CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has heard a message through the headset from new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
“Go be Superman,” Brown often tells Williams.
Superman couldn’t save the day as the Bears suffered another excruciating loss, this one a 30-27 setback to the Vikings in overtime Sunday at Soldier Field.
Williams, who turned 23 last week, had one of the best performances of his rookie campaign in the loss. He was 32-of-47 for 340 yards, two touchdowns and a 103.1 passer rating against a vaunted, blitz-heavy Vikings defense that ranks as one of the best units in the NFL. Helped by a successful onside kick, Williams rallied the Bears from an 11-point deficit in the final two minutes with a series of big throws and plays, only to experience more heartbreak in the overtime session.
While the Williams-led offense made more strides Sunday, the Bears' defense continued its regression. The Vikings posted 452 yards of offense, averaging an even seven yards per play. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns while running back Aaron Jones carried for 106 yards. A unit that once believed it was one of the league's best has fallen dramatically.
The Bears entered Sunday with their chances of making the playoff sitting at less than 1%, according to New York Times projections. Those chances dipped even closer to zero after Chicago's fifth straight loss.
With the Bears having dropped to 4-7, what matters above all is Williams’ development. His play has given the franchise hope amid another lost season.
Williams spread the ball around well Sunday, with top receiver DJ Moore hauling in seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown and veteran wideout Keenan Allen having nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Williams took three sacks against the Vikings, who led the NFL in pressure rate entering the contest.
“It’s really inspiring for the whole football team,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of Williams’ play. “Just really good execution. He did a really good job all day, because that’s a tough defense to go against with the different looks, the pressures, variations of coverage. I thought he did a really good job of finding the space and getting the ball to our skill.
“He’s growing in front of our eyes.”
With 22 seconds remaining in the game, Williams hit Allen on a one-yard touchdown pass, then found Moore for the two-point conversion to pull the Bears within 27-24.
Santos then delivered a rolling kick that hit off the leg of Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and which was recovered by Bears safety Tarvarius Moore.
Williams led the Bears out to their own 43-yard line and promptly delivered in a clutch spot. He stepped into a 27-yard completion for Moore, then got the offense set for a spike to stop the clock with three seconds remaining.
Just like against the Packers a week prior, Williams led the Bears into position for a key field goal. Santos, who had a 48-yard field-goal attempt blocked in the second quarter Sunday, booted this 48-yard attempt through the uprights.
It was another seminal moment in the making for Williams – or so it seemed.
"I thought he led great,” Bears center Coleman Shelton said. “I thought he threw the ball well. I thought he commanded great.
“He did an awesome job."
Williams made arguably his biggest mistake of the day on the second play from scrimmage in overtime. On second-and-9 with the Bears at their own 31-yard line, he moved around in the pocket for about 10 seconds but failed to get rid of the ball. The Vikings rushed just three defenders on a disguised look while linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill trailed Williams as a spy. The seven-man coverage didn’t allow for any opportunities downfield.
Williams took a 12-yard sack that all but ended the Bears' chance to produce to start overtime. A delay-of-game penalty pushed the Bears back more five yards, and they didn't come close to converting on third-and-26. After punting the football away, the Vikings never gave possession back.
Vikings kicker John Parker Romo, who spent part of 2023 on the Bears’ practice squad, booted a 29-yard field goal through the north uprights of Soldier Field for the win.
Many of the 57,659 fans who paid to attend the game left before Williams led Chicago back and forced overtime. Those who stayed watched yet another gut-wrenching defeat for a struggling Bears team.
“We’ve been through it all this year,” Bears defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker said. “And the year isn’t even close to being over with.”
On the morning of Oct. 27, the Bears were a 4-2 football team sitting in an ideal position early in the season. That evening, they suffered a stunning loss to the Commanders on a last-second Hail Mary heave.
In the aftermath, the Bears searched for accountability, pointed fingers and called the coaching staff's leadership into question. This team has never truly recovered from that loss.
Eberflus went from the leader of an upstart football team to a head coach on the hot seat. While Bears management hasn't spoken publicly about Eberflus' job security, it seems unlikely that he'll be retained for a fourth season as the losses continue to pile up.
Eberflus’ record in one-score games is now 5-18, by far the worst mark of any active head coach in the NFL. On the other sideline, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell improved to 23-10 in one-score games. That's the best figure of any active coach.
Eberflus is at fault for the Bears’ disappointment this season, but Williams offers hope that the future is indeed bright.
As Williams walked off the field following another dispiriting loss, he was pulled aside by O’Connell, who offered words of encouragement.
"'(You are a) hell of a player, keep going, way to fight,'” Williams said, relaying O’Connell’s message. "He said it sucks that he has to go against me for a while.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.