Caleb Williams’ injury return proves Bears can still win NFC North despite debacles vs. Packers, Vikings
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Keenum, Williams and Johnson.
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Coach Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears got back on the winning track with a 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that had coach Ben Johnson breaking out a new dance move. Williams broke a Bears record held by Mitchell Trubisky as he lit up the scoreboard against Kevin Stefanski’s Dirty Birds.
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Now 4-2 on the season, the Bears are firmly in the NFC North Division chase alongside three potential playoff teams: the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Things looked grim after a 31-7 waxing at the hands of the Packers in Week 5, but the Bears are back in business after Williams’ latest gem of a performance. A Thursday Night Football game against the Patriots could be just the stage Williams and the Bears need to show they are serious about contending for a Super Bowl again.
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Here are four reasons why the Bears are NFC North contenders again.
Williams gives Bears a leg up
Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesWilliams gives the Bears and advantage against the Vikings as he has played far better than Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, the Vikings’ top two QBs, this season.
In the biggest games of the year, quarterback play is paramount. Williams has the advantage of having gone through a long season in 2025 that included testing himself against playoff competition. Williams appears more mature, more rested and more hungry than ever in Johnson’s system, which has acquired enough weapons to make a supervillain jealous in recent years.
Williams’ 30-for-36 passing effort against the Falcons shows he isn’t taking any games for granted this season which could lead to home field advantage for the Bears, if they perform up to their capabilities.
Johnson’s coaching edge
Johnson’s stumbles are easy to point out when the Bears lose and fans have fun doing it. That’s because he fancies himself as something of a football genius and isn’t afraid to back up his bravado.
Watching Johnson lose is fun for fans of opposing teams, but it hasn’t happened too often with him steering the Bears’ ship. Johnson was known as a coaching superstar dating back to his time with Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions, now he’s taking it to the next level, honing and refining everything.
Johnson has the Xs and Os ability to match wits with the top minds in the NFC North including Brian Flores, the Vikings’ star defensive coordinator, and others.
The Bears have a lot of pressure on themselves with Johnson’s brash persona leading the way, but he has the talent to back it up, including star defensive back Kyler Gordon, which will ultimately make it a moot point.
Wild year in the NFL
It’s been a wild year in the NFL, with injuries and upsets already shaping the landscape of a year that has plenty more surprises in store. Williams’ Bears have the depth to withstand the winds of change that this season will throw at them, starting on offense where Case Keenum played well with Williams hurt at quarterback.
The Bears have as many talented receivers and running backs as any team in the NFC, and tight end Colston Loveland looks like he’s revived himself after a big game against the Falcons that came at a much needed time.
The Bears are built for chaos, which is what this season looks like it’s about to serve up. Losses to the Vikings and Packers earlier this year looked bad, but they’ve also made Johnson’s team a hungry one heading into the stretch run.
Team Cohesiveness
The Bears look like a cohesive team, with unmistakable signs everywhere from Williams to Johnson to postgame locker room celebrations to the way each player picks up their teammates.
That type of thing can take a team far in the National Football League, which is defined by its grueling 17-game seasons and at-times devastating injuries.
The Bears are playing not just for the name on the back of the jersey, but for the city of Chicago, and for the men next to them, in the trenches with the playoffs drawing closer by the day. There is something special in the air, and it’s a feeling that is hard to describe except among fans of the franchise who have stuck by Johnson’s team for years.
Mike Ditka’s recent passing once again brought to light how much love Bears fans have for their team, and how much love Bears players have for the franchise. With Ditka’s passing as a backdrop, fans can expect fall and winter seasons of magic as the Bears continue to show the NFC North what they’re made of with each passing week.
Related: Bears’ Caleb Williams reached out to ‘John Wick’ for motivation before Falcons clash