Despite a nail-biting loss, Williams's confident post-game remarks reveal a belief in the Bears' potential and a hunger for future success.
The Chicago Bears may have lost 42-38 to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, but quarterback Caleb Williams is holding his head high.
Williams and the offense didn't lose for lack of trying. The Bears kept up with the high-octane offense of the 49ers for most of the game.
It all came down to a 2nd-and-goal from the San Francisco two-yard line. The Bears needed to score with four seconds left. Williams rolled out after avoiding pressure, but needed to make a quick decision with another pass rusher bearing down on him.
Williams looked for Jahdae Walker in the end zone, and the ball hit the turf and was ruled incomplete as time expired.
While it can be easy to be defeated after a heartbreaking loss like that, that wasn't the case for Williams. He appeared inspired after the loss and was proud of the Bears, noting that they are not a team to be taken lightly in the post-game presser.
"I think we've proven who we are," Williams said. "We're a team to be reckoned with. We'll fight, and you know, I think we're a team to be reckoned with. So, I'm excited for this next game. Excited to go back and watch this film, and figure out how we can be better, figure out how we can put up more points, and maybe be more efficient on offense for moments like this, because we may see this team again, and you know, we may see other offenses again that are very similar and things like that. So, like I said, I'm excited for what's to come in that sense. So, I think we're a team that's gonna fight, and I think we've proven that."
Williams eclipsed the 300-yard mark for the first time this season. He achieved that feat four times as a rookie last season. The quarterback ended Sunday's game with 330 passing yards, 18 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
In year two under head coach Ben Johnson, Williams now has 3,730 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has now surpassed his passing yards numbers from his rookie season (3,541).
The Bears will now either take home the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NFC following the loss. Chicago closes the regular season with the Detroit Lions next Sunday.
Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox, as the Bears return home.