There isn’t a doubt that the highway loss suffered by the Chicago Bears on a Hail Mary by the Washington Commanders was a intestine punch for the group. Now the most important query turns into how will the Bears and Caleb Williams reply because the calendar turns to November.
Williams couldn’t hide his frustration on the sidelines after the Commanders pulled off the 52-yard completion with no time left on the clock to register an 18-15 choice on Sunday. Nonetheless, with the Bears now sitting at 4-3 and within the backside of what has develop into a rugged NFC North Division, there isn’t a time to look again at what may need been in Washington.
The face of the franchise after being chosen with the highest general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams now faces arguably the primary true check of his management because the staff’s quarterback. For Chicago to really shake off the heartbreaker in Washington, Williams should say the appropriate issues within the locker room and on the podium to organize the Bears for a gauntlet of a schedule forward.
That begins on Sunday in Arizona towards a Cardinals staff that had its personal last-second magic towards the Miami Dolphins to submit a 28-27 victory, its second consecutive week the place a area objective within the recreation’s last two minutes gave Arizona the win. At 4-4, the sport towards the Cardinals is not going to solely be an indication of how a lot Williams and the Bears have shaken off Sunday’s loss, but in addition a measuring stick towards a staff that’s presently on the prime of the NFC West.
A house recreation towards New England follows that, then comes the true check of the schedule because the Bears embark on six division video games towards NFC North foes over their last eight contests in a stretch that may decide if Chicago is actually a postseason contender in 2024 or merely constructing for seasons to come back.
That, nonetheless, is the long run. For Williams, the time for management is now.
His stat line towards the Commanders (10-for-24, 131 yards and no touchdowns) after consecutive outings the place he mixed for 43-of-58 passing for 530 yards and 6 touchdowns present there may be nonetheless work to do to deliver consistency on the sector. Nonetheless, maybe extra vital this week are the phrases and actions from Williams inside Halas Corridor.
Williams has been praised by his teammates in latest days for his management. Now could be the time to indicate that these abilities will impression the short-term course of a staff needing to proper itself shortly.