After 13 weeks, the 9-3 Chicago Bears hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ve scored the eighth-most points in the league, and they control their own destiny to win the division.
The offensive turnaround under Ben Johnson’s tutelage has been notorious, especially on the ground. The passing game, however, is still a work in progress.
That’s why, right after watching his team run for 286 yards on Thanksgiving and Caleb Williams complete just 47.2 percent of his passes in the 24-15 upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the first-year head coach put his quarterback on notice:
“We gotta fundamentally be correct,” Johnson said in his press conference. “The primary receiver, when he’s open, we’ve got to make sure we hit him. And then, all of our pass catchers, we just harped on it today, we need to be more disciplined in our route detail. It’s not where it needs to be. Our depth’s not proper all the time. Our steps [aren’t]. Everybody has a role to play to get this pass game cleaned up. It’s not where it needs to be. We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it and none of us are pleased with that right now.”
Williams has shown major signs of improvement in his second year in the league, but his accuracy -- or lack thereof -- continues to be a big concern. Through 12 games, he’s completed just 58.1 percent of his passes, which is even worse than the 62.5 percent he averaged as a rookie.
The Bears need to be patient with Caleb Williams
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images
With Williams at the helm, the Bears are averaging roughly 220 passing yards per game, which is good for 16th in the league. Conversely, they’re up to 153.8 rushing yards per game, the second-most.
Even so, Williams has shown an impressive ability to take care of the football, improved decision-making, and an ability to rise to the occasion when it matters the most.
He didn’t get much going in the win vs. The Eagles, completing just 17 of 36 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown, and one pick, yet he made sure to get the game out of reach with an absolute dime to Cole Kmet on fourth down to secure the win.
Williams’ rookie season was essentially a waste behind the worst offensive line in the league, and with Matt Eberflus losing his job midway through the season. All young quarterbacks go through growing pains, and he’s talented enough to be worth the patience.