Courtney Cronin
CHICAGO — The Bears once more leaned on quarterback Caleb Williams to offer late-game heroics which have develop into routine for the previous No. 1 choose.
Williams led his fourth game-winning drive of the season to assist Chicago come from behind within the fourth quarter and beat the New York Giants 24-20 at Soldier Discipline on Sunday. He's now tied with Denver's Bo Nix and Baker Mayfield for probably the most game-winning drives within the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation this season after main just one throughout his rookie marketing campaign (Week 18 at Inexperienced Bay).
However the best way Williams has helped the Bears claw again in video games is what's turning into extra routine. The quarterback picked up 52 of his 63 dashing yards within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Giants, together with a 29-yard scramble that arrange a 2-yard landing go to vast receiver Rome Odunze adopted by a 17-yard scramble landing on the Bears' subsequent drive that gave Chicago the lead for good underneath the two-minute warning.
“He seems like a Houdini again there within the backfield as a result of that is a very good pass-rushing entrance that they've given a whole lot of groups suits,” coach Ben Johnson stated. “There have been instances the place he is making an attempt to flee and making some issues occur. He had a pair throws down the sphere, however over 50 yards once more dashing for the second week in a row, and I assumed within the fourth quarter there we actually wanted that as a shot within the arm to finish up profitable that ballgame. So credit score to him.”
Williams now has 92 yards on the bottom within the fourth quarter, which ranks third amongst quarterbacks behind Josh Allen and Nix.
“I believe he received the inexperienced mild to go forward and use his legs extra as a result of groups are enjoying two-mans, quarters and man-to-man, so he can simply be capable of get out together with his legs and be one other weapon,” vast receiver DJ Moore stated.
In response to Elias Sports activities Bureau, Sunday marked the Bears' fourth win this season after trailing sooner or later within the ultimate two minutes of the fourth quarter, their most such wins in any season because the 1970 merger.
Williams was already top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the clutch coming into Week 10 and ranks No. 2 in QBR (94) within the ultimate two minutes of both half this season the place he is tossed three touchdowns to zero interceptions and has not turned over the ball. However previously two wins for Chicago (6-3), the Bears' quarterback has develop into more proficient at utilizing his athleticism to beat groups.
In Week 9, Williams picked up 14 yards on a third-down scramble to arrange his profitable landing go to tight finish Colston Loveland to beat the Bengals 47-42.
Trailing 20-10 late within the fourth quarter earlier than main landing drives on back-to-back possessions, Williams relied on his legs once more to place the Bears in place to win.
“He is a unicorn, for certain,” Loveland stated. “I am like, how is he not sacked? He is simply operating round, tremendous slippery. However no, shout out to him. He is simply so poised. He is within the huddle. He simply went, ‘do your job, do your job,' go on the market, execute and making performs together with his legs. I believe that places defenses in a bind.”
All through the 2025 season, Williams has been capable of overcome gradual begins and be at his greatest within the second half of video games. As was the case in opposition to the Giants, Williams averaged almost two extra yards per try after halftime and threw a fourth-quarter landing.
Regardless that he's finishing the next share of his passes within the first half this season (62% to 60% within the second half of video games), he is averaging over a yard extra per try within the second half.
Although Williams repeated his need to see the Bears shut out their opponents sooner, the best way Chicago has climbed to 6-3 file coming into Week 11 by profitable shut video games provides the quarterback unwavering perception in his squad: “We all know we're actual.”
“I've stated it a pair instances now, that it does construct confidence that we are able to — it would not matter the deficit we're at,” Williams stated. “It would not matter how a lot we're up. It would not matter what occurred all through the sport. We are able to come by way of as a group, and that is what we did right this moment.
“We wish to begin determining as a group placing up factors, stopping them, placing up factors, stopping them, placing up factors, stopping them, and attending to the purpose the place we're simply sort of marching down the sphere, protection is stopping them, we're placing up a whole lot of factors and profitable these video games a bit bit sooner than we're these previous couple video games.”
