Caleb Williams has been delivering in the clutch since his rookie season. The Chicago Bears are just better equipped to take advantage of Williams’ clutch-game prowess this season than last, though, allowing the second-year QB to grow and develop as intended.
Williams’ game-winning touchdown pass to DJ Moore against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 was a shining example.
After scrutiny over his deep ball accuracy earlier this season, it was a fitting finisher.
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Williams had already put forth a tremendous effort to get the game-tying touchdown, finding Jahdae Walker in the back of the end zone in regulation.
But Williams’ bomb to Moore, who had Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon draped over him, was the perfect throw at the perfect time. And yet, as spur-of-the-moment as the play may have seemed, Williams and the Bears had been laying the groundwork for weeks.
That includes improving on his go balls.
“It was cool. It’s something that we see in practice, and we’ve seen that continue to get better, really, since we’ve been here. That has been a big point of emphasis for him. It’s something that him and J.T. [Barrett] have drilled. It’s something that we spend time and talk about,” Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle told Clocker Sports on Wednesday.
“In a big moment, with the brightest lights, and to be able to go execute and do that, it was awesome to be able to go see that.”
Three other players have attempted at least as many passes that went 20-plus yards downfield as Williams has (67), per Pro Football Focus. Williams has the worst completion percentage of all of them.
Even his adjusted completion percentage leaves him third among that group.
Likewise, Williams’ “big time throw” rate is third among the four qualifiers. However, Williams also has the second-best “turnover-worthy play” rate and the highest drop rate.
Williams has certainly had his issues with accuracy, as he has attested to. However, his pass catchers have not done him as many favors as they could and, given another opportunity, likely would. Williams leads the NFL in yards lost to drops, per Next Gen Stats.
The key now is to keep that kind of weapon in the arsenal, and that falls on everyone, including Williams.
It would open up options underneath, including Williams’ scrambling ability, as well as keep defenses honest against the Bears’ strong rushing attack.
“That’s something that we’re going to expect from him on a regular basis,” Doyle told Clocker Sports. “Just because that’s what he’s capable of. And really, it’s about just doing that consistently, now, day in and day out.”
Williams and the Bears’ next test is the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football.”