Be it motivational or crucial, the Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s message for quarterback Caleb Williams is doing wonders in the field. During the Bears’ game against the Washington Commanders, the coach shared another message.

After the 25-24 win, coach Johnson revealed the advice that he gave to the QB and the offensive line before the game. “I felt good about how our guys up front were blocking,” the coach recalled during the presser after the 25-24 win over the Commanders.

“I thought that was the cleanest they’ve played as a whole up front, tight ends included. Our receivers are blocking really well. Going to that last drive, I was thinking, this is going to be it for us. And so with that being said, I want to make sure that they didn’t have a rebuttal drive either. So told Caleb on the headset, tell the big guys up front that we’re going to ride the run game on into the victory. So they came through for us.”

And they did come through. The Bears’ ground game clicked for 145 yards on 27 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt, a level of production the team had been aiming for. Much of the credit goes to Darnell Wright and Theo Benedet, who excelled on the edges, creating clean blocks and opening running lanes. Notably, Benedet delivered this performance in his first career start at left tackle.

D’Andre Swift provided the spark the Bears’ offense had been searching for on Monday. He rushed for a season-high 108 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, and added two receptions for 67 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that brought the game within two points.

Swift’s impact extended beyond that highlight. He powered between the tackles, shed defenders, and displayed his usual shiftiness, proving integral to the Bears’ offensive success. On the game’s final drive, he picked up 34 crucial yards, including gains of 15 and 10 yards, setting up Jake Moody for the game-winning field goal.

We know this isn’t even the first time. The last time was when the Bears faced the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. During a very crucial moment, when the previous Bears had proven to fail each time, Williams could make the go-ahead touchdown against the Raiders, with little more than a minute left on the clock.

Later, Johnson revealed that he said, “This is what you’re built for,” to the QB to motivate him. These messages have been working for the Bears’ QB. Now, this wasn’t the only highlight from the QB and the coach’s communication in the game.

It was clearly a roller coaster ride for the team, with several ups and downs and heated moments. One such came during the fourth quarter when a big Chicago first down was nullified due to an offensive offside penalty.

As the referee announced the call, the camera panned towards the coach, who appeared to be saying, “shut the f— up,” seemingly to the QB. Although it’s unclear whether he really made this comment or if it was directed at Williams or the officials.

Fortunately, both the coach and the team had better things to say, and that too, louder after the game as he clinched the win.

Jake Moody made a game-clinching win

After the bye week and a much-needed rest, the Bears came back recharged. However, despite a double-digit lead over the Commanders during the game, sloppy play and penalties let that lead slip away. Much to their relief, kicker Jake Moody came through in the clutch, nailing a 38-yard game-winner to save the day when the clock was winding down to 0.

“It feels amazing, obviously,” Moody said after the game. “Hitting a game-winner is always a good time. Doing it for a new team in my first game, it’s huge. Shoutout to the O-line. Shoutout to [long snapper] Scott [Daly] and [holder] Tory [Taylor]. They’ve been making my job real easy out here, and the transition has been really smooth. So glad to be a part of a team like this, and we’re going to keep moving forward.”

It was a heartfelt moment for Moody, who has finally found a home with the Bears after being cut by San Francisco. The challenge? He had yet to meet most of his new teammates. Just two days earlier, he didn’t even know he would be playing. On Monday, he was suddenly thrust into a Primetime slot, filling in for Cairo Santos in rainy conditions, far from an ideal setting to resurrect a kicking career. Yet, Moody seized the opportunity and made it his own. Moody went 4-for-5 on field goals on Monday, including a game-winning 38-yard kick.

Even Williams admitted he didn’t know Moody when he joined the practice squad back on September 12, 2025. It was Moody’s game that did the talking back then and even now. Williams knew him better after he saw Moody’s 65-yarder in practice.

The same goes for everyone now. As for Coach Johnson, he had been watching him during the practice. “I wasn’t surprised at all,” the coach said. “We’ve seen him in practice now for a number of weeks, that’s one. And then we also know what he’s capable of. He’s made big kicks in big games over the course of his career so far, so none of it was surprising. I think that’s who he is, and I think that change of scenery was really good for him.”

With that emotional win in their pocket, the Bears are hoping to ride this momentum into the next game.