Caleb Williams Flashes Brilliance and Growing Pains in Bears’ Narrow Loss to Packers
The Bears went toe-to-toe with the Packers deep into the fourth quarter in Week 14, but a late-game misfire sealed their fate. Chicago fell 28-21 at Lambeau Field after Caleb Williams’ fourth-down heave into the end zone was picked off by Packers corner Keisean Nixon - a throw intended for tight end Cole Kmet that came up just short of the mark.
Still, Williams didn’t flinch after the game. “In those moments, I feel like the ball should be in my hand,” he said.
“I feel great. It’s like that MJ quote - he missed how many game winners?
I’ll take those shots and roll with the punches if I do miss. You move on from it.
I think nine times out of 10, I’ll hit it.”
That confidence is part of what’s made Williams such a compelling figure in Chicago’s resurgence this season. At 9-4, the Bears are firmly in the playoff hunt heading into a Week 15 clash with Cleveland. And while Sunday’s finish stung, there’s no denying the growth the second-year quarterback has shown under head coach Ben Johnson.
A Tale of Two Halves - Again
Williams’ night in Green Bay was a microcosm of his season: a slow start, a second-half spark, and a mix of jaw-dropping talent with just enough volatility to keep things interesting.
He threw for just 32 yards in the first half, completing 6 of 14 passes and struggling to get anything going downfield. But after halftime, the script flipped.
Williams caught fire, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns, nearly leading the Bears back from a two-score deficit. His most electric moment?
A one-footed, off-platform strike to Olamide Zaccheaus that had just a 16.9% chance of being completed, according to Next Gen Stats. Johnson called it “one of the most incredible plays I’ve ever seen in my life.”
That’s the Williams experience in a nutshell - the lows can be frustrating, but the highs are absolutely electric.
Accuracy Still a Work in Progress
For all the late-game heroics, Williams’ accuracy remains a focal point. He currently owns a 57.8% completion rate and leads the league with 90 off-target throws. That inconsistency was on display early against Green Bay, where he completed just one pass beyond 10 air yards before halftime and missed on 42% of his first-half attempts.
But when Johnson dialed up more play-action and designed movement in the second half, things opened up. Williams used play-action on over 60% of his dropbacks after the break, accounting for nearly all of his 144 second-half passing yards. He was also on the move for nearly 43% of his throws, which helped generate both of his touchdown passes - and unfortunately, the game-sealing interception.
That duality is what makes evaluating Williams so intriguing. He’s tied for the second-most game-winning drives in the league this season and has logged 12 fourth-quarter scores - a number that puts him near the top of the NFL. When the pressure mounts, he tends to rise with it.
What It Means for the Bears' Playoff Push
The Bears’ playoff odds are sitting at 61.9% according to FPI, and their path forward hinges on Williams continuing to evolve. The team has shown it can rally behind him, but the next step is avoiding the need for those comebacks altogether.
If Williams can tighten up his early-game rhythm and cut down on the off-target throws - currently at a 22% clip - Chicago becomes a much more dangerous team. The run game has been more effective, the play-calling more tailored to Williams’ strengths, and the defense has done its part to keep games within reach.
The Bears are no longer just a team with promise - they’re a team with playoff expectations. And as Williams continues to grow, so does the belief that this group can make some noise in January.
For now, the loss in Green Bay stings. But it also showed, once again, that Chicago’s young quarterback has the tools to be special. The question is how quickly he can put it all together.