LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Moving forward from a narrow defeat against the Green Bay Packers is the challenge facing Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Although the positives from the loss might be overshadowed by the blocked field goal that sealed a 20-19 outcome, Williams has managed to identify key areas for improvement. He credited new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown for his effective game planning and play selection.
“It began with him putting everything together and creating a good rhythm for us, so we weren’t overly concerned about what was coming next,” Williams explained on Wednesday. “We had a clear idea of our next steps and, from there, we could go out, execute efficiently, and maximize our chances of winning.”
Brown took over the role after the dismissal of Shane Waldron and led the Bears to record 113 more yards than their season average of 278, with a significant contribution of 179 yards coming from the ground game. However, this week poses a challenge, as coach Matt Eberflus announced that running back D’Andre Swift, who has a groin injury, missed practice.
The passing game also improved, generating 212 yards, surpassing their average by 43 yards, and converting 56.3% of third downs, nearly doubling their typical conversion rate.
Williams played a pivotal role in a fourth-and-3 conversion with a 21-yard completion to Rome Odunze, which positioned the Bears for a potential game-winning field goal. Despite being a critical factor in the success, he was quick to attribute this to Brown’s contributions and the swift communication of plays.
“We didn’t change our entire approach during the days that Thomas became the offensive coordinator,” Williams remarked. “The key was decisiveness, which stemmed from our meetings and having clarity about our execution. Getting plays in quickly allowed us to feel at ease rather than rushed.”
“The focus on the smaller details, such as route precision, blocking techniques, and running back paths, played a significant role in our performance last week.”
The Bears have maintained a streak of no turnovers across three games, a statistic they aim to uphold against the blitz-heavy defense of coordinator Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, who, alongside Buffalo, lead the league with 21 takeaways.
“He’s certainly going to bring the blitz,” Williams commented. “He’s quite adept at employing various cover-zero blitz strategies.”
Eberflus sees Williams as a capable quarterback under pressure, should the Vikings stick to their aggressive approach.
“It all begins with his innate ability to release the ball quickly,” Eberflus noted. “Some players can’t achieve that; their release is too slow. But Williams has a swift release, which benefits him. The foundation we laid on offense will support him, alongside his ability to read the play before the snap.”
As the team looks to build on their offensive accomplishments from the previous week, Williams identified other crucial areas of focus.
“Communication, a positive attitude, and thorough attention to detail are essential, both for myself and for the entire team,” he added. “These three elements could be vital for the success of our upcoming games.”