Sunday Night Football started out with a bang in Week 17. The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers just kept trading scores in a game with serious playoff tension.
On the Bears' fourth offensive possession, the Bears had a first-and-10 from the San Francisco 36-yard line. After a pair of chunk gaines courtesy of running back Kyle Monangai both on the ground and through the air, quarterback Caleb Williams took his turn to shine.
Williams hit tight end Colston Loveland with an absolute laser type strike, resulting in a gorgeous 36-yard touchdown. The best part was, though, Williams took advantage of a free play thanks to a San Francisco offsides.
NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth loved what he saw and made a comparison that will both sting a little, but also, Bears fans can't ignore. On the live broadcast, Colllinsworth had this to say:
"That was like an Aaron Rodgers there. He got the offside, worked the hard count and then very calmly ... buy a little time ... and just roped it in there."
Cris Collinsworth made a Caleb Williams and Aaron Rodgers comp Bears fans can’t deny
On one hand, hearing a comparison that includes the likes of a future Hall of Fame quarterback like Rodgers, in respect to Williams, is something Bears fans might have never thought they'd hear.
To have a quarterback with the arm talent of Williams' caliber is still quite surreal for the majority of this fan base, but it's definitely real.
On the other hand, the Bears still somehow can't escape the name Aaron Rodgers, even in a game that doesn't even feature their former nemesis. And, sadly, Bears fans know that scenario all too well.
There have been countless situations where Rodgers used a hard count, when with the Green Bay Packers, and drew the Bears offside. From there, he often made the Bears pay magnificently.
In fact, if you're like me, in any game you witness a team jump offsides and the play continues with any particular quarterback dropping back for a free heave, you get a little PTSD. It's perfectly normal as a Bears fan.
But, incredibly enough, this time it worked out to the Bears' advantage, and it was a thing of beauty.
Read more: Bears surprisingly lose offensive starter last second with Week 17 inactives
Caleb Williams is the next Aaron Rodgers. That's basically what I heard. Cris Collinsworth said it, so it has to be fate.
Enjoy it, Bears fans.