- NFL Tickets Get the best tickets for the Sports Events at Tickets MARCA
- Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen have nothing to do at playoffs, Colin Cowherd says
- New York Giants Jaxson Dart saved his Giants' quarterback position and achieved Tom Brady's wish
The game this past Sunday, December 28, 2025, between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, in which Chicago nearly completed a comeback, left quarterback Caleb Williams with many positive impressions despite the loss.
Over the final stretch of the season, he has reached an elite level that has made him highly competitive and has helped him move beyond the mediocrity he endured in 2024. Much of that growth can be attributed to his new head coach, Ben Johnson, who arrived from the Detroit Lions.
The Bears were on the verge of pulling off a stunning result at Levi's Stadium, but a poorly thrown pass by Williams on the final play ended their hopes. After the game, the quarterback revisited that moment and made it clear that, as the leader of the offense, he must deliver more to win in hostile environments.
I think we've proven who we are."... "We'll fight, and I think we're a team to be reckoned with. I'm excited for our next game.
Williams said.
Ben Johnson was not the only one who focused on that sequence, as the head coach also accepted responsibility for the outcome. With four seconds remaining, Johnson acknowledged that he should have sent in a different play.
We didn't quite get aligned in the formation we wanted to."... "It's on me. I didn't get him the call fast enough, so he' trying to piecemeal it together. I've got to do a better job on that.
Johnson said.
Everything now suggests that Caleb Williams is finally finding the stability and consistency the Bears have long needed from him at the position. On Sunday Night Football, he completed 25 of 42 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the progress, there remain significant issues, particularly on defense, where Chicago allowed 42 points. Brock Purdy threw for 303 yards, added two passing touchdowns, and scored twice more on the ground.
The team shows promise, but there are many details to correct in the final week of the regular season if it hopes to avoid trouble in the playoffs. Without proper adjustments, Chicago could face a brief postseason appearance, an outcome no one inside the organization envisions.
There is still time for the Bears to fine-tune both sides of the ball and eliminate surprises. In Week 18, they will face a familiar divisional opponent already eliminated from contention, the Detroit Lions. That matchup offers Williams another opportunity to reinforce his leadership, build confidence, and carry the momentum he has shown, while the coaching staff evaluates progress, addresses weaknesses, and sets a clearer direction heading into the postseason.
Expectations remain measured, but belief is steadily growing within the locker room now forward.