Cubs News: Williams on sack in overtime: "I should have thrown the ball out of bounds" |
CHICAGO - For the second week in a row, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was ever so close to his first game-winning drive and first win over a division opponent. Chicago’s game against the Green Bay Packers and their most recent loss, a 30-27 overtime defeat against the Minnesota Vikings, were within reach.
But the Bears keep finding unimaginable ways to lose. “My teammates fought all the way through the end regardless of what happened on the plays - good, bad. We fought all the way to the end and that’s definitely encouraging. You don’t want to be around people that are quitting, that are giving up. That’s not the type of guys we have and so, that’s encouraging,” Williams said. “I think we got better on offense and we’ve gotten better over these past couple games. I think (Sunday) was a testament to that - being decisive, receivers and everybody. It’s tough. It’s a tough loss just because you get the ball in overtime and you don’t go and seal the deal and I like to pride myself on two-minutes. I like to pride myself on being able to provide efficient drives and that’s now what happened (Sunday).” Communication has been an issue for the Bears throughout this season. That became a problem once again in the third quarter. After starting their first drive of the second half with a 37-yard completion to wide receiver DJ Moore, the offense stalled. It brought up fourth and four at the Minnesota 27-yard line; that would have been a 45-yard field goal. There was some confusion as to whether the Bears were going for it as the kicking unit started to come out. This caused a domino effect, ultimately leading to Williams hearing the wrong play call, an incomplete pass, and a turnover on downs. “We ended up running up against the clock in that moment. In those moments, you don’t really want to run up against the clock just (because) you want to get set and have your play and be able to see what’s going on and I think the confusion (because kicker) Cairo (Santos) and them ran on the field and all of that. So, I think the confusion had the play come in a little bit later and we got the huddle and trying to scramble and I end up mishearing what (offensive coordinator) Thomas Brown said and from there, it went downhill,” Williams said. “Had an incomplete pass on a play that (I) didn’t necessarily want to run and we didn’t, (Brown) and the coaches, that we didn’t call and from there, you (aren’t) obviously going to try and use another timeout because the game’s going to be close at the end of the game because we already used one. So, you got to get up there if you have to really fast, make a few checks and get the ball snapped and it still is a matchup league. So, go to your best matchup guys and right then and there, I went to (wide receiver) Keenan (Allen) and we just missed.” Getting the ball out on time has also been an issue throughout this season, particularly in critical situations. That problem resurfaced in the offense’s second play of overtime when Williams held onto the ball too long and was sacked for a loss of 12 yards, putting Chicago into third and 21. The Bears then got a delay of game penalty, setting up third and 26. They did not convert, so they had to punt, and Minnesota won the game on the ensuing drive. That sack was a pivotal moment in the game as it killed Chicago’s drive. Williams reflected on that play as that is something he said he will learn from. “They dropped a bunch of guys out knowing that we had to get a good chunk play and I (held) the ball too long and they made a great play,” Williams said. “I should have just thrown the ball out of bounds, live to fight another down, another play and it’s not what happened.” Williams will have his third chance to defeat a division opponent when the Bears take on the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving (11:30 a.m. / CBS). Detroit is arguably the best team in the NFL and will surely be Chicago’s hardest challenge of the season. It will also mark the first non-Sunday game for Williams of his NFL career.
