Ben Johnson sent another warning to the rest of the league during his postgame locker room speech following the Bears Week 10 win
He knows quarterback Caleb Williams is a special talent.
The Chicago Bears pulled off another thrilling win in Week 10 against the New York Giants on Sunday to improve to 6-3 on the season but the message from head coach Ben Johnson stayed consistent.
The Bears have proved to be a team you don’t want to face late in the fourth quarter. At the same time, the Bears need to be playing more complete football as a whole, which is apparently a large ask, and ideally hold commanding leads in the fourth quarter to avoid having to having last minute comeback drives or defensive stands.
In the grand scheme of things, these wins mean something to the locker room and how these wins are being conducted mean even more. The reason why is because of the play of quarterback Caleb Williams when the lights are bright and it’s something more people need to start recognizing.
Ben Johnson and Bears players aren’t hiding the true feelings for Caleb Williams anymore
“He’s got ice in his veins and if you don’t believe it now, you just wait, man,” Johnson said of Williams to the team in the locker room after the game. “The best is yet to come.”
The best is certainly yet to come because it still seems like Williams hasn’t played his most complete game that he’s capable of. After the Week 3 domination against the Dallas Cowboys, I said it was Williams’ best game performance-wise of his NFL career. After Sunday, I said that was Williams’ biggest win of his NFL career.
Despite all the struggles throughout largely the entire game, Williams stayed steady-headed against the Giants and looked incredible with some of the plays he was making while going up against one of the top pass rushes in the NFL.
“He looked like a Houdini back there,” Johnson told reporters. “That’s the unique thing about his skill set. He’s got that ability. As a play caller, certainly helps me out because I don’t feel like I need to be perfect with these play calls. He’s going to make these things right.”
Uncharacteristically, the play-calling was a little bit off on Sunday and it didn’t help that Williams dealt with six drops (per PFF) from his pass catchers. Yet, he continued to make plays happen with his arm, and when it counted, with his legs as well.
Williams added 63 yards on the ground including a career-best 29-yard scamper, not to mention the 17-yard touchdown run to take the lead on a designed naked boot.
“There were times where he’s trying to escape and making some things happen,” Johnson added. “He had a couple throws down the field, but over 50 yards again rushing for the second week in a row, and I thought in the fourth quarter there we really needed that as a shot in the arm to end up winning that ballgame. So credit to him.”
Those inside the building over the last two seasons knew this level of play has always been there in Williams’ game and now it’s everyone else catching up to his high level of play.
“Caleb’s making it happen,” tight end Cole Kmet said in the locker room after the game. “And despite whatever has happened throughout the beginning parts of the game, he comes alive and we find a way to get down the field and score.”
The play early in the game can still improve, but when it matters, Williams has been delivering this season for the Bears and now is tied for the most fourth quarter comebacks and game winning drives in the NFL after the Week 10 win.
“It all slows down for him,” wide receiver Rome Odunze said of Williams. “Whereas for some people, things might speed up and they feel the pressure of that moment, everything slows down for him. He’s just very present, in the moment and making those plays. That’s when he puts his Superman cape on and becomes extraordinary.”
Chicago Bears News
Bears HC Ben Johnson keeps it real with his postgame message despite pulling out another close win in Week 10
The Bears continue to find ways to win close games.
