With Thomas Brown calling plays for the second straight game, the Bears offense continued to show growth Sunday against the Vikings.
Facing a stifling defense known for its frequent and varied blitzes, the Bears compiled 398 total yards and scored three touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime loss.
In Brown's first game in his new role a week earlier versus the Packers, the offense generated 391 yards and 23 first downs, converted a season-high 56.2% of its third-down plays (9 of 16) and scored on four of its first five possessions.
Asked about the difference Brown has made, receiver DJ Moore said: "The plays that we got stacked on top of each other have been better. The flow of the game has been better. I know it's a collaboration that's going on between him and all our offensive coaches, so that's been good."
Moore added that Brown excels as a speaker and motivator, saying: "When he's up in front of the offense, we want to go out there and play our best football for him. He's going to call the game and we've just got to go out there and execute."
Brown was in his first season as Bears passing game coordinator when he was elevated to play caller.
"He's got a great presence with the guys," said coach Matt Eberflus. "He's clear in his communication, and he works really well with the rest of the offensive staff."
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has excelled with Brown calling plays. Against the Vikings, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards with two touchdowns, no turnovers and a 103.1 passer rating.
Asked what impressed him most about Williams' performance, Eberflus said: "[It] was a big challenge in terms of front variation, coverage variation, the pressure looks and then dropping out. Pressure looks and then pressuring. Being able to handle that, get the ball out in a timely manner, to be able to check to the protections at times when he needed to, which is really good too.
"And then being able to strike the ball down the field because that's where the open spaces were, based on what they were presenting to us during the season and then [Sunday] too. Really good job with the tight-window throws and getting the ball in space. Decision making was really good."
One of Williams' best throws Sunday was a 27-yard dart to Moore down the seam to the Vikings' 30 in the final seconds of regulation. The play set up Cairo Santos' 48-yard field goal as time expired, tying the score 27-27 and forcing overtime.
"We practiced it a few times," Moore said. "I never saw the ball come my way during that play in practice, but when it did in the game, I was just like, 'I've just got to make a play on it.' There was nobody around in the middle of the field. Caleb did a good job of getting it over two defenders that were jumping. I just had to catch it, get down for us to be able to have that field goal."
About the details
The Bears staged a miraculous comeback Sunday, scoring 11 points in the final :22 of regulation to force overtime. But the Vikings rebounded to win the game on Parker Romo's 29-yard field goal with 2:10 remaining in the extra session.
"After watching the tape, very pleased with the effort," Eberflus said. "Didn't get it done at the end, but we're putting ourselves in a position to win the game at the very end two weeks in a row. That's grit, determination, working together to be able to get that done. And now we've just got to finish. To me, that's about the details at every position. It's about the details in coaching. We have to do a better job to get that done, to finish the way we need to. The fight's there, the determination's there."
Being in position
A pivotal play in Sunday's loss came in overtime when the Vikings sustained their game-winning drive with a 13-yard pass from Sam Darnold to Jordan Addison on third-and-13 from their own 21.
"We called a defense that we like on that particular situation," Eberflus said. "With that we've just got to get down a little bit together on that in terms of where our alignments are. We've got to affect them more with the rush on that one too. It's about being in position, making good plays. It was one of our main calls that we always call."
It's in the technique
Santos made 2 of 3 field-goal attempts Sunday. His miss came on a 48-yard try that was blocked by Vikings defensive lineman Jerry Tillery in the second quarter.
"I just think it's technique," Eberflus said of the blocking up front. "It's getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. We just have to do a better job there with that."
