The Chicago Bears felt like they had their coming out party this past weekend as the team put up 31 points against the Dallas Cowboys for an emphatic 31-14 victory at Soldier Field.
Perhaps more importantly the offense started to look like what Bears fans envisioned it could after the offseason hiring of Ben Johnson, with quarterback, Caleb Williams, throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns on the day.
Williams’ success is by far the most crucial factor in both the team succeeding, and Johnson plus general manager, Ryan Poles, holding onto their jobs long term, and this was his best performance in his short career to date.
So impressive, in fact, that he was awarded the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for week 3.
This is certainly a nice gesture on paper – but it is made more significant by the fact that he is the first Bear to do so in almost two years, since DJ Moore received the prize in week 5 of the 2023 season.
Caleb Williams Has ‘Stoic’ Response To NFC Award
Yet, according to Ben Johnson, Williams’ reaction was fairly subdued, with the ex #1 overall pick keeping his eyes on the future, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.
“I tried to recognize him in front of the group and he wasn’t having it,” Johnson said. “Very stoic. He’s already on to the next game.”
Ben Johnson said Bears QB Caleb Williams was “completely unfazed” by the NFC OPOTW award.” Fishbain posted on X on Wednesday.
Fishbain also added that whilst Johnson attempted to celebrate the semi-historic moment; the former USC’s first time receiving the award, the young QB was not interested in any recognition for the ceremonial prize.
“I tried to recognize him in front of the group and he wasn’t having it,” Johnson added, via Fishbain, “Very stoic. He’s already on to the next game.”
Bears Offense Looking To Build On A Break-Out Week 3
The Dallas Cowboys under – ironically – former Bears head coach, Matt Eberflus, look totally lost. Especially given that the team was without top corner, DaRon Bland – who recently received a 4 year, $92 million extension.
So this result in and of itself is not a clear barometer from which to extrapolate the future success of Chicago’s offense in and of itself. However, it is certainly a great game to have to build the team’s confidence – particularly that of Williams – and demonstrate to fans that there is promise and development on a unit that feels to be perennially underperforming in Chicago.
This week, against the Raiders, the Bears get a slightly more stern test. Although any team that does not concede 37 points to the Russell Wilson-lead New York Giants is frankly a sterner test than Dallas, defensively.
The Raiders are a more solid team defensively than years prior, now under the tutelage of Super Bowl-winning head coach, Pete Carroll, but they are still a bottom-10 defense in total yards and total points conceded.
And they have possibly the weakest cornerback room in the NFL, which starts former Packers cast-off, Eric Stokes, and former UDFA, Kyu Blu Kelly.
If there is any team that Caleb Williams and co. can make a statement by putting big numbers up against for the second week running, it is the Raiders.
Ben Johnson Reveals Caleb Williams’ Reaction To Breaking Long-Time Award Draught