(670 The Score) We're all mentally fried after that, our circuits overloaded and burned out by the purple haze of the Bears' latest exhibition of doing juuuuuuuuust enough to lose.
I'm not sure there are any significant truths that were revealed in the Bears’ 30-27 overtime loss to the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field, at least nothing we didn't already know or suspect about this team that has now dropped five in a row.
Fire this sad, overmatched head coach now or later. Either is fine.
But instead of the usual over-celebration of unexpected mediocrity, let's stay focused on the fact that Caleb Williams still might be That Dude.
Whatever it takes to get out of the way of his growth, do it as soon as possible and get on with that as the only material objective for the remainder of this lost season. Ask him what or whom he wants and needs, and provide it.
As we were writing off another disconnected and listless defeat to the Bears' signature combination of bizarre sideline decisions, untimely penalties, shoddy tackling, special teams breakdowns, flaccid pass rush and critical drops, nobody told the rookie quarterback that he couldn't try to win it anyway.
Williams completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. His 104.1 passer efficiency rating didn't reflect his six rushing attempts for 33 yards, many of which were scrambles to keep drives from stalling. He made throws to every part of the field with both surgical touch and eye-popping velocity as needed, getting the play called and the ball out quickly against one of the league's more fearsome fronts.
He wasn't perfect – there was a near-interception over the deep middle late and the inexcusable sack on the first drive of overtime, but the 23-year-old Williams has now needed only 11 games to own the franchise rookie record for passing yards and tie the rookie mark for passing touchdowns.
Granted it's the Bears, but still.
I'm offering this as a mental health tip from here on in, to stay focused on the very real possibility that Williams can make good on enough of the outsized expectations to be the reason the Bears’ trajectory will eventually get better. Because I'm not particularly skilled at any kind of glass-half-full approach to this star-crossed franchise, I guess I hope we can appreciate it for at least a bit longer before we fall back into the abyss, screaming as legions of unspeakable and ancient demons tear away chunks of our flesh with stained, ragged talons.
Wait, I'm doing it again.
Caleb. Yes.
If we have to play cognitive games with ourselves to deal with current conditions, so be it. Williams is earning our trust even as so many things fail him and are coming apart around him.
Caring about Bears wins and losses right now is foolish, no matter the extent to which their record influences the McCaskeys' incomparable dithering. Nobody dawdles more pointlessly than the weirdos in Lake Forest, and no reasonable person expects that to change.
There’s only one person in that building who can do anything about the current direction of the Bears. We know it, and now so may he. Godspeed, kid.
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 Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.