Caleb Williams’ big game vs. the Cowboys was fueled by one teammate who stepped up and delivered when it mattered most
He stepped up for all four quarters.
The Chicago Bears finally get to experience the first Victory Monday of the season after picking apart the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 to have a statement-like performance to rebound from an 0-2 start.
Quarterback Caleb Williams and his command of Ben Johnson’s offense was the headline story of the game. Williams finished with over 300 total yards and threw four touchdowns to four different pass catchers in the win, easily his best performance since being drafted #1 a year ago.
The Williams stat from Week 3 that was really telling was a credit more to the protection on Sunday. Williams was not sacked for the first time in a game since joining the Bears.
“Yeah, that was pretty cool,” Williams said after the win. “All kudos to the big boys up-front. They’ve been working their tail off.”
Braxton Jones had one of his best games as the Bears’ LT in Week 3
While the entire offensive line stepped up for their quarterback in Week 3, the play of left tackle Braxton Jones was the most notable performance up-front.
Going into the season, Jones was expected to be on a short leash after winning the starting position days before the season opener. During the first two games, Jones struggled a bit with his consistency and not being able to play strong for all four quarters. Week 3 was a massive turnaround for him.
Jones allowed zero pressures for the fifth time in his career and his 86.2 pass block grade currently ranks second among all tackles in Week 3.
Braxton Jones 2025 Quick Facts
- Fractured fibula in Week 18 of 2025 season, returned to action during training camp
- 2 sacks allowed in three games (both sacks came in Week 2 loss to DET)
- 13 total pressures allowed in three games (0 pressures allowed in Week 3 win vs. DAL)
- Jones is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract (5th-round pick in 2022)
This is the kind of performance the Bears were hoping to see come out of Jones’ game sooner than later. Going into Week 3, the coaching staff had some critical reviews on his performance thus far in 2025 and challenged him to step it up in this game.
“Braxton is doing a good job in terms of knowing the game plan. I think he started the first half of each game really strongly and we probably haven’t had the second half finish that we’ve wanted,” head coach Ben Johnson said earlier in the week.
A similar review of Jones’ play through the first two weeks was shared on Thursday by offensive line coach Dan Roushar.
“I thought at the end of both games, there was a diminish in his play. It’s something we’re thinking about and trying to keep him as fresh as we can to play like he starts the game and finish that way,” Roushar explained. “The fact that he’s overcome this significant injury. We don’t get all of camp with him and then it’s just re-training the body and the mind to function at a high level at the most important times. I would say he would probably honestly tell you that fatigue has set in as it goes on.”
While the struggles were there the first two weeks, the coaches weren’t ready to pull Jones off the starting offensive line yet. They saw a player who was “battling his ass off” and learning from the reps he was losing on the left side. Jones rewarded his coaches on Sunday with his performance.
Chicago Bears News
‘He’s capable of being a big-time player’ — Ben Johnson gave his flowers to a young defender who sparked the Bears’ defense in Week 3
Well earned recognition.
