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Mock Draft Simulator 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Big Board Builder NCAA Premium Stats SubscribeCaleb Williams and the Chicago Bears pulled off yet another miraculous comeback, this time to defeat the divisional-rival Green Bay Packers to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
The former No. 1 overall pick earned a 77.3 PFF grade, the second-highest among all quarterbacks on Wild Card Weekend, and showcased his full arsenal with six big-time throws, tied for the most by any quarterback in a single game this season.
Let’s take a closer look at how Williams pulled it off by breaking down his best throws. These were the defining moments from the game — high-degree-of-difficulty passes that showcased his arm talent, creativity and poise under pressure and offered a glimpse of the type of quarterback play Bears fans have been waiting years to see.
Two beautiful layered throws from Caleb Williams. One complete and one incomplete pic.twitter.com/y1POdi9Met
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 12, 2026
The first two big-time throws of the game came on layered shots over the middle of the field to Colston Loveland, though only one resulted in a completion.
On the first, Williams showed advanced processing by quickly identifying the coverage and delivering the correct throw. Green Bay aligned in a two-high look and stayed in that shell after motion, with both safeties bailing to deep halves at the snap to confirm Cover 2. With the concept stressing the middle-of-the-field defender, Williams knew the defender would have to choose a side. He manipulated that defender with his eyes and dropped the ball over the linebacker’s head and in front of the safety for a perfectly placed throw.
The second throw again highlighted Williams’ processing speed. This time, the Packers disguised the coverage, showing single-high before rotating late into Cover 2. Williams immediately recognized the rotation, keyed the middle linebacker and waited for him to step up on the underneath route before pulling the trigger. Even with pressure in his face, he delivered a precise throw that fell incomplete despite being placed in the correct window.
Caleb with a couple perfect throws on corner routes to Colston Loveland pic.twitter.com/1o73LXQyMs
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 12, 2026
The next two big-time throws were nearly identical, with both targeting Colston Loveland on corner routes. On each play, the Bears ran a three-level flood concept to the near side — a vertical route to clear space, an intermediate corner and a flat route — designed to stress the intermediate defender.
What stood out on both throws was Williams’ pocket awareness. On the first, he felt pressure closing from his left, calmly slid to his right and kept his base aligned with the concept before delivering the ball. On the second, he recognized an edge blitz and understood his running back would be responsible for pickup, so he drifted left to buy extra time and create space to make the throw.
Simply a ridiculous throw with the game on the line pic.twitter.com/SsqrJPIEAC
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 12, 2026
Next up was the highest-graded throw of the weekend by any quarterback — a fourth-down conversion that kept the Bears’ season alive.
The play broke down when Chicago’s offensive line failed to pick up a stunt, forcing Williams into a scramble drill. While his ability to escape pressure and avoid negative plays is well established, what continues to separate him is how often he turns those moments into explosive gains. This season, his 25 big-time throws on plays with a time to throw above three seconds lead the NFL.
This particular throw stands among his most impressive due to the degree of difficulty involved. Rolling left, Williams understood he did not have time to reset his base and deliver the ball conventionally before the receiver ran out of space. Instead, he released the pass while airborne, generating more than 30 yards of distance and placing the ball perfectly to give his receiver a chance to convert.
Another Caleb Williams incompletion on a perfect throw pic.twitter.com/cQ3dX9IgcS
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) January 12, 2026
Williams’ final big-time throw of the game came on another incompletion, but it was yet another remarkable play on the move. Forced to scramble immediately under pressure from his left, he delivered a perfectly placed ball that was dropped and would have put the Bears in easy field-goal range with under two minutes remaining. While it ultimately did not change the outcome, it had all the makings of another defining moment.
For many quarterbacks, the best-case outcome on a play like that is a throwaway. For Williams and the Bears, however, chaos often breeds opportunity. Chicago leads the NFL in deep passing attempts on plays with a time to throw above three seconds and ranks second in explosive plays generated in those situations.
The Bears’ improbable season now rolls on into the divisional round, where Williams will once again be asked to create magic. That wild-card performance perfectly encapsulated his year: He produced the most big-time throws of any quarterback on Wild Card weekend (six), doubling the next-highest total, while also posting the lowest adjusted completion percentage at the position by nearly 10 percentage points.
If some of the routine throws are completed earlier, the late-game heroics may not be necessary, but those same extraordinary plays are what make Caleb Williams special.