Caleb Williams Faces Crucial Test as Bears Gear Up for Packers Showdown
The Chicago Bears are riding high, winners of nine of their last ten and holding onto the NFC’s top seed heading into Week 14. But don’t mistake that success for satisfaction inside Halas Hall. Head coach Ben Johnson isn’t letting his team get too comfortable - and he’s especially not letting his quarterback off the hook.
With a massive divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers on deck, Johnson is making it clear: the standard is higher, and the Bears still have another gear to hit. And while he didn’t name Caleb Williams directly in his Tuesday comments, the message was unmistakable - it’s time for the young quarterback to raise his game.
“This might be the best defense we’ve seen all year,” Johnson said, referring to Green Bay’s unit. And he didn’t stop there, highlighting safeties Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney as possibly “the best safeties we have seen all year long” thanks to their range and closing speed.
That’s not just coach-speak. The Packers have been stingy through the air all season, holding opponents to just 186.5 passing yards per game - sixth-best in the league.
Their secondary isn’t just fast; it’s smart, disciplined, and physical. That’s a dangerous combination for any quarterback, especially one still finding his rhythm in the NFL.
Williams’ Accuracy Woes Under the Microscope
Caleb Williams has had his moments this season - flashes of brilliance that remind everyone why he was the No. 1 overall pick. But consistency has been elusive.
Through 12 games, he’s completing just 58.1% of his passes, down from 62.5% last year. And it’s not just the raw percentage that’s concerning - it’s what’s behind the numbers.
According to NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escañer, Williams is throwing to open targets at the fourth-highest rate in the league (50.5%), yet still owns the lowest completion percentage among qualified quarterbacks. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Part of the issue? He’s holding onto the ball longer than any other quarterback with at least 10 starts this year - an average of 3.1 seconds per dropback. That hesitation is giving defenses time to close windows and collapse the pocket, and it’s putting unnecessary strain on the offensive line.
Williams has completed at least 60% of his passes just four times this season - and not once in the last five games. That’s a trend that has to change, especially against a Packers defense that thrives on forcing quarterbacks into tight-window throws and capitalizing on mistakes.
The Talent Is There - But the Clock Is Ticking
Let’s be clear: Williams isn’t without his highlights. He’s made clutch throws in big moments, and his arm talent is undeniable.
When he’s in rhythm and trusting his reads, he looks like the franchise cornerstone Chicago hoped for. But in a division this tight - with three NFC North matchups to close the season - the margin for error is razor-thin.
Johnson has already signaled that he’s not going to sugarcoat things for his young QB. And while Williams’ job isn’t in danger, the pressure is very real. The Bears are in position to make a deep playoff run, but that hinges on their quarterback elevating his play - not just with highlight-reel throws, but with the kind of consistency that wins in January.
This week’s matchup against Green Bay isn’t just another game. It’s a litmus test.
The Packers will force Williams to make quick decisions, throw into tight coverage, and stay composed under pressure. If he can do that - if he can rise to the moment - the Bears will be one step closer to cementing their place as a legitimate NFC powerhouse.
If not? Well, the road from promising to proven is never easy - and in Chicago, it just got a little steeper.