The Chicago Bears have waited a long time for extraordinary quarterback play. The Bears held the first overall pick in 2024 and used it on USC's Caleb Williams. Williams showed during his college days at USC and Oklahoma that he is fully capable of putting the team on his back and leading them to huge gains downfield and victories because of his play-making abilities. The hope was that his game would translate immediately, but his rookie year was rough, due in part to the roster construction and the coaching of Matt Eberflus.
Things have changed for the better for Williams in his second year, his first with Ben Johnson as head coach. On Sunday, Bears fans got to see Williams play the role of "Superman" after leading the Bears to a 24-20 win over the New York Giants thanks in part to a fourth quarter comeback. Williams clinched the comeback victory after a 17-yard, go-ahead touchdown with just two minutes remaining in regulation.
After the game, wide receiver Rome Odunze, who scored a touchdown to help the team's comeback, talked about Williams' heroics in the fourth quarter. Oduzne said that the game really does slow down for Williams.
Rome Odunze praises Caleb Williams' heroics in Bears' win over Giants
“It kind of slows down for him. For some people it might speed up. He’s very present in the moment, making those plays. That’s when he puts his Superman cape on and goes out there and is extraordinary," said Odunze.
Some of Williams' critics have said that the game is too quick for him, especially in crunch time. On Sunday, he proved them wrong. Sure, they were facing a bad Giants defense, but his play in the fourth quarter was incredibly impressive.
In the fourth quarter, Williams used his legs to extend plays and ultimately strike when the Giants defense was worn out, There was the 29 yard run that helped set up Odunze's two-yard touchdown reception. Then, the 17-yard rushing touchdown. Williams scrambled six times on 13 dropbacks, and picked up 63 yards and a touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Bears' season hasn't been perfect, but they are doing something they couldn't do last year, and that's pick up wins. Through nine games, they won six of them. Williams is getting better by the game and is looking closer to the quarterback he was when playing for the Sooners and Trojans. If he can continue to do what he did in the fourth quarter on a game-to-game basis, he could very well be one of the best quarterbacks in the game.