Bears vs Giants Recap
Last week we learned a couple of things that make you feel the Bears have now elevated from a bad team to a competent team. The reality is this Caleb Williams is the franchise quarterback even though I had to “defend” this notion two weeks ago. He led two late touchdown drives when the Bears desperately needed it most.
Down 20-10 with 6:13 left in the 4th quarter Caleb commanded a 91 yard 2:17 second drive capped off by a touchdown to Rome Odunze. Following a defensive stand, Caleb took over with 2:53 left in the game. He went 4 plays, 53 yards in 1:06 to score another touchdown, this time on a 17-yard scramble. The defense would hold and the Bears would be victorious, improving to 6-3, and in 2nd place in the division.
Key area of concern this game was the defense for myself. Specifically I needed to see more pressure dialed up from Dennis Allen. The Bears allowed rookie, Ole Miss phenom, Jaxson Dart to carve them up before exiting the game due to a concussion in the 4th quarter. He threw for 242 yards, 66 rushing yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns.
The Bears have the 7th highest paid defensive unit in the NFL, you simply cannot allow that to happen when Dart is a rookie and his two best weapons are out the year. Now I understand that the Bears secondary and defensive line have been riddled with injuries but that is where scheme has to play a part to makeup for missing talent.
On a defensive positive note C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been providing an instant spark. In his first game he notched a sack and a few tackles, this past week against the Giants he recorded 9 total tackles (7 solo) 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. His energy and standard of play have provided the beaten up Bears secondary with a rekindled sense of pride, and tenacity. Say what you will about Poles but this pickup has been nothing short of exceptional for this defensive.
Caleb Williams Pulse Check
I have been a lifelong Bears fan for almost 3 decades at this point, but 28 years is still a long time. In my lifetime I can say I have never felt confidence with the game on the line and anyone else at the helm besides Caleb Williams.
Jay Cutler? Beast, warrior, stud, gunslinger, all accurate to describe him as he has been the best QB in my lifetime. He led the Bears to 1 NFC North title and a dismal NFC championship loss at home. Rex Grossman? He led the Bears to the Super Bowl but couldn’t protect the ball having a turnover problem throughout that entire season and more. He was gone within 3 years after that. Kyle Orton? Mitch Trubisky? Justin Fields? C’mon now. None of these quarterbacks have ever made any Bears fan feel confident to lead game winning drives when it matters most.
- Enter Caleb Williams and the 2024 NFL season, his rookie campaign. The Bears are 4-2, the game is on the line against the Commanders, and he leads a phenomenal game winning drive, the defense fails him, Bears lose.
- A few weeks later Caleb gets his first crack at a division rival, leads the Bears into field goal position, and the Bears lose at home to the hated Packers on a blocked field goal as time expires 20-19.
- The following week the Bears hosted the red hot 8-2 Vikings, Caleb leads the Bears back with the game on the line, forces OT and the team fails him yet again losing 30-27 in OT.
- We cannot forget, 4 days later the Bears head to the Motor City and lose in a coaching debacle not being able to game manage, and the Bears lose with Odunze dropping a game winning pass, 23-20. As a Happy Thanksgiving George McCaskey does the unthinkable and broke Bears tradition, firing a head coach mid-season for the first time in franchise history.
- Moving forward to day after Christmas, the Bears lose 6-3 at home to the Seahawks… Williams threw a touchdown pass DIME that got called back for holding. Yet again another failure surrounding him.
- Week 18 against the Packers, Williams does it and leads another game winning drive that actually worked out in the Bears favor with a game winning field goal as time expired. Cementing the Bears as the only NFC North undefeated team in 2025 at that point.
- Queue the 2025-26 regular season. In an ugly week 4 matchup against the Raiders, Williams leads a 5 minute drive in the 4th to take the lead. Josh Blackwell blocks the Raiders field goal to secure a win.
- In the rematch against Washington, Caleb led the Bears to a Monday Night Football win, capped off by a Jake Moody game winning field goal as time expired. A game in which Washington had all the momentum.
- Two weeks ago against the Bengals the Bears were up by two scores with little time left on the clock only to have the script flipped and the Bears losing 42-41 with 50 seconds to start the game winning drive. Williams delivers yet another game winner with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland. Bears win 47-42.
- Last week as mentioned in the opening paragraph, Caleb led 2 scoring drives including the game winner against the Giants. Ice in his veins.
Those are 10 examples of a quarterback that has put the Chicago Bears in game winning positions. Obviously there are bumps in the road as there would be for any young quarterback with 3 different OC’s in a span of 18 months. Accuracy can surely improve on the easy throws and I have full faith it will.
The main point in spelling out all of these examples is that for the first time in my life, I feel confident the Chicago Bear have a chance to win any game that we are in striking distance with ball in Caleb’s hands. That is truly exciting and what makes being a Bears fan fun.
Bears vs. Vikings Top Storylines
Caleb Williams’ Revenge Tour: The Spark Behind Chicago’s Offensive Surge
Circle this one on your calendar. Week 11 isn’t just another game—it’s personal. Back in Week 1, the Bears coughed up a late lead in Minnesota, watching J.J. McCarthy rip their hearts out with a fourth-quarter dagger. Fast forward, and the vibe in Chicago is completely different. Caleb Williams isn’t just settling in—he’s exploding. Over 2,100 yards through the air, 13 touchdowns, only four picks, plus 246 on the ground. That’s evolution.
Ben Johnson’s fingerprints are all over this offense. Third in total yards, second in rushing. D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai give Chicago a ground game that keeps defenses honest, while Williams has cut his sack rate nearly in half. His pocket presence? Night and day from September. His ability to extend plays? Pure chaos for Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme.
This isn’t just about payback—it’s about proving Chicago’s resurgence is real. Against a top-10 pass defense that thrives on pressure and disguise, Williams is the ultimate X-factor. If he deals, the Bears aren’t just winning—they’re sending a message.
J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings’ Identity Crisis
Minnesota’s quarterback situation? A full-blown question mark. J.J. McCarthy looked like a future star back in Week 1, but since then, the rookie’s been stuck in neutral—just 53.7% completions and six picks in his last four starts. The chemistry with Justin Jefferson? Still shaky, and Jefferson isn’t hiding his frustration. Add in an offense that’s bottom-tier in scoring and red-zone efficiency, and you’ve got a unit searching for answers.
The problems don’t stop there. Injuries up front have wrecked any sense of rhythm, leaving Kevin O’Connell scrambling for a spark to keep playoff hopes alive. Flores’ defense has held its own against the pass, but it’s soft against the run—meaning McCarthy has zero margin for error. This game could define his rookie season. Deliver, and Minnesota stays in the hunt. Falter, and the Vikings’ playoff dreams—and maybe their long-term QB plan—start circling the drain.
NFC North Playoff Stakes and the Turnover Tug-of-War
This isn’t just another NFC North clash—it’s a playoff pivot point. Chicago rolls in at 6-3, neck-and-neck with Detroit for the division crown. Minnesota? Hanging by a thread at 4-5, fighting to keep their season alive. A Bears win tightens their grip on a Wild Card spot and keeps the Lions sweating. A Vikings win? It’s life support—and a perfect divisional record to boot.
But here’s the real swing factor: turnovers. Chicago leads the league with a ridiculous +14 margin and 20 takeaways. Minnesota? Near the basement at -7 with 16 giveaways. That’s not just a stat—it’s a storyline. The Bears thrive on ball security and opportunistic defense. The Vikings? They’ve been their own worst enemy.
With playoff odds for Minnesota potentially plummeting from 13% to 3% if they lose, expect urgency on every snap. This game isn’t just about bragging rights—it’s about survival.
Top 3 Matchups to Watch for
Rome Odunze vs. Minnesota’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Secondary
Rome Odunze isn’t just emerging—he’s arriving. Chicago’s rookie wideout leads the team with 559 yards and six scores on 37 grabs, and his ability to win outside the numbers is a nightmare for defenses. Against Minnesota, that skill set matters even more. Brian Flores loves two-high shells and exotic blitz looks, forcing quarterbacks into quick reads. But Odunze thrives on timing and vertical shots—he owns a 22.4% target share and leads the Bears in deep looks.
Here’s the kicker: since Week 6, the Vikings have surrendered the third-most yards to perimeter receivers. Translation? If Caleb Williams can diagnose coverage rotations and stay cool under pressure, Odunze could feast. Expect him to be the go-to guy on money downs and in the red zone, where his size and contested-catch chops tilt the field in Chicago’s favor.
Justin Jefferson vs. Chicago’s Patchwork Secondary
Justin Jefferson is still the Vikings’ ultimate chess piece—even in a “down” year by his standards (686 yards, two scores). History says he owns Chicago: 81 yards per game across nine matchups and a touchdown in Week 1 despite tight coverage. But this time, the Bears are limping. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are on IR. Jaquan Brisker? Questionable. That leaves Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright to handle Jefferson—and that’s a problem. Stevenson’s coverage grades have dipped, Wright’s been inconsistent, and Jefferson is coming off a rough outing against Baltimore with a vow to return to “Year 3 savage mode.”
If Chicago leans too hard on safety help, Jordan Addison could torch single coverage. But make no mistake: stopping Jefferson is priority No. 1. How the Bears bracket him—especially on third downs and in the red zone—will decide if Minnesota’s passing game finally wakes up or stays stuck in neutral.
Caleb Williams vs. Flores’ Blitz Factory
This is the chess match everyone’s watching: Caleb Williams against the NFL’s blitz king, Brian Flores. Minnesota sends heat on nearly half its snaps, forcing quarterbacks into split-second decisions. Back in Week 1, Flores dialed up pressure on 34.9% of Williams’ dropbacks, bagging two sacks. But that was then. Since September, Williams has leveled up—cutting his sack rate from 4.0 per game to just 1.6. Add 246 rushing yards and three scores, and you’ve got a quarterback built to punish aggression.
Chicago’s offense is humming—third in total yards, second in rushing—and with Jonathan Greenard sidelined, Flores will lean on simulated pressures and disguised shells to keep Williams guessing. The Bears’ Center Drew Dalman anchors an O-line that must survive A-gap blitzes and stunts. For Williams, the formula is simple: hit hot routes, extend plays, and protect the football. If he passes this test, Chicago neutralizes Minnesota’s biggest weapon—and sends a message to the rest of the NFC.
Prediction: Bears Make Their Statement
This one feels like Chicago’s moment. Caleb Williams has been trending up for weeks, and against a blitz-heavy Vikings defense missing key pieces, he’s primed to shine. Expect Williams to stay poised under pressure, rip apart disguised looks, and lean on Rome Odunze in high-leverage spots.
The Bears’ turnover machine keeps humming, flipping field position and choking out Minnesota’s slim playoff hopes. Justin Jefferson will get his, but it won’t be enough to overcome McCarthy’s inconsistency and a Vikings offense stuck in neutral.
Bottom line: Chicago controls the trenches, wins the turnover battle, and walks out of U.S. Bank Stadium with a statement victory. Bears 27, Vikings 20. Williams throws for 260 and two scores, adding another on the ground.
