It's been tough not to notice the difference in this Bears offense over the past month or so, and one of the reasons why they've been so good is none other than tight end Cole Kmet. Since seeing just one target in Week 1, Kmet has become a focal point and has caught 25 of 28 targets for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
When speaking to the media on Monday after the team's bye week, Kmet also pointed out the obvious when it comes to why this offensive unit has been so good.
Sure, it's a team game. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has improved. The offensive line has improved. But, Kmet sees one main reason as to why the Bears have found success as of late:
"It’s hard not to say the quarterback. The quarterback looks really good," Kmet said.
After the first couple of games for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, he's truly taken a turn for the better, improving each week. It's been visible, and we're now at the point where the critics don't really have a leg to stand on.
Williams has indeed been the difference-maker, along with better offensive line play and an improved scheme, overall, from Waldron.
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But, when the entire football world has been focused on quarterbacks like fellow rookie Jayden Daniels, the Packers' Jordan Love or of course the 6-0 Patrick Mahomes, it's Williams who has arguably been playing just as good, if not better than those three.
Cole Kmet hopes the success of the Bears offense leads to some late-season flex action
Additionally, in Kmet's media time, he spoke about how he'd like to play in more prime time games going forward.
"I’m sick of playing at noon all the time." –Cole Kmet on Bears/Commanders getting flexed to 3:25 on CBS
— Sean Hammond (@sean_hammond) October 21, 2024
"That fires me up," Kmet said. "The guys that I was around early in my career, they always talked about the primetime games. There's no reason to shy away from that."
If Williams and the offense continue to play well and offer the league reason to flex them, there's no doubt we could see Kmet's wish come true.
Later on this season, there will be some big-time matchups for the Bears which could have significant playoff implications. It wouldn't be far fetched for any of these games to get flexed into a prime time window:
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings (currently noon CT)
Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers (currently 3:25pm CT)
Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions (currently noon CT)
Week 18: at Green Bay Packers (currently TBD)
Week 13 is Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions and Week 15 is Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. With the latter in mind, it's tough to imagine that matchup gets two prime time slots, but the first matchup between Chicago and Minnesota might just get a bump out to 3:25pm CT.
The Bears have another prime time game in Week 17, at home on Thursday Night Football, against the Seattle Seahawks.
Regardless of where the Bears' scheduling sits, now, the reality is, Williams has plenty of time to give this team another shot under the lights as the season winds down.