What the Bears had to say a day after beating the Rams

Bears coach Matt Eberflus and a few players met with reporters Monday at Halas Hall a day after playing complementary football to beat the Los Angeles Rams.

The defense made critical stops late, the offense put together a couple of its strongest drives of the season and special teams pinned the Rams deep in their own territory on their late drives.

The Bears will turn their attention to the Carolina Panthers, who will be led by former Bears quarterback Andy Dalton. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Sunday.

On Caleb Williams showing growth

Although the statistics might not show it on paper, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had his most efficient game in his young career. He completed 17 of 23 pass attempts for 157 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

Williams made a few throws that showed his development. He sneaked the ball in a tight window in his touchdown pass to D.J. Moore in the third quarter. Williams also placed the ball perfectly on a pass up the middle to Cole Kmet in the fourth quarter where only Kmet could catch it.

Kmet said Monday those two plays were good examples of how Williams had learned what an open target looks like in the NFL.

“He’s gotten better and better at that really since the start of training camp, him recognizing and seeing things quicker now,” Kmet said. “He’s always done a really good job of diagnosing the defense, so I think at first maybe it took him a few extra seconds to really see what was happening. I think he’s seeing it quicker, now recognizing that stuff. He has a good understanding, he knows what he’s doing.”

Williams did miss some throws as well. He overthrew Rome Odunze during a shot to the end zone late in the second quarter. A couple plays later, he missed Moore on a play that Moore took ownership of and said they miscommunicated on.

Eberflus said those types of play will clean up with more time working together.

“It’s really about being on the, I wouldn’t say the same page, it’s having that continuity with those guys running the routes,” Eberflus said. “Everything changes, coverage changes, who he’s running it against and then we have to do a good job of working together in different variations, different coverages during that time. He’s got to be on the same page there in terms of going vertical, leaning out or leaning in. Those guys will get that.”

On a strong response to criticism

Eberflus credited more accountability and a strong relationship between players and coaches to the big response from last week’s player comments of wanting to be coached more.

Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis told reporters last week the players wanted to be coached up more. Players revealed after Sunday’s win that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron called out players more than he had in the past.

Eberflus called Sunday’s response important.

“That was really the accountability piece of that partnership, the whole group, the whole unit, special teams unit, offensive unit, defensive unit, football team making sure to get it right,” Eberflus said. “We know when it’s right and the players know when it’s right. So if it’s not right, let’s speak up, let’s do it again.”

Williams was part of the player leadership council that brought its concerns to Eberflus. He said after the game Sunday he talked with Waldron leading up to the Rams game to make sure they were on the same page, keeping up the flow of the game.

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson said Monday it was important for Williams to be part of the conversations as the leader of the offense.

“I think everyone just being able to work together, player to coach, coach to player, I think that’s the biggest thing that we want to do,” Johnson said. “For him, it’s no different. He’s a big guy that’s a part of our success, so he just has to be able to really communicate with the coach what he’s comfortable with, what he likes, what he doesn’t like, and then go out there and execute.”

On a better running performance

The Bears had their most-productive game of the season running the ball Sunday. The team finished with a season-high 131 rushing yards. D’Andre Swift led the group with 93 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown while Roschon Johnson finished with 26 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.

Eberflus and Kmet credited the team’s focus on details and strong perimeter blocking.

“All of those were good mental (repetitions),” Kmet said. “I think that’s what played into our success on Sunday.”

Swift had his strongest performance of the season by being a threat in the pass and rush attack. He led the Bears with 72 receiving yards on seven catches, mostly off screen or dump passes from Williams.

“It comes down to doing the ordinary extraordinary,” Eberflus said. “That’s what he did yesterday.”