​Bears QB Caleb Williams Shows Team's Lethal Ceiling in Win Over Falcons

It's almost been a month, 28 days to be exact, since Caleb Williams suited for the Chicago Bears. His hamstring injury in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings sidelined him for three games. 

As expected, there was plenty of anticipation for his return in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

The Bears' quarterback did not disappoint as he provided his team with a huge boost, helping lead Chicago to a 31-23 victory to improve to 4-2 on the season. Williams and cornerback Kyler Gordon each received a game ball for their respective performances. 

Williams started off the game completing his first 12 passes for 142 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown to Colston Loveland to cap off a 10-play, 67-yard drive to start the game. 

Head coach Ben Johnson wasn't aware of Williams' stack of completions as he was calling the offensive plays. 

"I don't even know that ... he hadn't missed yet," Johnson said. "You know, it's not even something, it's more you just kind of calling it, and you're doing what you feel like is going to help your guys, but when I reflect back, it's not a surprise."

Johnson highlighted in his postgame press conference that Williams completed some big plays in the back-to-back touchdown drives to start the game. On Williams' touchdown throw to Loveland, the Bears' quarterback escaped to his right and challenged the defense to defend Chicago's scramble drill. Williams rifled a pass across his body and Loveland secure the reception between two Falcons defenders. 

"I was able to escape and Colston and I locked eyes, and I just gave my guy a shot," Williams said. "That's something that I've been preaching all week to my guys. When I get back, I'm gonna give you a shot with this ball in the air and you just got to go make it, and, man, I think the guys did a good job of that."

Before running back D'Andre Swift finished the team's second offensive possession with a 4-yard score, Williams completed three passes for gains of 23, 25 and 8 yards. After fumbling the snap on second down, Williams completed a 23-yard pass to Rome Odunze on third-and-17. 

Williams adds a completely different dynamic to Chicago's offense. He looks for explosive  completions and does so from within the pocket or when he extends the play. But he also operates the Bears' offense without putting the football in harm's way. 

With the touchdown pass to Loveland, Williams became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw his 50th touchdown pass before his 15th career interception, joining Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson. 

Johnson shared that Williams went into his head coaches' office early this past week and the Bears' quarterback shared the details of that interaction. 

"Yeah, I walked into his office and dapped him up and said, “Let’s get this thing going this week” and I walked out after that," he said.

The two didn't need to have much of a discussion in that specific moment, but they got Chicago's offense going. Williams finished with an 83.3 completion % -- the highest in his career and the highest among Bears quarterback who have throw a minimum of 30 passes in a single game since 1948. 

In the games that Williams has started and finished this season, the Bears are averaging 45 points per game. He's a difference maker for Chicago and makes the offense one of the most dangerous units in the NFL.