Windy City Gridiron
What felt like an eternity in between Week 4 and the Chicago Bears’ Monday Night Football matchup in Week 6, football is finally back and here to stay until the conclusion of the regular season in early January. Following a disappointing (0-2) start to the Ben Johnson era, the Bears were able to get back on track in their two games heading into an early Week 5 bye. This game was all about exercising demons from 2024. Whether it was a redemption arc for Tyrique Stevenson, the No. 1 overall pick outperforming the No. 2 overall pick, or Johnson getting revenge after an early-round playoff exit last January, there were plenty of storylines to latch onto.
Over the last two games, the Bears have been able to exercise some of their past demons. Coming from behind (in sloppy games) to get last-second 25-24 victories in back-to-back games is not something we’ve seen them do over the last five-plus years. With a (3-2) record and a winnable game in Week 7 ahead, let’s dive into Week 6’s 10 Bears Takes following another thrilling win on the road.
1. Caleb Williams Versus Jayden Daniels Round 2 Goes To Williams, Although I’d Argue That Daniels Had The Better Game.
As in most games this season, things started great for the Bears. They forced two early takeaways and jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Williams was moving the ball down the field, and Daniels only had an interception and 27 yards on four attempts to show for the first quarter of the game. Then came the reset. With the script out the window and the anxious energy gone, the Commanders started their march toward victory.
As Williams cooled off, Daniels heated up. Not only was he completing almost every pass, but he was creating on the ground. The Bears’ 13-0 lead quickly shrank, and before the end of the third quarter, Chicago found itself down 17-16. During that stretch, Williams’ accuracy had completely left the building. Granted, some plays should have been made, but as we’ve seen for his 22-game tenure in Chicago, there were far too many non-competitive throws.
As the Bears’ offense stalled and the Commanders took an eight-point lead, it felt like the game was slipping away. It took two big chunk throws from Williams to Odunze and Williams to Swift to get them back in the game. When it mattered the most, Caleb made the throws. In reality, the run game, namely D’Andre Swift, was the biggest key to victory when the clock struck 0:00 in the fourth quarter.
On the other side, Daniels threw for three touchdowns, but fumbled the ball with a chance to put the game away. Last year’s No. 2 overall pick had the better numbers and, frankly, made the better throws, but in the end, he was the one responsible for two turnovers, while Williams was responsible for none. In reality, the “competition” between the two players means little, outside of when they play each...
