Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears have taken a significant step forward from last season, and they find themselves one win away from their first Conference Championship Game since 2010 and two victories away from their first Super Bowl berth since 2006.
Bears fans need no reminder of the last time the Bears won the Super Bowl.
To get there, Williams and the Bears must topple a former Coach of the Year, who is leading a recent Super Bowl champion team, which is QB’d by the favorite to win MVP this season.
Sean McVay Tells Truth About Caleb Wiliams Before Rams-Bears
Bears’ Caleb Williams Praised
Rams head coach Sean McVay, who was closer to Williams than the Bears during the QB’s college years at USC, lauded Williams’ talent, but also his growth under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
McVay also noted that the Bears have capitalized on an opportunistic defense.
“I think he’s doing a great job of–he can obviously make a bunch of different plays with his legs. I think he sees things well. He’s got an understanding of some of the concepts that Coach Johnson’s activating. Gets a bunch of different playmakers involved. And it’s one thing where you see him play in time and in rhythm. Good accuracy and anticipation,” McVay told reporters on January 14.
“Then, some of those second-reaction plays, where he’s getting flushed to his right, or getting flushed to his left, and guys understand how to be able to work with him. Those are the ones that are really scary. But he’s playing at a high clip.”
McVay cited Williams’ “maturity” and “understanding,” and his “good rapport” with Johnson.
“I think he does a nice job, too, when they’re activating some of their stuff on early downs, and being able to keep the ball in play, find and check downs. And so, I just think it’s like anything else. He’s conscientious. He’s mature. These really good players, they just get better, and they learn from different things.
“There’s a comfort, there’s an understanding. And if you use it the right way, repetition is the mother of learning, and he’s done a really good job.”
Williams will need to be a quick study on Sunday.
Caleb Williams Facing Fierce Pass Rush
Williams and the Bears are facing a Rams defense led by the NFL’s reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse. The unit tied for the sixth-most sacks and ranked fourth in pressure rate despite being 31st in blitz rate, per Pro Football Reference.
Conversely, the Bears blitz at the 11th-highest rate, but they are tied for the fifth-fewest sacks and 11th-worst pressure rate.
Williams and the offense could need to do heavy lifting with the Bears’ defense’s hands full.
McVay also laughed off questions about Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The latter is the brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, a former colleague of McVay’s, which the Rams’ HC noted when asked about getting tips on facing the Bears.