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Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and NEw York Giants QB Jaxson Dart
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — At his current pace, Caleb Williams is on track to become the first quarterback in the 106-year history of the Chicago Bears to surpass 4,000 passing yards in a single season.
Erik Kramer still leads the pack among Bears QBs, having thrown for 3,838 yards in 1995. Jay Cutler came close in 2014, totalling 3,812 yards in 15 games, but he was benched by coach Marc Trestman for Jimmy Clausen in Week 16.
To this day, the Bears remain the only franchise in the NFL without a 4,000-yard single-season passer.
In order to keep pace, Williams, currently at 4,071.5 yards through eight games, will have one of the toughest tests he’s faced at the line of scrimmage this season when the New York Football Giants come to town on Sunday.
“You could argue this is the best defensive front that we’ve seen so far this year,” coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday. “Huge challenge at hand. We’re going to have to be on our stuff here again this week and I know the guys are going to be ready for this challenge.”
Williams, who was sacked a team-record 68 times last year, has only taken 12 sacks through the first eight games of the season. That good enough for a 29-sack pace — 39 less than last season.
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“Some weeks are better than others, which we knew (would be the case),” Johnson said. “(Williams is) in a lot better placed now with his process than he was to start the season. The week isn’t necessarily smooth sailing all always, but I think that’s to be expected with year one in a new system.”
Williams’ improvement is noticeable, especially against the blitz. In general, Williams’ EPA/play this season sits at 0.08, according to SumerSports. When blitzed, it jumps to 0.22. Additionally, seven of Williams’ 12 passing touchdowns and zero of his four interceptions have come when facing a blitzing defense.
Weather-permitting, Sunday’s matchup could play in Williams’ favor. If the Giants sell out to stop the run or try to apply sigificant pressure against the Bears’ quarterback, he’ll have a shot to pick apart a secondary that runs the second-highest man coverage rate in the league (35.4 percent). And against man, Williams has thrown just two interceptions in his career, both coming last season
That brings us to our predictions for Sunday …
Adam Jahns
2025 record: 6-2
The numbers say that this is another favorable game for the Bears’ offense. The Giants’ run defense is worse than the Bengals’ porous unit on a per-carry basis. The Giants are allowing 5.5 yards per carry – the most in the league – while the Bengals are next at 5.4. That’s definitely music to Ben Johnson’s ears. He loves to run the ball – and rookie Kyle Monangai just showed the run game will work with him as its bell cow.
All that said, it wouldn’t be surprising if this game had some wild back-and-forth moments. And more should favor the Bears, especially with the Giants missing rookie running back Cam Skattebo.
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Bears 30, Giants 20
[**READ | Insider Analysis: Debating whether the Bears are real contenders in the NFC North**]
Adam Hoge
2025 record: 6-2
The Giants struggle to stop the run and play a lot of single-high safety looks, which Caleb Williams has been feasting on. Defensively, the Bears will give up some points but a couple of takeaways should be enough to secure another win. One warning: if the Bears don’t get their special teams fixed, they are bound to eventually lose a game like this.
Bears 27, Giants 21
Mark Carman
2025 record: 6-2
Here comes the third quarter of the season. Ben Johnson set the Bears’ goal once again at 3-1, which would get them to 8-4 for the final five with a great chance to make the playoffs.
First things first, they must handle the 2-7 Giants who can’t stop the run the same way Cincinnati can’t stop the run. The Bears don’t have to put up the 276 yards Philadelphia did against the Giants defense to win, but it wouldn’t hurt. D’Andre Swift is back seemingly healthy. Kyle Monangai wants to prove last week wasn’t some Bengals fluke.
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Caleb Willliams should be feeling good after coming through when the Bears had to have it after the onsides kick debacle. Cam Skattebo is hurt. Jaxson Dart’s legs scare me some as does Brian Burns and the Giants front 4. But not enough to not pick the Bears.
Bears 33, Giants 28
Greg Braggs Jr.
2025 record: 5-3
The weather could be a factor—something to consider. But the Bears’ run game has become their identity, while the Giants’ run defense is as bad, if not worse than, the Bengals’. Not a great recipe for New York.
Bears 27, Giants 18
Patrick Norton
2025 record: 4-4
Each time I’ve tried to come up with a score for Sunday, my mind has jolted back to the 2018 Bears-Giants slopfest, in which the 8-3 Bears lost to the 3-8 Giants in overtime. Chase Daniel started that game for the Bears, throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown on the second play of the game. Due to the deluge, Daniel also fumbled the ball three times on the Bears’ unsuccessful overtime drive.
The weather won’t be much kinder this Sunday. The forecast calls for rain overnight on Saturday with snow flurries on Sunday morning and possibly throughout the game. If you’re going to our tailgate at Wabash & Cermak in the morning, make sure you pack your long underwear.
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As for the game itself, this should be decided in the trenches and on the ground. It’ll depend on the speed of the game, but the Bears have a real shot at their third 200-plus yard performance of the season in the run game. For as daunting as the Giants’ pass rush can be, I like Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift to feast in the snow.
Bears 38, Giants 16
Corey Wootton
2025 record: 4-4
Bears continue to get the running game going. Defense still struggles a little bit, and it comes down to the wire.
Bears 31, Giants 28
Stephen Nicholas
2025 record: 4-4
Ben Johnson said in his press conference on Wednesday that the Giants offense “can score some points, and they have playmakers.” Coach speak. Where are the playmakers? Wan’Dale Robinson. Meh. Darius Slayton? Please.
A lot of talk about the Giants allowing the 2nd-most rush yards in the NFL has led to grand predictions about what D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai may do. Not enough talk about Caleb Williams escaping the pocket to avoid a stout Giants’ pass rush. I’m betting on Caleb going over his 19.5 rush yard prop with the Bears controlling the clock — and game against the New York Giants.
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Bears 24, Giants 17
Jerry Azumah
2025 record: 4-4
Bears 27, Giants 20
Lance Briggs
2025 record: 3-5
TBD
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