Caleb Williams dropped 305 yards and a touchdown, and Kyler Gordon exploded for three sacks and two decisive forced fumbles on just 17 snaps last Sunday, igniting the Chicago Bears in a thunderous road victory over the Falcons. Both guys were back in action after missing serious time, and they straight-up dominated. Williams, who had been out for three games with a hamstring injury, went 30 of 36. Gordon was playing for the first time all season after a calf injury. This was a delirious postgame scene, with both players earning game balls and head coach Ben Johnson looking absolutely fired up. But here’s the kicker: in the NFL, last Sunday’s outcome has zero bearing on this Sunday , or, in the Bears’ case, Thursday.
“Turning The Page Extremely Quickly” After That Electric Return
That win over the Falcons at Soldier Field South (aka Mercedes-Benz Stadium) was everything for the Bears. The energy in that locker room was contagious, galvanizing the organization and the fanbase. It felt like a team truly clicking. Johnson even said Tuesday that they “enjoyed the plane ride home.” But the reality is, exactly 100 hours after walking off that field in Atlanta, they’re facing New England. Johnson was real about it, saying, “This week in particular, you’ve got to turn the page extremely quickly. … We know how big it is to string good performances back-to-back in this league. That’s what the good teams do, and that’s what we’re looking to do here this week.” The challenge for them now is replicating that performance just four days later.
New England’s Top Defense And Drake Maye Are No Joke On A Short Week
Forget the good vibes from Atlanta, because Thursday is a whole different beast. Johnson flat out said, “This week will be even more challenging on a short week. (Players’) bodies might not feel 100%, and yet we still have to play with that same relentless attitude and demeanor play in and play out throughout.” New England is coming in hot, riding a three-game winning streak, and their defense is no joke. They’re surrendering just 300.5 yards per game (sixth-best in the league) and a stingy 18.8 points per game (fifth-best). On offense, Drake Maye has shaken off any “fluke” labels from his slow start. After three unspectacular games to kick off the season, he’s tossed 10 touchdowns against just one interception in his last three outings. That’s a serious test for the Bears’ defense, which Johnson believes has been a “gradual process” showing “glimpses” of their desired style.
4-2 And In The Playoff Picture, But The Real Gauntlet Just Started
At 4-2, the Bears are sitting pretty, firmly in the playoff picture. But the NFC North is absolutely stacked. The Vikings are leading the charge at 5-0, and both the Packers (4-2) and Lions (3-2) are right there with Chicago, holding the other two wild-card spots. Thursday’s game against New England kicks off a brutal stretch. The Bears are about to play both of last year’s Super Bowl participants in succession. Later in the season, they’ve still got Jacksonville, Buffalo, and four divisional games, including two against Detroit. This short week against a hot Patriots team is a real benchmark for where this Bears team truly stands. Can they keep that “relentless attitude” going on tired bodies? We’ll find out Thursday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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