How Ben Johnson’s Playbook and Preparation Are Powering Caleb Williams and the Bears
If you want to understand why the Chicago Bears are suddenly one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams heading into the postseason, look no further than the synergy between head coach Ben Johnson and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. It’s not just about talent - though Williams has plenty of that - it’s about how Johnson is setting the table for his young QB to thrive.
And Saturday night’s walk-off 46-yard touchdown to DJ Moore in overtime? That was the chef’s special.
Let’s start with the big picture. Johnson, who built his offensive reputation in Detroit from 2022 to 2024, was already one of the most respected minds in football before taking the Bears job in January.
And this year, he’s showing exactly why. After a chaotic 2024 season that saw the Bears cycle through two head coaches and three offensive coordinators, Johnson has brought stability, structure, and - most importantly - a plan tailored to maximize Caleb Williams’ strengths.
The Bears finished last season 5-12. Now they’re 11-4, sitting atop the NFC North and holding the conference’s No. 2 seed behind only Seattle. That’s not just a turnaround - that’s a transformation.
The Play That Broke the Packers
Saturday’s 22-16 overtime win over the Packers was a masterclass in preparation and deception. The final play - Williams’ 46-yard game-winner to Moore - was the culmination of a chess match Johnson had been playing all night. And it started with a subtle setup that only the most prepared coaching staff could pull off.
Let’s break it down.
The Bears came out in 13 personnel - that’s one running back, three tight ends - with Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Durham Smythe on the field. On paper, that screams run.
And that’s exactly what the Packers thought, especially since Chicago had only thrown two deep passes all season out of that grouping. One of those was a 28-yard touchdown to Kmet back in Week 13 against the Eagles.
The other? Nothing to write home about.
So when the Bears lined up in that same heavy set in overtime, Green Bay bit hard. They’d seen this look earlier in the game - a 13-yard run by Kyle Monangai from their own 2-yard line.
Same alignment. Same motion.
Same personnel. It was textbook misdirection.
Only this time, it wasn’t a run.
Moore was the lone receiver out wide right, aligned in a reduced split. On the previous play out of this look, he’d blocked for the run.
This time, he was running a deep over route. And with the Packers selling out for the run - linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker crashing down, safeties Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard cheating up - Moore had a one-on-one with cornerback Keisean Nixon and no help over the top.
That’s all Williams needed.
He dropped a dime. Moore brought it in with Nixon draped all over him. Ballgame.
“We Timed That One Up Right”
After the game, Johnson explained that the play had been installed during the week and run in practice just two days earlier - and it looked almost identical.
“The final play? Yeah, that was one that we put in and we ran in practice on Thursday, and it almost looked identical to that,” Johnson said. “Caleb threw a dime in practice, DJ came down with it, and we’re hopeful that it may or may not be there, but we timed that one up right.”
That’s the kind of preparation that turns a good team into a great one. It’s not just about drawing up a play - it’s about laying the groundwork, setting up the defense, and then pulling the trigger at the perfect moment.
Johnson and his staff had shown the Packers just enough of that look earlier in the game to sell the illusion. When the moment came, they cashed in.
And Williams? He didn’t flinch.
Confidence Built on Reps and Trust
“I knew it was good,” Williams said after the game. “You got that belief, you got that confidence, you got that swagger as an offense.
You practice well, you hit plays like that in practice. It was pretty identical to practice, and when the play gets called and the moment comes up like that, it’s time to go hit it.”
That swagger he’s talking about? It’s earned.
Not just in the film room or the practice field, but in the trust that’s been built between quarterback and coach. Williams mentioned reviewing the play in Johnson’s office earlier in the week, going over the smallest details.
The next day, they ran it in practice. And when the lights were brightest, they executed it to perfection.
This is what happens when a coach gives his quarterback the tools - and the confidence - to succeed. Johnson’s playbook isn’t just creative, it’s layered.
He’s giving Williams the kind of schematic support that lets a young quarterback play fast and free. And when the defense is seeing ghosts because of what you showed them earlier in the game?
That’s when the big plays happen.
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
This Bears team isn’t just winning games - they’re doing it with purpose. Johnson’s fingerprints are all over this offense, and Williams is growing into the kind of quarterback who can take advantage of it.
That final touchdown wasn’t just a highlight - it was a statement. A sign that this offense is evolving into something special.
The Bears are 11-4. They’re leading the NFC North. And with a coach and quarterback this in sync, they’re not just a playoff team - they’re a problem.
If you’re a defensive coordinator looking at Chicago on the schedule, you better bring more than just tape. You’ll need a plan.
Because Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams? They’re playing chess while everyone else is still setting up the board.