By now, we've gotten to know how Caleb Williams handles wins. He's a passionate player. He often runs off the field screaming, pumping up the fans as he heads to the locker room. One would think it'd be more of the same after another last-second rally, this time to take down the Minnesota Vikings. It was a huge victory, marking both the first win in the division and an important step in the NFC playoff picture. Yet when watching the final sequence, you'd have thought the Bears lost the game.
That was how Williams looked.
Video shows Cairo Santos hitting the winning 48-yard field goal to clinch a 19-17 win. Everybody is celebrating. Then, as the camera pans to Williams, he's not smiling; instead, he's shaking his head.
It is evident Williams wasn't happy with how the game played out. Once again, the Bears were in control, leading 16-3 in the 4th quarter. Once again, the offense couldn't put any more distance with points, allowing the Vikings to rally once again with two unanswered touchdowns. This time, Chicago had enough time to salvage the game, but it was another reminder of this team's ongoing issues with not putting opponents away when they should.
Caleb Williams knows the Bears should be better than this.
Yes, they're winning. That is a great thing. However, his ambitions extend beyond that. He believes this team is capable of challenging in the playoffs. They've shown glimpses of it throughout the year. The ongoing problem has been consistency. First, it was too many penalties. Then it was poor execution in the red zone. Over the past two weeks, it has been drops from the receivers. This miniature breakdowns make executing offense at a high level more difficult. It is why opponents are often able to slow Caleb Williams down for long stretches during a game.
The Bears quarterback isn't dumb. If this team wants to win a championship, they must be considerably sharper than they've been for much of the season. That is why he was so frustrated. The opportunities are there. They must take advantage of them. Seeing the quarterback understand this reality is no small thing. His leadership is evolving. It isn't about what he does anymore.
It is about everybody.
