Bears’ Ben Johnson makes magical Caleb Williams comparison

Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, Williams played like a man possessed in the second half, adding 52 rushing yards and a score, including a 29-yard scramble out of harms way and into a big play in the Bears’ 24-20 win over the Giants.

Johnson says Williams’ escapability has a magical flair.

“He looks like a Houdini back there in the backfield, because that’s a really good pass-rushing front,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “They’ve given a lot of teams fits. I think [Brian] Burns is leading the NFL in sacks. There were times where he’s trying to escape and making some things happen. He had a couple throws down the field, but over 50 yards again rushing for the second week in a row, and I thought in the fourth quarter there we really needed that as a shot in the arm to end up winning that ballgame. So, credit to him.” So far this season, Williams has rushed for 246 yards and three touchdowns, while converting 15 scrambles into first downs, underscoring the value his mobility adds to the Bears’ offense and contributes to the outcomes of games.

Caleb Williams’ heroics could serve Bears well

In some measures, the Bears are ahead of schedule, in Johnson’s first season, and Williams’ second since being chosen No. 2 overall.

If the season ended today, the Bears would qualify for the postseason as the No. 7 seed in the NFC, but Williams’ late-game heroics aren’t just seemingly establishing a winning culture and identity but are pushing Chicago closer to becoming a legitimate threat to make an insurgent deep playoff run in the months to come.

According to ESPN, the Bears currently have just a 1.9 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl this season, but, if Williams keeps playing at this level, it could raise the trajectory of Chicago’s future significantly in the months and years ahead.