In a game that had just about everything-drama, desperation, and a jaw-dropping throw that will be replayed for years-Caleb Williams gave Bears fans a glimpse of what the future might look like in Chicago. The rookie quarterback’s fourth-down heave to tight end Cole Kmet in the final seconds of regulation wasn’t just clutch-it was borderline impossible.
Let’s set the scene: Bears trailing the Rams in the Divisional Round, time winding down, season on the line. On 4th down, Williams rolled out and unleashed a rocket from well outside the pocket.
The ball traveled 51.2 yards through the cold Chicago air before landing perfectly in the hands of Kmet in the back of the end zone. According to Next Gen Stats, that throw had just a 17.8% chance of being completed.
That’s not threading the needle-that’s threading it blindfolded, with the game on the line, in the red zone. Since Next Gen Stats began tracking this kind of data in 2016, no one has completed a longer pass by air distance in the red zone.
That’s how rare this was.
It was the kind of play that instantly gets etched into postseason highlight reels. From the end zone angle shared by NFL Network’s Stacey Dales, you can see just how tight the window was-and how calm Williams remained under pressure. It was a moment of pure quarterback brilliance, the kind of play that makes you forget he’s still in his first year.
But as electric as that moment was, it ended up being a footnote in a heartbreaking loss. The Bears couldn’t carry the momentum into overtime.
Williams, trying to make another heroic play, was picked off by Kamren Curl. That turnover set up the Rams’ game-winning field goal, sealing a 20-17 overtime win and sending Chicago home.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the bigger picture here. This was a Bears team that won 11 games and captured its first playoff victory in 15 years. Under new head coach Ben Johnson, they’ve found an identity-and, more importantly, a quarterback who looks like he belongs on the big stage.
Yes, the season ended in disappointment. But that throw?
That was a signal flare. Caleb Williams is here, and he’s capable of special things.
The Bears may have lost the game, but they might’ve found their future.