Williams, Bears offer no apologies
for tight wins, see room to improve with Eagles up next
[November 25, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears weren’t offering
any apologies.
They pulled out a win, even if it was yet another tight one, and
that's what mattered most. They know they have room to improve, too.
“We’re an 8-3 team in the National Football League,” Williams said.
“We feel good where we’re at, but we do got to get better. I would
say, yeah, we don’t feel like we’re the same old Bears. We pull
through for each other when it matters most.”
The Bears hung on to beat Pittsburgh 31-28 on Sunday with Chicago's
old nemesis Aaron Rodgers sidelined by a broken left wrist, after
rallying in the final two minutes the previous three weeks. With
their eighth win in nine games, they maintained a slim lead in the
NFC North over Green Bay (7-3-1) and Detroit (7-4).
The Bears will try to keep the momentum going when they visit
defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia on Friday.
“As a coaching staff, we always try to have the right messaging for
whatever that week entails and the path to victory, team building,
things of that nature,” coach Ben Johnson said Monday. “I think it’s
come along really well, but it’s really those veterans that I just
can’t sing their praises enough. They lead the charge there in terms
of how that locker room responds each and every week.”
What’s working
Takeaways. The Bears had two more takeaways, boosting their
league-leading total to 24, and converted both into touchdowns on
Sunday.
Cornerback Nahshon Wright picked off Mason Rudolph's first pass when
he made a leaping grab along the sideline on a deep ball intended
for DK Metcalf. That led to a 5-yard touchdown catch for DJ Moore.
It also vaulted Wright into a tie with teammate Kevin Byard for the
league lead in interceptions with five.
Montez Sweat strip-sacked Rudolph with the Bears leading by three in
the third quarter. That led to Kyle Monangai scoring from 2 in the
opening minute of the fourth to make it 31-21.
What needs help
Williams’ accuracy. Though he settled down after a shaky start and
threw for three touchdowns, Williams still struggles with accuracy.
Coming off a shaky outing at Minnesota, he consistently overthrew
receivers in the early going Sunday before settling down in the
second half and finished 19 of 35 for 239 yards. He also was
strip-sacked by T.J. Watt in the end zone early in the second
quarter when he could have thrown the ball away, and the Steelers’
Nick Herbig recovered the fumble for a touchdown.
Williams ranks 27th among qualifying leaders in completion
percentage at 59.2 and is one of just three below 60%, along with
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Tennessee’s Cam Ward.
[to top of second column] |
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) sacks Chicago Bears
quarterback Caleb Williams, forcing a fumble that the Steelers Nick
Herbig recovered in the end zone for a touchdown during the first
half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP
Photo/Erin Hooley)
Stock up
Sweat. After a slow start, the veteran defensive end is on pace for
his second double-digit sack season. Sweat had two more sacks
against Pittsburgh, giving him 7 1/2 this season. All but one have
come in the past six games. Sweat had a combined 12 1/2 sacks for
Washington and Chicago in 2023.
“I think I am just taking advantage of my opportunities," Sweat
said. "Early in the season I felt like I was playing good ball, but
the stats are starting to come through for me.”
Stock down
LT Theo Benedet. Benedet missed the game because of a quad injury
after starting the previous seven. Second-round draft pick Ozzy
Trapilo started in his place, and it's not hard to envision the
Bears sticking with the Boston College product after a strong
showing.
Trapilo more than held his own against a pass rush featuring Watt
and Herbig. Trapilo began training camp competing for the left
tackle job and was quickly moved to the right side. Braxton Jones
opened the season as the starting left tackle before getting benched
in Week 4 for Benedet and currently is on injured reserve.
Injuries
Johnson had no update on LB Ruben Hyppolite (shoulder), CB Tyrique
Stevenson (hip) and DL Dominique Robinson (concussion protocol), who
all exited Sunday's game.
Key number
5 — Six of the past eight games have been decided by five points or
fewer, and the Bears have won each of those six games.
Next steps
The Bears go for their fifth straight win when they visit
Philadelphia on Friday. The NFC East-leading Eagles blew a 21-point
lead against Dallas and lost 24-21 to the Cowboys when Brandon
Aubrey kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
