Williams praises trust and chemistry after another comeback win

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 10 hours ago

CHICAGO - It may not have been the prettiest performance, but quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears got their first division win of the season against the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday with a walk-off field goal by kicker Cairo Santos.

“I think overall when you do your job, when we execute the plays that are called, obviously having the big spurt of the kick return by (Devin Duvernay) was exciting,” Williams said. “But, when we get out there on the offensive side, it’s just do your job, execute the plays and have a more dominating mindset than the man in front of you.”

Chicago faced Minnesota back in the season opener. The Bears had a 17-6 lead going into the fourth quarter and blew it. This past Sunday, it was starting to feel like the same thing was happening when the Vikings took the lead with 50 seconds left in the game. However, that is not what happened.

After Duvernay’s 56-yard kick return, Chicago was able to get nine yards on their final drive to get Santos into field goal range.

“I think we got the guys. We got the guys that we need to do whatever we need to do to win a game. They’re special. They’re talented. They make plays for us when it counts and when it matters and so, the belief, the trust between those guys, between me, is all there and we’ve done a good job so far making plays when they counted and it’s been different guys,” Williams said. “It’s been all of our guys throughout the season so far and so, our trust, my trust, my belief when it comes down to those moments or when it comes down to big down and it’s not just the end of the game. I’m going to give them a shot and we’re going to go make a play and that trust is there. That belief is there. O-line’s going to do a great job blocking and I’m going to give him a shot and they’re going to go make the play for us.”

One difference for Williams between the first matchup and the second was the amount and kinds of blitzes from Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Brian Flores. Flores has a reputation for blitzing. However, in the first matchup, Flores did not blitz as much.

He made up for that in this rematch as he had more blitzes and wrinkles in those blitzes this time around.

“This week, he brought a lot of corner cat and things like that. We were able to either pick it up or get the ball out or would see him and throw hot or throw a check down or anything like that. So, I think overall, we did a good job with that and that was one of the wrinkles and then he has a bunch more wrinkles that he’s thrown in there,” Williams said. “He had (a) couple times throughout the game, dropping back, you’re trying to figure out the coverage and (a) bunch of different guys are flying (in) different areas and it’s always fun playing versus him because he’s such a (good) d-coordinator. He has such good talent over there and so, a lot of respect to them.”

Another difference is how Chicago’s rookies have stepped up. The only touchdown of the game for the Bears was from rookie running back Kyle Monangai. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland had three receptions for 40 yards in this game while rookie receiver Luther Burden III had three receptions for 27 yards.

Burden III has continued to be more involved in the offense and Williams said his chemistry with Burden III has continued to grow.

“Luther is a special talent and he’s a young cat. He’s growing. So, that relationship between him and I is going to grow constantly throughout the years and so, I think that’s just a little glimpse. Last week and one of the biggest moments of the game, the ball goes to Luther on a 25-yard curl stop route and so, that trust, that belief,” Williams said. “I know who we have, what we have and when I drop back and these guys run these routes and the spacing and all of these things are right and they’re out there, the trust, the belief, the special talent that I know what we have, is there and it’s a confidence builder for me to be able to trust and put the ball in the right spot at the right time and it’s only growing and (we) haven’t scratched the surface of how talented, how special we are on this side of the ball and I’m excited to show it. I’m excited to showcase it. I’m excited to get up every single day and keep grinding with these guys and showcase it at the end of the day and I think that’s coming up and you get little glimpses of it throughout games and throughout the season so far, but it’s coming.”