The Bears are rolling. With five straight wins - including a gritty Thanksgiving victory - they’ve surged to the top of the NFL playoff picture at 9-3.
But even with the momentum, head coach Ben Johnson isn’t sugarcoating what’s holding them back. And it starts with the passing game.
When Johnson took over this offseason, he set a clear benchmark for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams: a 70% completion rate. That’s a lofty goal for any passer, let alone a first-year QB navigating the speed and complexity of the NFL.
So far, Williams hasn’t hit that mark in a single game. In fact, his season completion percentage sits at 58.1% - dead last among the 33 qualified quarterbacks in the league.
On Monday, Johnson addressed the issue head-on. He acknowledged that last Thursday’s game in Philadelphia came with its share of swirling winds - not exactly ideal for a young quarterback trying to find rhythm. But the coach made it clear: weather or not, the Bears’ passing game needs to be better.
“This is an area we’re certainly talking about,” Johnson said. “We’ve gotta be fundamentally correct.
The primary receiver - when he’s open - we’ve got to make sure we hit him. And then, all of our pass catchers… we just harped on it today.
We need to be more disciplined in our route detail. It’s not where it needs to be.”
That detail matters. According to Johnson, the issues aren’t just on Williams.
Route depth, timing, footwork - it’s all under the microscope. “Our depth’s not proper all the time.
Our steps [aren’t]. Everybody has a role to play to get this pass game cleaned up.
It’s not where it needs to be,” he added. “We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it - and none of us are pleased with that right now.”
That’s a candid assessment from a coach whose team is tied for the second-best record in the league. And yet, he’s not wrong.
The Bears have managed to put up the eighth-most points in the NFL, thanks in part to strong defense, a balanced run game, and timely playmaking. Williams, for all the growing pains, has kept the turnovers in check - just five interceptions on 396 attempts, which puts him below the league average in interception rate.
But the low completion percentage is a red flag, especially for a quarterback drafted to be the face of the franchise. For the Bears to make a serious postseason run - and for Williams to evolve into the quarterback Chicago is banking on - that number has to climb.
The good news? There’s still time.
And if Williams can sharpen his accuracy down the stretch, the Bears could be even more dangerous when the games start to really count in January.
For now, they’re winning. But they know there’s another gear to hit - and it starts with getting the ball where it needs to go.