It’s important for quarterbacks and head coaches to be on the same page in the NFL and the Chicago duo are in sync when it comes to Caleb Williams’ preparation for his first playoff action.
Although Williams did not make the playoffs, head coach Ben Johnson said he had “played in a lot of big games in his lifetime” and played his best football when the Bears needed it most this season. This led Johnson to say that Williams is “built for these moments” and Williams used the same phrase when discussing his preparation for the Packers on Saturday.
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“I think I’m built for these moments, mentally-wise, how I worked” Williams said, via the team’s website. “I’ve been in a number of big games already and a number of big games between rivals. In those moments, I think I can give a spark to the team. I think I can do whatever my team needs me to do, whether it’s stay in the pocket, whether it’s a run, whether it’s a scrimmage, whether it’s whatever, hand the ball over 30 times and be forceful about it. Anyway, that’s where I’m at, where I’m going to be over the next couple of weeks, hopefully. »
One of Williams’ biggest games came on a Saturday night against the Packers in Week 16. He led the Bears on consecutive field goals to tie the game in the fourth quarter, then threw a game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore in overtime for a 22-16 victory that helped lock up the NFC North. It was one of six wins the Bears had in the final minutes of the season.
Johnson might prefer something less dramatic this weekend, but knowing that Williams can pull it off in those moments is a good feeling to have when you embark on a playoff journey.
