(670 The Score) So what did you think of Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson?
That's really the only question in my head after that mostly limp and gray affair at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon, wondering what an obvious short-lister for the Bears’ coaching vacancy made of the rookie quarterback's latest strong performance in Chicago’s 34-17 loss to Detroit.
It came after reports surfaced before the game that the Lions' offensive coordinator would indeed be interested in considering such a challenge. He got a good look at the player whose development would make or break him.
Williams completed 26 of 40 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and still no interceptions while running for a team-high 34 yards and finishing with a 107.7 passer rating. His season is already the best in Bears history by a rookie quarterback and is climbing their sad register of the best by anyone.
Johnson is smart enough to understand some mitigating factors, however.
He knows the outcome was never in doubt, not after a pair of Rome Odunze fumbles helped stake the Lions to an insurmountable 20-0 lead early in the second quarter. Chasing points against comfortable opponents is what these Bears do, and it's silly to weigh such an accomplishment too heavily. Johnson is fully aware just how weak his team's defense is at the moment too, trying to get by with replacement-level bodies at best at every level. But a real game is a real game, and Williams may have sparkled enough with both his arm and his feet to tantalize a premier coaching candidate.
Johnson showed the Bears some things as well, including a deftly executed fake stumble play for a 21-yard score in the third quarter and a couple of screens that were ideally timed and performed. Jared Goff was simply himself, with another 336 yards and three touchdown passes of his own.
As far as the news of Johnson's consideration of the Bears goes, what exactly did you expect to be leaking out right about now? It wouldn't make sense for him to take any possibility off the table at this point, and an agent who wasn't actively floating a client's name for any and all openings wouldn't be doing his job. Johnson may indeed be further along in the process than we know, assembling a provisional staff that would include the all-important names for defensive roles. As noted, Johnson's reputation for methodical intelligence and indefatigable work ethic precede him.
And if he ends up convinced to actually take this Bears job, it's reasonable to presume that his brains will start leaking out of his ears.
Even if Williams impresses him, he now takes the same calculated look as the rest of us at this roster being exposed so thoroughly. The Bears have lost nine straight and somehow have found a way to end up demonstrably worse than last year after general manager Ryan Poles declared his team fit to compete.
They clearly aren’t and now will confront larger questions about how they’re constructed at the same time all these placeholder coaches are ushered out and the next victims are temporarily celebrated.
Johnson may just want to get out of Chicago before he gets dumber.
Dan Bernstein is the co-host of the Bernstein & Harris Show on middays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 670 The Score. You can follow him on X @Dan_Bernstein.