Chicago Bears fans got a roller coaster from Caleb Williams in Week 9, and the ride ended with a win that still came with plenty of nerves.
Williams helped Chicago jump out fast in the Bears’ 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the offense piling up nearly 150 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. Then the game flipped.
Over the second and third quarters, Williams threw four interceptions, a new career-high, before settling back in for the kind of finish that can change a quarterback’s night. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, and on the final drive he went 3-for-4, including a 38-yard strike to Colston Loveland that set up Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal as time expired.
That late surge mattered, but it doesn’t erase the mess that came before it. Williams will have to own this one and clean it up, and head coach Ben Johnson made it clear the tape is going to tell a hard truth.
After the game, Johnson’s mood was obvious from both his press conference and his locker room message. There was no stanky leg celebration, and the "Good, Better, Best" chat was as dull as it’s ever been.
Still, when Johnson talked with ESPN Chicago about the interceptions, he sounded more reflective than angry. He pointed to the value of the film and the fact that Williams has not been an interception-prone quarterback.
"There’s a lot of good tape for us to learn from here. You know, this is the thing about Caleb Williams is he’s never been a guy, whether it’s college or the NFL, to throw interceptions.
So this is an aberration for him. Yeah.
And it’s good tape to learn from.
"We knew that we were going to be a little pass-heavy going into this game, and that was part of the plan. So when that ends up taking shape and form, you know, we’ll store some of these looks into our library and our database in terms of how these coverages were unshaping and all that. And we’ll learn from it.
"But I think we’ll be better in the long run, as, once again, you still get a win even though we’re not playing at our best or executing at our fullest. And I think we’ll be okay."
Not every interception looked the same, either. On two of the throws, Williams appeared to be trying to get rid of the ball but didn’t put enough air under it. That’s the kind of mistake he can fix.
He’ll also hear plenty of criticism after a game like this, especially from the people who have been waiting for a stumble. And yes, he deserves some of it.
The turnovers and missed throws were part of a rough night. But it’s still just one game, and it doesn’t erase what has otherwise been a good season.
Williams also wasn’t operating in a clean pocket. The Buccaneers got 21 pressures on him and one sack, and while he did a good job avoiding more sacks, that heat clearly played a role in the four interceptions.
The Bears, though, are in a good spot to reset. They enter the bye week at 7-2, with time to clear their heads, fix the mistakes and get ready for the final eight games. Williams can use the break to step away for a bit, then get back to work.
Johnson will spend the next two weeks pushing his offense to be sharper, and he’s going to coach Williams hard to make sure another four-interception game doesn’t happen again. The expectation is that this will pass, the Bears will heal up, and Williams will come out of the break ready to roll.
For now, there’s no reason to panic. Williams is still one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, and the final eight games should be plenty entertaining if he comes back motivated and the offense follows his lead.
In Other News...
Rome Odunze Just Added A Dangerous New Wrinkle To Chicago's Offense
Rome Odunze had already been doing plenty of the heavy lifting in Chicagos passing game before he finally found the end zone on Sunday night. The rookie had built up a solid body of work in catches and receiving yards without a touchdown to show for it, which made his role look productive but still a little unfinished as the Bears tried to round out their offense.
Now there is at least another layer for defenses to worry about. Odunzes first score of the season came at a time when Chicago has been looking for more ways to stress opponents beyond its usual targets, and it gives the Bears a receiver who can threaten in more than one phase of the passing game. For an offense that has been searching for reliable answers, that kind of development can change the way teams have to line up against them. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Legend Sees A Path For Caleb Williams To Make History
Patrick Mannelly still sits atop a pair of Bears longevity marks, with 245 games and 16 seasons, but he is not treating those records like something to guard. The former long snapper made it clear he would welcome Caleb Williams as the player who eventually pushes past them, because in his view that kind of career arc would come with the kind of team success Chicago has spent years chasing.
Mannelly also had plenty to say about the new look around Williams, especially the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He praised Simmons for the versatility and impact he brings to the roster, the sort of front-line presence that can change how an opponent has to game plan and, in turn, help create the kind of environment where a quarterback can stay in one place long enough to make history. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Put One Roster Trend In Focus Fast
Chicagos Week 9 win came with the offense still searching for rhythm, but it also sharpened the focus on a few roster trends that have been building beneath the surface. Theo Benedet stayed at left tackle for a second straight game and handled every snap there, a notable sign of stability on a line that has needed it, while Kalif Raymond continued to be a steady part of the passing game as the Bears worked through their usual mix of wrinkles and limitations.
On the other side of the ball, injuries in the cornerback room created an opening for Clark Phillips III, and he made the most of the extra work with a strong showing in coverage. Roschon Johnsons role, meanwhile, remains worth watching after he was absent from the offensive snap count entirely, leaving the Bears with some decisions to sort through even in a win that otherwise offered a few encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]