After Michael Jordan moment, Bears'
Caleb Williams turns his attention to Matthew Stafford, Rams
[January 15, 2026]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Down by 11 and facing a fourth-and-8 in
their own territory late in last week's wild-card game, the Chicago
Bears needed a big play from Caleb Williams.
He had a Michael Jordan moment.
Williams' spectacular throw to Rome Odunze kept a touchdown drive
going and helped the Bears rally to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27
after trailing by 18 on Saturday night. Now, after winning a playoff
game for the first time in 15 years, Chicago faces another big
challenge.
The Bears host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the
divisional round on Sunday. But while they shifted their focus to
the next task, Williams' incredible pass to Odunze in a big spot was
still getting plenty of attention.
“It was just a good moment and ended up giving Rome the right
football to be able to allow him to make the adjustment," Williams
said Wednesday.
Trailing 27-16, the Bears (12-6) had a fourth-and-8 at their 43 with
5:37 remaining in the game. Williams took the shotgun snap and
rolled to his left when the pocket collapsed. He leaped as a
defender lunged at his leg and delivered a perfect throw to Odunze
in traffic for a 27-yard gain.
The NFL Memes account had some fun on X, plugging in the Chicago
Bulls' intro music and superimposing the famous Jumpman logo over
Williams. It was just about a perfect — and almost eerie — match.
“I’ve had a couple passes like that going left where I’ve ended up
being in the air in that way a few times in college and things like
that and high school," Williams said. “I’m kind of used to it.”
Chicago isn't used to being in a spot like this.
The Bears hadn't advanced in the playoffs since the 2010 team beat
Seattle in the divisional round. Chicago then got knocked out by
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC championship game and made
quick exits in its only two postseason appearances since, with the
2018 and 2020 teams losing wild-card games. But the Bears envisioned
moments like this when they drafted Williams with the No. 1 pick in
2024 and hired coach Ben Johnson off Detroit's staff a year ago.
Chicago captured the NFC North championship and finished with a
winning record for the first time since the 2018 team won the
division. Williams got more and more comfortable in Johnson's system
and threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards during the regular
season. He then passed his first playoff test, setting a club mark
by passing for 361 yards while leading the big comeback.
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Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card
playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan.
10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Now, after knocking off the rival Packers, the
Bears host Stafford and the Rams. Williams only briefly met Stafford
when the two teams played at Soldier Field last season. But he's
studied the three-time Pro Bowler in depth.
It's something his coach wanted him to do. Johnson
was an assistant in Detroit during Stafford's final few seasons
there and saw up close his elite footwork and vision.
“When you talk about the footwork, I think it starts there with
him,” Johnson said. “But then as you talk about an experienced
player that sees the field really well, he understands defenses. He
knows how to manipulate defenses. He’s got a great feel for the game
and that translates to everything he does every single week.”
Williams and Stafford don't exactly have similar styles. But there
are things he can learn from the All-Pro.
“His feet are always under him,” Williams said. “He can make any
throw at any time. The guy’s in his face, O-linemen may be getting
pushed back, not looking — all these different things — and it comes
down to his feet. He ties the routes with his receivers — the
timing, all of that — with his feet. Obviously, he has a cannon.”
There's the trust Stafford has in his receivers, that they'll be in
the right place and make the play. Williams trusted Odunze on that
fourth-down completion. Five plays later, he threw an 8-yard
touchdown to Olamide Zaccheaus and connected with Colston Loveland
on a 2-point conversion that pulled Chicago within three.
Williams also mentioned Stafford's “snake eyes” — his ability to
make opponents move by shifting his eyes and then throwing the ball
where the defender was.
“He drops back and has what everybody calls snake eyes," Williams
said. "Just knowing defenses, knowing the offense and being able to
move people where you want to move them is something he’s been able
to do very well.”
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