CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Inside a victorious locker room Sunday evening at Soldier Field, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had one more decisive throw to make. He passed the game ball over to head coach Ben Johnson following the team's 31-14 win over the Cowboys.
It was a moment eight months in the making from when Johnson was announced as the Bears’ new head coach on Jan. 21. The Bears hoped to reap great rewards in paring Johnson with the 23-year-old Williams.
Sunday was a shining example of what the Bears (1-2) envisioned. Williams went 19-of-28 for 298 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bears to a decisive win. Then, he and Johnson celebrated together in the postgame locker room.
“To be able to have that moment for him and us is really important,” Williams said of Johnson. “It's important for us as a team, an organization, to be able to keep building this momentum and have this growth that we want to go on and this run we want to go on.”
Sunday marked Williams’ best performance in the NFL, and it came against a Cowboys defense led by former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. For his part, Williams downplayed the significance of producing a victory over Eberflus. After all, this game was about Chicago’s present, not its past.
When Johnson took charge of Williams’ development, he elected to challenge him rather than coddle him. The goal was for Williams to face and embrace a steep learning curve during training camp and then find level footing in the regular season. That was on display with his strong performance in the Bears’ third game.
Williams threw touchdown passes to four different players – Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Cole Kmet and DJ Moore. His 35-yard scoring strike to Odunze gave the Bears an early lead less than five minutes into the game, and he hit Burden for a 65-yard touchdown on a flea flicker later in the first quarter.
In the third quarter, Williams led a 19-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that chewed up 9:54 of the game clock and effectively sealed the win. It was capped by Williams finding Moore on a four-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. The extra point gave Chicago a 31-14 lead, and neither team scored again.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Bears right guard Jonah Jackson said. “Especially when you’re able to keep advancing down the field.
“We’re built for things like that.”
After an ugly 52-21 loss to the Lions a week prior, the Bears responded with a stout effort defensively. Chicago had four takeaways against Dallas, including three interceptions, and didn't turn the ball over itself.
It had been a challenging week for the Bears after their blowout loss to the Lions. Johnson called out his team's practice habits, then tested them Wednesday with a full-contact, high-intensity workout.
On Saturday night as the Bears gathered in their team hotel, veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett – one of five elected player captains – pushed his teammates with a speech. He spoke of togetherness and establishing winning habits.
"Super great feeling,” Jarrett said. “Makes you want to work even harder to put out even better performances."
The Bears' season started with all-too-familiar frustrations – a collapse in the opener followed by a blowout – but Sunday marked proof of progress. Williams has craved structure, and Johnson is providing that. It helped Williams' talents shine Sunday in a victory that was worth celebrating.
“It builds confidence for us,” Williams said. “It builds confidence for us as a team and as an organization to be able to go out and win these games. I feel confident about who we have out on this field.
“It’s just a constant growth mindset that we’re on.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.