In Thomas Brown's first game as play caller last Sunday against the Packers, the Bears compiled 391 yards, converted a season-high 56.3% of their third downs (9 of 16) and scored on four of seven possessions.
Caleb Williams played with poise and decisiveness, throwing for 231 yards, posting a 95.0 passer rating and rushing for a career-high 70 yards.
On Wednesday, the rookie quarterback lauded Brown for his attention to detail last week in practice and for relaying play calls to him quickly during the game.
"I wouldn't say they simplified [the offense]," Williams said. "We didn't reinvent the wheel for those three or four days that Thomas became the offensive coordinator and play caller. I think the decisiveness, all of that came from our meetings and how we're going to do things. It came from being able to get play calls in faster and being able to get up there and not feel like you're rushed or not feel like you need to hurry up and get the ball snapped.
"All of these small things—details of routes, details of the blocking, details of the path of running backs and how we're going to do things—I think that led into all of what happened last week. We didn't come out with the win, but how we played efficiently and physically, that leads into it."
Getting the play calls in quickly benefitted the entire offense.
"It gives us time to line up," said receiver Rome Odunze. "As wide receivers, we're kind of looking at the defense as well and reading those things along with Caleb. So understanding what kind of coverage look we're getting and what technique the DBs are playing on us allows us to kind of build a plan for that snap. Same thing with Caleb. He just has to do it at a higher level. So it helps us all."
Coach Matt Eberflus revealed Wednesday that Bears quarterbacks and receivers spent extra time working together after practices last week.
"Those little routes, those little catches that we get after practice turn into those plays," Odunze said. "That's football and that's life. Doing the little things right will eventually show on a bigger stage."
Most of Williams' nine rushing attempts came on scrambles, but that wasn't necessarily part of the game plan.
"Thomas didn't encourage me to run more," Williams said. "He just encouraged me to get the ball to my guys and be efficient in those ways, do that well, and then if they want to play a certain defense or play me a certain way and leave lanes open, I do have legs and I can run. Take advantage of that to help my team win and move on from there.
"That's the only goal when I walk into a game is find ways to be able to keep us on the field, find ways to be efficient, find ways to help this offense score and help this team win. If I have to run a little more, if I have to drop back and throw the ball, if I have to hand the ball off 40 times, it is what it is."
Williams put the Bears in position to attempt a potential game-winning field goal as time expired with three straight clutch completions. The first two were caught by fellow rookie Odunze, a 16-yarder on third-and-19 and a 21-yarder on a back shoulder fade along the right sideline on fourth-and-3.
Asked about the crucial fourth-down conversion, Williams said: "I think being synced up is the most important part. I know it's man across the board. Rome was, I felt, the best matchup at the time. Rome has made plays for me over and over again. Right in that moment, the dude was pressed on him. Rome won fast, [put] his hand up, saw that. At that point, the DB is in trying-to-catch-up mode. It's either going to be a completion or it's going to be a DPI. Make sure to give Rome a chance at the ball. He went out there and made a great play."
Williams and Odunze began working out together even before they were drafted by the Bears and have continued to strengthen their bond on and off the field. Their rapport was evident late in last Sunday's game.
"It's just all of the above, from hanging out to playing video games with each other to communicating and coming in at the same time and learning all this together, helping each other throughout this time," Williams said. "Being able to have all these little moments, when those big moments happen, you kind of have an idea, trust and belief that you're all on the same page. Right then and there, it showed up."
