Stephen A. Smith’s concern about the Bears didn’t disappear just because the standings changed.
Chicago woke up in first place in the NFC North after the Vikings’ loss on Monday Night Football, but Smith’s warning from earlier in the day still hangs over the team. He had already questioned the Bears’ Super Bowl path before Minnesota and Buffalo played, and the Bills’ win only made the division picture look better for Chicago.
Still, Smith’s bigger point was never about the standings alone.
“My belief is still there. I believe that Chicago can be those dudes offensively.
I believe they can be very explosive. Defensively, they’ve gotten better with the addition of Simmons, obviously helps them exponentially.
But in the same breath, you can’t do it if you’re going to play the way that Caleb Williams played yesterday.”
That’s the part Bears fans won’t love hearing, but it’s also hard to dismiss. Williams had thrown just one interception this season before Week 9, then turned around and tossed four in one night against Tampa Bay. A couple of those picks looked like he was trying to get rid of the ball, only for it to land right in the defense’s hands.
Smith also put some of the responsibility on head coach Ben Johnson: “Sometimes playing that hero ball simply ain’t going to get it done. So that’s something that Ben Johnson is definitely going to have to rein in.”
That’s the tension with Williams. The confidence is part of what makes him dangerous, and nobody wants that stripped away. At the same time, Smith’s warning lines up with what Sunday night showed: the Bears can’t afford a quarterback performance like that and expect the same result every week.
Johnson has already helped Williams make major strides, and the quarterback’s growth under him has been obvious. The Tampa Bay game looked like a step backward, but not one that feels beyond correction.
Chicago sits at 7-2 because the defense has taken a huge jump since Jeffery Simmons arrived and because the offense survived its franchise quarterback’s roughest outing of the year. The bye week now gives Johnson time to clean things up without dulling what makes the Bears dangerous.
That balance is the whole game for Chicago now. January won’t be nearly as forgiving.
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 🡒]