdown. The Bears cruised to a 31-14 win, giving them life ahead of a big matchup next week in Las Vegas.

Probably the best part was the post-game locker room. Caleb Williams gave Johnson the ball for his first victory. One would think the coach would stay level-headed, telling players to keep their focus for next week. Not Johnson.

Ben Johnson seems to have guys believing.

Just look at the people front and center in that huddle: Williams, Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, and Jaquan Brisker. These are the team leaders, and they’re as amped up as Ben Johnson is. That should tell you the effect this young head coach is having. He promised from the outset that if they worked hard, played with intensity, and did the little things right, the wins would come. This game was the first step in that direction. They can already feel it. The Bears would probably be 2-1 if not for that painful 4th quarter against Minnesota. Johnson has them thinking they can hang with anybody.

Looking ahead, things might line up in the Bears’ favor. Las Vegas just lost 41-24 to Washington, who didn’t even have Jayden Daniels. Then coming out of the bye, three of the next five games will be against New Orleans, a Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati, and the Giants. Those four games suddenly look quite winnable, especially if they start getting some guys back healthy. If the Bears play like they did Sunday, it will be fun to watch.

The Chicago Bears were 0-2. Their season was already on life support as they returned to Soldier Field fresh off their 52-21 drubbing in Detroit. Many proclaimed this team a lost cause. Even though the Dallas Cowboys came in banged up, most still felt their potent offense would run the Bears out of the building. However, head coach Ben Johnson had no intention of lying down without a fight. He had the team practice hard all week, instilling prizefight mentality in the players. Dallas might win, but they were going to pay a price for it.

Instead, the Bears seized control from the jump. After punting on the opening series, Caleb Williams got things going with a 35-yard strike to Rome Odunze for a touchdown. Then on the next play of the following series, he found Luther Burden on a 65-yard flea flicker for another. Chicago held the lead into the second half, where they took possession with ten minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. It was 24-14. Johnson knew the team couldn’t afford a quick series. What followed could be the defining drive of the Bears’ season.

Ben Johnson conducted a soul-sucking 19-play masterpiece.

There was nothing elaborate about it. The Bears marched down the field in steady increments. After reaching 3rd and 10 early, Williams hit a key 12-yard pass to move the chains. Another nine-yard pass followed. From there, Ben Johnson decided enough was enough. He wanted to send a message to Dallas. What followed were 12 plays in which 11 of them were runs, including eight in a row at one point. There was no smoke and mirrors. The Bears played classic bully ball, getting it down to the Cowboys’ seven-yard line.

After a steep loss on 1st down, two Williams passes put the Bears on the four-yard line on 4th down. Johnson didn’t hesitate. The Bears went for it. Williams surveyed on his drop, scrambled to his right, and found DJ Moore in the end zone for a decisive touchdown. Everything about that drive was so cathartic. Chicago imposed its will on the opponent and made them break. Johnson showed unwavering belief that they would.

Moments like this inspire a team. The Bears still have plenty to clean up. Yet it feels like they finally have stable ground under them. Now they have a chance to seize momentum.

Chicago Bears fans were left wondering if the team had made a mistake with their first two picks, having not seen much of Colston Loveland or Luther Burden. That isn’t really fair to either, as they can’t make plays if the ball doesn’t come their way. It would be a waiting game until they got their opportunity. Burden ended up being the one who broke the silence, and of course, he did so in epic fashion. Leading Dallas 7-3 in the 1st quarter, head coach Ben Johnson dialed up one of his classic gadget plays: a flea flicker. Despite a dangerous toss from D’Andre Swift back to Caleb Williams, the quarterback fired a 65-yard laser to a streaking Burden for a massive touchdown.

This was exactly why the Bears drafted him. Burden was a big play machine at Missouri, showcasing his terrific mix of speed and quickness. What many overlooked was his ability as a route-runner. Combine that with the great timing of the play call and you get touchdowns like that. It feels like merely a taste of what’s to come. Burden is only scratching the surface of his potential. Putting him in the hands of a mad scientist like Johnson always felt like a mistake on the NFL’s part.

Luther Burden isn’t the only one the Bears should get going.

Loveland is another piece to that puzzle. For two weeks, the team hasn’t done enough to get him involved. There were plenty of instances of the rookie being open. Either he wasn’t the first read or Williams just didn’t see him. Either way, he and Luther Burden are the type of weapons defenses fear. They have speed, athleticism, route-running, and hands. It is little wonder Johnson wanted to draft them. There is no telling how much better they’ll get as the season goes on. It won’t be a clean development. Struggles will follow days like this. Still, those two feel like a central part of this team’s future.

Skepticism remains high about the Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams partnership. The two just don’t seem like a pairing that would mesh well. Johnson is a meticulous coach who is obsessed with details. Williams is a laid-back personality who, though a hard worker, isn’t known for being stringent with the little things. He made his name as an electric freelancer born to improvise. Johnson is a methodical genius who believes every play will work if the players execute exactly as he wants them to. For that, he needs a quarterback who understands the offense and can make the necessary adjustments. He saw it work with Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff in Detroit.

Williams is not that type of player. Hence, rumors persist that Johnson will reach a breaking point before the season ends and move to Tyson Bagent. However, not everybody holds this opinion. Dianna Russini of The Athletic got in touch with multiple people around the league to get their assessments of the situation. They believe Williams still suffers from his tendency to lean on his mobility when he senses even a little pressure. That said, they also noticed something else.

He’s playing much more like a professional.

What coaches in Dallas are seeing: In moments Williams drifts outside the pocket, it starts to get ugly. Williams can be vicious on the move, but he can just as easily turn the ball over.

But they’re noticing some good, too. “We’re seeing less of that freelancing so far,” one league source said. “Williams is standing tall, trusting his line and delivering on schedule more often. Whether that’s improved protection or Johnson drilling patience into him, it’s a subtle but meaningful shift.”

I’m not here to play Pollyanna or hand Bears fans false hope — you don’t get cute when you’re staring down the possibility of 0-3. But if Williams can continue to marry his playmaking abilities with good pocket work, this might finally be the beginning of something different in Chicago.

Ben Johnson might be having the needed effect.

Experts believed that when the Bears hired him as head coach, he might be one of the few on the planet who could get Williams to embrace playing a more classic style. They might’ve been right. Despite obvious hiccups over the past two weeks, Williams looks better in the pocket than at almost any point last season. He’s learning to take the checkdowns more often and only runs when he has no other choice. That is how it should be done. The trick for Williams is finding the happy medium of learning to use his legs as a weapon in the right situations. Not just a last-second parachute out of trouble.

The real story is Ben Johnson. His influence is becoming clearer each week. He’s been on top of everything Williams does since they got together in January. No little thing goes unnoticed. Such a dedicated and relentless approach seems to be working. Williams asked for this, and it might be getting the results everybody hoped for.

It felt like things were going poorly for the Chicago Bears defense from the jump when Jaylon Johnson failed to appear at training camp. He later admitted he’d torn the abductor muscle off the pelvic bone, knocking him out for over a month. He eventually returned for week two against Detroit and promptly reinjured himself. Head coach Ben Johnson said it wasn’t the same injury, but it was still bad. Most believed Jaylon is done for the season, evidenced by the team placing him on Injured Reserve with no indication of a return in four weeks.

However, there might be a ray of hope. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Johnson plans to meet with a specialist. The plan is for him to have core muscle surgery. If things go as hoped, the cornerback might be able to return in the second half of the season. That could mean he returns sometime in November, perhaps for the home game against the New York Giants or the rematch with the Vikings in Minnesota. Either way, his presence would be most welcome on a clearly struggling defense.

Jaylon Johnson isn’t the only one the Bears need back.

They’ve also played without two other key defenders, Kyler Gordon and T.J. Edwards. Both are almost as instrumental to the unit’s success. Neither will suit up for Sunday’s game against the potent Dallas Cowboys. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is in a tough spot. The secondary, which was supposed to be the strength of his group, is decimated by injuries. Even worse, the pass rush doesn’t look any better than it did last season. Montez Sweat remains maddeningly ineffective while Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo haven’t provided much juice as incoming free agents. Getting Jaylon Johnson back might at least stabilize things. Nobody would blame him for choosing to call it a year, given how the Bears look. Kudos to Johnson for working to return anyway.

Looking at the Chicago Bears‘ pass rush, it’s easy to understand why many fans are sore that the team didn’t push harder to get Micah Parsons. He could’ve given this group the jolt it needed to become formidable. Instead, they have to watch him rev up the Green Bay Packers’ front every week. However, the perspective is not the same as others around the NFL. While Parson absolutely would’ve helped the Bears, his impact wouldn’t have been what it needed to be to justify the cost.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke with an executive from another team about it. From his perspective, the Bears did the right thing. Why? Until they know what they truly have in Caleb Williams at quarterback, there is zero reason to waste resources on a trade for somebody like Parsons.

“Great talent. Instantly elevates every team in the league,” he said. “But you make that move, you are saying, ‘We’re ready to win right now, at least challenge for a conference championship.’ That’s exactly what you’re declaring if you are trading away multiple first-round picks. There’s no more runway to prepare for that championship chase when you’ve mortgaged the future in that manner.

“Saying that, the Bears are not in that position. Maybe they can get there with Ben (Johnson). They’ve got to find out if the quarterback is their guy. Isn’t that what this season is about?”

Right now, Williams hasn’t shown nearly enough to convince people he’s a franchise guy. There are flashes, but no consistency. Until that changes, the Bears must manage their capital carefully. They can’t afford to fall into the same trap they did seven years ago.

Micah Parsons might’ve been another Khalil Mack.

The Bears went down this road in 2018. They gave up the bag for the Raiders’ superstar. His impact was immediate, elevating the defense to #1 in the NFL and helping them win the division. However, that’s as far as the Bears got. Mitch Trubisky never progressed at quarterback. That reality sank in over the next few seasons. Even as the defense remained solid, it couldn’t carry the team. Soon, the hefty contract became a problem, and the lost draft picks from the trade hurt their chances to keep the roster strong.

The Packers are in a different mindset. They already paid Jordan Love, meaning they believe he is good enough to win a championship with. That is why they went for broke with Micah Parsons. Their clock is now ticking. A three-year window exists for them to claim the prize before the money and lost picks catch up.