Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Playing on Sunday Night Football, the two NFC contenders gave the NFL world a show, as the 49ers won 42-38, with a clutch goal-line stand. Despite the loss, it was somewhat of a promising moment for Chicago’s offense and Caleb Williams, who were two yards away from knocking off the NFC’s possible top seed.
While the Bears' young quarterback would love to have the win, one benefit of the shootout is that it moved him significantly closer to accomplishing a historical goal. Williams completed 25-of-42 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in Week 17, moving him to 3,730 passing yards on the season. That means with one game left in the season, the quarterback is 270 yards away from being Chicago’s first 4000-yard passer.
Caleb Williams could become the Bears’ first 4000-yard passer in regular-season finale
Much has been made about how Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 4000 yards in a single season. Williams is aware of that reality, and he has admitted that it’s his goal to be the first to do it. The young quarterback could accomplish that goal in just his second season, but it will take a massive effort in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions.
Williams is averaging 233.1 passing yards per game this season, but he has eclipsed 270 yards four times this year. None of those happened against Detroit, as Williams only threw for 207 yards in Chicago’s Week 2 blowout loss to the NFC North opponent. The Lions are giving up 218.1 yards per game (18th) this season, though, so Williams could be in for a big day.
Even if the second-year quarterback falls short of the 4000-yard mark, he’s still on pace to set a Bears record. The previous mark for most passing yards in a single season for a Chicago quarterback is 3,838, set by Erik Kramer in 1995. Williams is just 109 yards from surpassing that number.
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So when the Bears take the field in Week 18, Williams should finish the game as the single-season passing leader for Chicago, and if things go really well, he’ll be the franchise’s first-ever 4000-yard passer.