Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is preparing to play in the biggest game of his life on Sunday, as the Bears will be battling the hated rival Green Bay Packers for NFC North supremacy.
The Bears are currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC at 9-3, and while Williams has certainly had his moments, head coach Ben Johnson went as far to say that the team is winning “in spite” of the passing game.
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That isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the second-year signal-caller, and writers at The Athletic also don’t seem to have much of a belief in Williams heading into the showdown at Lambeau Field.
“Williams has improved this year, but his completion percentage (58.1) remains a concern,” The Athletic’s Zak Keefer wrote. “It ranks 33rd among quarterbacks to start a game this season. The impetus behind the Bears’ stunning revival has been the run game and the defense’s ability to take the football away. I like Green Bay in this one.”
Mike Sando of The Athletic added that Chicago is “definitely” winning despite its passing game, and fellow Athletic writer Jeff Howe noted that Williams is “still very much a work in progress.”
Williams has thrown for 2,722 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions while posting an 88.2 passer rating this season. He hasn’t shown much — if any — progression from last year, although he is definitely getting rid of the ball quicker (he was sacked 68 times last season compared to just 19 in 2025).
To make matters worse for Williams, the Bears will not have top wide receiver Rome Odunze on Sunday, who will be sidelined due to a foot injury.
Chicago selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and was thinking it was getting a generational talent when it nabbed the USC product.
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It’s still entirely possible that Williams can become just that, but there is no doubt that his lack of progress has been disappointing, even if the Bears are inching closer and closer toward just their third playoff berth since 2011 and their first since 2020.
The Packers, by the way, are 8-3-1 and would take over first place with a win over Chicago.
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