Caleb Williams
Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings host the Chicago Bears on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. J.J. McCarthy’s childhood team comes into his home stadium and will look to exact revenge for the fourth quarter loss they suffered in his NFL debut.
Caleb Williams was the cream of the crop among the 2024 quarterback draft class. He wanted to play for the Vikings but instead went first overall to the Chicago Bears. Brian Flores kept him in check earlier this season, but ESPN insider Ben Solak doesn’t see it happening twice.
Caleb Williams projected to go off against Minnesota Vikings
The Chicago Bears nearly drafted J.J. McCarthy over Caleb Williams. That would have been crazy in the eyes of draft projections, and instead the two are now divisional foes. McCarthy won their first matchup, but ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks that the Bears quarterback has a coming-out party in Minnesota on Sunday.
The Bears nearly missed on several potential big plays last week against the Giants in snowy Chicago. Now, Chicago takes its offense — which leads the league in explosive plays — to the dome in Minnesota, where the Vikings are allowing the league’s highest completion percentage on throws 20-plus yards downfield. Williams has been teetering on the precipice of a true breakout performance for weeks now, and a divisional win against a defensive coordinator like Brian Flores would be the ideal spot.
Ben Solak – ESPN
Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson inherited Caleb Williams this offseason. He brought a progressive offensive mind to the table, and Williams was likely to benefit from it. It’s hard to argue that he hasn’t.
On the season Williams has the bears at 6-3 and trailing only Johnson’s former employer in the NFC North standings. He is completing 60.8% of his passes and has a 13/4 TD/INT ratio. After taking a league-leading 68 sacks last year, Williams has been dropped just 14 times this year and it’s clear things are going substantially better.
Last weekend the Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was healthy and went 17-for-29 with 176 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for another36 yards.
During Week 1 the Vikings pulled off a three-point victory at Soldier Field. Williams was 21-of-35 for 210 yards and a touchdown in that game. He didn’t throw a pick, but was sacked twice. In the weeks since, the development has continued to take place.
#Vikings DC Brian Flores on facing the Bears on Sunday:
"Ben's (Johnson) always a challenge, he's always got great schematics."
Caleb Williams this season: 2,136 yards, 13 TD, 4 INT, 61% completion pic.twitter.com/FGVf0I4wVA
— Will Hall (@WillHallKARE11) November 11, 2025
The Vikings defense is relatively healthy, although star pass rusher Jonathan Greenard will not play. That means Dallas Turner will need to show up big alongside Andrew Van Ginkel. Flores had a plan of attack in Week 1 that kept Williams guessing. If the Vikings are going to win, and they are slight 2.5 point favorites, they’ll need to keep the opposing quarterback guessing.
Ultimately the Vikings don’t want McCarthy to need another fourth quarter comeback. At 4-5, a chance to get back to .500 and improve to 3-0 in the division all are on the line. Williams can’t have a coming-out party if that’s going to happen though.
Mentioned in this article: caleb williams More About: Minnesota Vikings
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