The Chicago Bears’ dream season with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson came to a disappointing end on Sunday night. They were on the wrong end of a playoff thriller. They lost on a field goal in overtime after a miraculous comeback, ridiculous game-saving throw by Williams, and what looked to be a game-winning drive. Things obviously didn’t pan out, but this was a hugely successful first year for Johnson.
Williams showed all season what the future holds for him and the Bears. He looked every bit the number one overall pick. He and Johnson proved to be a match made in heaven. So while the disappointment is immense, so is the hope for the future.
Caleb Williams opens up on season-ending loss
The Chicago Bears stunned the world by winning the NFC North in Ben Johnson’s first year at the helm. They did so on the back of an unfathomable season full of remarkable comebacks. They beat the Green Bay Packers after falling down 21-3 in the Wild Card Round. Then, they nearly beat the Los Angeles Rams after trailing late.
Williams’ unreal throw on fourth-and-four from the 14, which ended up requiring over 50 air yards after his mad scramble to escape pressure, felt like the exclamation point on another comeback. But in overtime, he and DJ Moore weren’t on the same page, and Williams was intercepted. The Rams went on to kick the winning field goal from there.
“In these moments, you feel like you let your team down,” Williams said via ESPN after the game. “It’s a good lesson for us; first time being in this situation for me and for us as a team. I’m excited for what’s to come.” It can be hard to keep a level head in these situations, but Williams knows this is only the beginning. It’s only his second season in the NFL.
“We’re going to be here for a little bit,” the young quarterback added. “Excited about it… excited about the growth. I’m excited about being able to go back and watch this. I’m excited to being able to get back, and next year being able to learn more than I did this year, keep growing, and us as a team and an organization to be able to keep growing.”
Williams was intercepted three times overall, including one on fourth down in field goal range on the opening drive. Ben Johnson said of his QB, “I know he’s feeling it because we didn’t win and had some turnovers mixed in there, and he’s feeling it. But he’s one of those guys I’m talking about that will remember this feeling, and he’s going to be stronger for it.”
The Bears were surprise contenders, but next year, the NFL world won’t be so stunned by their success.
Other Bears join in the chorus
Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson aren’t the only ones who can feel what the Bears are building. This was a big year for them, a huge step in the right direction. But it is just the beginning. They have a lot of years with Johnson and Williams, so there’s reason to be hopeful even after a crushing defeat.
“We had a hell of a year,” veteran safety Kevin Byard said. “Nobody beginning of the season picked us to be where we were at. To be in the position to still almost win the game at the end, it just didn’t work out for us this year, but just super proud of the group. We have no reason to hang our heads. We don’t believe in moral victories, but at the same time, this is a special group and the culture has been set, and expect to have success in the future.”
“When you have a season like this, when you have so much fun throughout the season, when you win so many games, you can’t let all that go to waste … after one season-ending loss,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson added. “We’ve had a hell of a ride, and each man individually has had a hell of a ride. We can really be thankful and have a lot of gratitude for what this season has done and how we’ve grown as men and grown as a team.”
Some of those veterans won’t be around for the duration of Caleb Williams or Johnson’s career with the Bears. Still, they know it’s going to be special.
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