Let’s not get cute: the Bears were dead in the water entering the fourth quarter. Down 20-10. At home. Sloppy weather. Seven drops from receivers who looked like they’d never seen a football before. And somehow, they still won 24-20. Why? Because five dudes showed up and flat-out took over. Here’s who owned Week 10 at Soldier Field.
1. Caleb Williams
If you’re still asking whether Caleb Williams is "the guy," you haven’t been watching. He didn’t pad stats. He snatched souls.
- 220 passing yards, 1 TD
- 63 rushing yards, 52 in the 4th quarter
- Zero sacks taken, despite the NFL sack leader Brian Burns breathing down his neck
His 29-yard jailbreak scramble on a broken play flipped the switch. The two-yard TD strike to Odunze? Surgical. The 17-yard dagger run? Ice cold. Williams now has four career game-winning drives this season (franchise record) and leads the league in clutch-time EPA. This dude’s fourth-quarter tape belongs in the Louvre.
2. C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Two games in a Bears uniform and C.J. already plays like he owns Halas Hall. This game was his breakout:
- 9 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
The fumble on Jaxson Dart was a game-saving punch-out. The free run blitz on 3rd-and-7 that set up the winning drive? The kind of timing only veterans with stones pull off. He’s the first Bears DB since '06 to record 2 sacks in a game. Two weeks in and he leads all NFL defensive backs in sacks. You don’t teach that.
3. Rome Odunze
Last week? Ghosted. This week? WR1 with a vengeance. Odunze caught 6 balls for 86 yards and a critical TD. But it was how he did it:
- 10 targets, highest on the team
- Made tough grabs in swirling wind and snow
- Scored his first TD since Week 4
Oh, and about that social media drama with his dad chirping the coaching staff? First play of the game, Caleb looked straight to Rome. Message sent. Response? "Thanks, Dad." That’s how you clap back without the drama. Rome balled and shut everyone up.
4. D'Andre Swift
Swift’s return from injury came with impact. He posted 13 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, bringing explosive balance back to the backfield. His eight-yard rumble gave the Bears an early lead and set the tone:
- 6.2 yards per carry
- 4 runs of 10+ yards
- 3 forced missed tackles
That’s not luck. That’s punishment. Swift brought the juice and reminded everyone why he's RB1. When he’s healthy, the offense hits different. Ride him.
5. Montez Sweat
Four straight games with a sack. Montez Sweat is heating up at the right time:
- 1.5 sacks vs. Giants
- 4 QB hits
- 5.5 sacks on the year, already matching 2024
His pressure helped force a three-and-out late that led to the game-winning drive. And his presence is contagious. Rookie Austin Booker was in the QB’s face all game. When Montez eats, the whole line eats. This isn’t the Washington version. This is a leader.
Final Verdict
Ben Johnson said it best: "This team used to find ways to lose. Now we find ways to win."
That quote should be stamped on the locker room wall. The Bears had every reason to fold. They didn’t. They clawed back behind a quarterback with brass balls, a defense that makes big plays in crunch time, and role players who know their moment.
They're 6-3. Very much alive in the NFC North. And if these five keep playing like this, nobody wants to see them in December.
