Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams did not mince words.
“I don’t give the benefit of the doubt, the doubt never benefitted me,” Williams captioned a photo dump post on Instagram on September 13. “1-0 [crown emoji]”
Caleb Williams Sends Message After Bears Get Big Win
Bears QB Caleb Williams Gets Last Laugh
Williams’ caption is fitting. The Bears are coming off a big win over Carolina Panthers, and the 59-37 drubbing came on the heels of some pointed comments from New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski.
“No one’s really on board that the Bears are going to be absolutely dominant. They had last season, but … it was a magical season,” Gronkowski said on “Up & Adams” on September 9. “Magical seasons don’t happen two years in a row like that.
“The only way the Bears would be able to make it is that they take away that magic, and they show that they don’t need that magic; they stepped it up. Say, Caleb Williams became a better quarterback. They became a better team, and they don’t need that magic to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the fourth quarter to win the games. They can show that they’re dominant and consistent throughout the whole entire game, the whole entire four quarters.”
Vikings Send Reminder About Streak on Bears Home Turf
Williams completed 72.4% of his passes for 269 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, adding another 65 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries. Alas, it was just one week.
Williams also acknowledged that the Bears left a lot of yards and points on the field.
Up next is another challenging matchup, against a Minnsota Vikings team that beat the Bears on “Monday Night Football” in Week 1 last season, is coming off overcoming a 12-point deficit to notch a 17-point win over the Green Bay Packers, and have a winning streak at Soldier Field.
“The Vikings are searching for their seventh consecutive win at Soldier Field,” Vikings PR posted on X on September 13, “a streak that dates back to the 2020 season.”
This group surely remembers that Week 1 matchup from last year.
That is even with their win later in the season. The Bears have experienced what it is like having a visitor feel like the landlord on their home field, and they are sure to have noted the Vikings’ streak–if not the post–heading into next Sunday.
NFC North Check-In
Bears – Arguably the best news possible after Sunday’s win was head coach Ben Johnson telling local media that they emerged from the 59-37 victory in good shape health-wise. Johnson did not get into specifics, but it is good news, given the injuries they have endured.
It also sets them apart in a key way from two of the other three NFC North squads.
Vikings – The Vikings were forced to turn to Carson Wentz against the Packers after Kyler Murray suffered a concussion. Murray was in good spirits after the game and will participate in meetings this week, per Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Murray remains in concussion protocol, but Wentz proved he remains capable.
Lions – The Detroit Lions placed running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve, meaning he must miss the next four games before he can return. Johnson’s former stomping grounds, the Lions traded former Bears running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans this spring.
The Bears will not face the Lions until Week 12, but it is a big blow for Detroit.
Packers – The Packers did not suffer any significant injury losses, but their pride surely took a hit after their come-from-ahead loss after head coach Matt LaFleur took a field goal off the board following a penalty and the Green Bay offense failed to convert the short first down.
The Bears and Packers will first meet up in Week 5, and Green Bay may not have Micah Parsons or Josh Jacobs.
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