Caleb Williams faked a handoff and rolled out to his left. In front of him, tight end Cole Kmet ran toward the sideline. Kmet saw the way Williams was running, the look in his eye.

In that split second, Kmet knew he wasn’t getting the ball. Instead, he abandoned his route and turned upfield to block.

“I didn’t see a (linebacker) and so I felt (enough) grass to be able to just keep it and go,” Williams said.

Kmet blocked New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin through the goal line and paved the way for Williams, who ran to the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown. It proved to be the game-winning score in Sunday’s 24-20 win over the Giants at Soldier Field.

The Bears erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. On both fourth-quarter touchdown drives, Williams made something happen with his feet, rather than his arm.

The game-winning score wasn’t a designed run. Kmet’s ability to read Williams’ body language and to read the situation turned it from a good play to a game-changing play.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams scores a touchdown to put the Bears ahead 23-20 during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

“I still think that’s a work in progress, honestly,” Kmet said of his connection with the quarterback in those situations. “I think that’s sometimes where we don’t connect on some of the scramble stuff here and there, and those are the things that we continue to work on, but I could just kind of feel it there in that scenario.”

For the second week in a row, the Bears found a way to win when their backs were against a wall. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart had his offense rolling through the first three quarters. Dart and the Giants built a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Dart exited the game with a concussion and the Giants were forced to turn to backup Russell Wilson for the fourth quarter.

That’s when the momentum shifted.

“Obviously, their backup came in, so we knew we had a chance to really come back and win it,” left tackle Theo Benedet said. “Our belief never wavered.”

That has been a theme for this Bears team under first-year coach Ben Johnson. A week ago, the Bears came from behind in the final minute to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in a wild 47-42 game.

This week, the Bears were out of sync in the passing attack for much of the first three quarters. Receivers dropped several catchable balls at key moments. The Bears went 3-for-11 on third-down opportunities and 1-for-4 on fourth-down attempts.

“Once again, not our prettiest game,” Johnson said. “We had a number of things go on — drops on offense. We weren’t playing consistent or efficient football on that side.”

Until crunch time.

“I was joking with him,” Benedet said of Williams. “We call it C-Willy time because he’s just cool as ever in the fourth quarter. Something just in him really rises to that occasion.”

Williams and the offense took over possession at their own 9-yard line, trailing by 10 points with 6:13 remaining in the game. Everything had to go right from there. Williams guided the offense on a nine-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that brought the home crowd back to life.

Williams connected with tight end Colston Loveland for a 20-yard gain and with receiver Rome Odunze for an 18-yard gain along the way. Those chunk plays set up a first-and-10 at the New York 31-yard line.

“It’s time to go make a play,” Williams said. “Time to go win the game. That was kind of my mindset coming out of the second half.”

Week 10 photos: Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants

On the next play, Williams scrambled out to his left, saw open space and took off running along the sideline. The quarterback scampered past one defender and dove his way down to the 2-yard line for a 29-yard gain. It set up an easy touchdown pass to Odunze that pulled the Bears within three points at 20-17.

“That’s the unique thing about his skill set is he’s got that ability,” Johnson said. “As a play caller, it certainly helps me out because I don’t feel like I need to be perfect with these play calls. He makes these things right.”

Williams did on Sunday.

The defense came up with a key stop on the following possession, boosted by a sack from cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson on third down. Giants punter Jamie Gillan shanked the ensuing punt, giving the Bears the ball near midfield, which set up the game-winning drive and Williams’ 17-yard touchdown run.

The Bears needed just four plays to go 53 yards on the game-winning drive. Kmet credited Johnson’s cool demeanor in crunch time.

“There’s a calm and patience, and it’s really well planned and organized and he has a definite idea of what he wants to get done and wants to do,” Kmet said.

Added Johnson: “More often than not I’m thinking (of) players instead of particular plays.”

Related Articles

Week 10 photos: Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants

Column: Is 2025 the year of the overprotective dad in pro sports? On behalf of the kids, please butt out.

Week 10 recap: Caleb Williams rallies Chicago Bears past New York Giants 24-20, their 6th win in 7 games

Former Bears player Israel Idonije tackles a new challenge: Restaurants in his South Loop neighborhood

D’Andre Swift looks good to go, likely giving Chicago Bears a full backfield after Kyle Monangai’s big game

He wants to put the ball in his best playmakers’ hands. It’s telling, then, that he turned to rookie Luther Burden III, who caught a 27-yard completion on a deep curl route to pull the offense into the red zone. Two plays later, Williams followed Kmet’s block into the end zone.

In just a matter of minutes, Williams’ abilities with his legs had changed the game.

“Incredibly dangerous,” Benedet said. “And I think we in the building know that that’s probably an underrated part of his game.”

The Bears once again found a way to win the type of football game that they typically haven’t in recent history. There were certainly issues for Johnson and his staff to address, but they found a way to win, improving to 6-3 on the season.

Williams finished the afternoon 20-for-36 passing for 220 yards and a touchdown. But it was his 63 rushing yards on eight carries that made the difference — plus his calm under pressure.

“That’s when he puts the Superman cape on, goes out there and (plays) extraordinary,” Odunze said.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/09/chicago-bears-new-york-giants-caleb-williams/