4 Takeaways From Bears’ Win Over Packers: Caleb Williams Delivers in the Clutch

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears’ 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 18 featured several opportunities for redemption. Redemption for their Week 11, 20-19 loss to the Packers, where Cairo Santos had his field goal attempt blocked.

Santos was not denied this time, drilling a 51-yarder after the Packers had re-taken the lead. It was truly a remarkable moment for the veteran kicker.

It was also encouraging for the Bears how they got there.

Bears-Packers Takeaways: Caleb Williams Delivers

Caleb Williams is QB1 for Bears

After watching his No. 1 wide receiver, DJ Moore, cough up the ball after a reception on a screen, Williams found the star pass-catcher for 18 yards to set up the try for Santos and the field goal unit. Moore also took a screen pass 32 yards to pay dirt.

Williams finished the day with 148 passing yards and 1 touchdown on 72.4% completion. He also ran for 10 yards on three attempts. As usual, not all stats are created equal.

The Bears were 7-for-14 on third downs compared to 3-for-10 for the Packers.

And, for the necessary context, the Packers lost quarterback Jordan Love to a hand injury, turning to Malik Willis in his stead. Willis was under center when the Packers took a 22-21, leaving the Bears with less than one minute to go in the contest.

Williams finishes the season having completed 62.4% of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 351/562

Despite taking a beating, Williams also started all 17 games.

It did not look pretty, and he will need some (a lot) of development this coming offseason. But Williams has set numerous Bears franchise passing records and gives the Bears the most important piece in building a contender.

Take a Bow, Cairo Santos & Richard Hightower

Santos finishes the season with 21 makes on 25 tries, tying him for the second-worst single-season mark of his career.

After the game, you could hear the emotion in Santos’ voice while he was at the podium.

Santos signed a $16 million contract extension in December 2023. His deal runs through the 2027 season, though there is no more guaranteed money on the deal, per Over The Cap. As reliable as Santos has been, his accuracy takes a significant dip from 40 yards and out.

For now, he gets to revel in being the hero, and deservedly so. That was a theme for the day for the Bears.

Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is an affable individual. His role also means that he has contact with a larger swath of the roster than most of the other assistants.

Hightower took some heat for that block against the Packers and the one the week before. Santos had his 48-yard attempt blocked by the Vikings in Week 12 on a play identical to what the Packers did to generate pressure. The Bears lost that game, in overtime, 30-27, and former head coach Matt Eberflus was fired one game later.

Hightower was in his bag in Week 18, first designing a fake punt return that used Moore as a decoy.

He also ensure the FG unit did not suffer the same fate for a third time. Whatever happens to the staff, Hightower can hang his hat on the day his unit had in Week 18.

Thomas Brown’s Play-Calling in Shane Waldron’s Offense

There is an admitted curiosity about what interim head coach Thomas Brown would do if here not hamstrung running former Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense. The system features plenty of wordy playcalls and a passing scheme that veterans struggle with.

There there are play calls like this one that are just confounding.

Still, in light of the context of Browns calling Waldron’s plays, Bears general manager Ryan Poles’ comments about the search for the next head coach and Brown ring genuine.

Poles commended Brown for his leadership and noted the difficult circumstances the coach has been put in. Brown was hired to be the Bears’ passing game coordinator, got promoted to OC after Waldron was fired, and then to HC after Eberflus was let go.

The Bears had their most offensive success with Brown at OC.

It seemed the head coaching chair might have been too bright for Brown. But, again, it is unfair to completely write him off as a candidate even if the sheen on his takeover wore off weeks ago.

Bears HC Search Could Get Very Interesting

There have been reports of mutual interest between former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and the Bears. That is notable given Walrdon’s exit from Seattle at the end of the 2023 season, and several current Bears players who were on those teams with both coaches.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was Poles’ college teammate, and he checks the currently popular boxes for experience and leadership. He will have to answer for his time with Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins.

Mike Vrabel is another name to watch, though his eyes appear to be on a homecoming.

Then there are the offensive minds like Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson or his Washington Commanders counterpart, Kliff Kingsbury, who has a preexisting relationship with Williams, interviewed for the OC job that went to Waldron, and has HC experience.

Names like Joe Brady of the Buffalo Bills and even Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should also generate looks.