In Week 3, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams kept his critics at bay for at least another week by leading his team to a convincing home victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Williams, last year’s No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, finished with 298 yards and four touchdowns thrown on 19-of-28 completions.
One of those throws was a spectacular flea-flicker play where Williams connected with Luther Burden III for a 65-yard touchdown.
Another key distinction was that the Cowboys’ defense didn’t sack Williams, something that hindered him in the Bears’ first two losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
Following the game, he received a game ball from his head coach, Ben Johnson, in recognition of his strong offensive performance. Johnson highlighted Williams’ impressive 142.6 QB rating from the game, which was over 50 points higher than his previous effort.
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Williams earned another honor with the win, as he was named the NFC offensive player of the week due to his strong performance. According to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk, it was the first time in Williams’ career that he won the award.
On Wednesday, he spoke extensively with the media during a post-practice press conference, where they inquired about his improvements on the field this season and his preparations for the Las Vegas Raiders.
In an interesting moment, a reporter asked how he felt about winning the NFC offensive player of the week, and Williams replied with the simplest of answers.
“Cool. That’s it,” he said, smiling, as he seemed to want to move past the one-week award in favor of focusing on the team’s season ahead.
In another moment during his press conference, Williams spoke about being less frustrated this season, so far, compared to his rookie season.
“I would say I was a little more frustrated myself just because I want to be the best that I can be for my guys and this organization, so being able to understand offenses better and defenses a little better, and just continuing that growth and mindset,” he said.
The Bears QB also indicated that he and head coach Ben Johnson talk every day, and he’s seen what Williams does on the practice field, leading to the first-year head coach’s increased trust in him.
Williams’ response to winning the award showed that while he was appreciative of that honor, there’s still more work ahead for him and the Chicago Bears. Most players and teams have the primary goal of reaching the playoffs and competing in the Super Bowl.
There had been much criticism surrounding Williams in his sophomore season under a first-year head coach. Some analysts suggest that Johnson might bench him if the QB had a subpar performance in Week 3. However, the bounce-back win under the team’s star quarterback may have helped his confidence as he moves forward towards Week 4 against the Raiders.
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