Caleb Williams Takes Center Stage in NFC MVP Hunt

A Statement Win in Seattle

The Chicago Bears pulled off a 34-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. The victory followed a Week 7 win over New England, giving Chicago back to back wins over last year's Super Bowl finalists. It is the first time in franchise history the team has pulled off that kind of sequence.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III capped an opening drive of 8 minutes and 32 seconds with a 1-yard touchdown catch. After the score, Burden told Caleb Williams that he did not care about facing Seattle's top defense. Williams shouted right back, agreeing with his teammate.

Chicago is now 6-2 on the season. They have won three straight games since Williams returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out from Week 3 through Week 5. The Bears have not trailed once in those three games, scoring at least 30 points in each victory.

Decisiveness Over Superhero Plays

Williams has entered the MVP race with +500 odds, behind only Josh Allen at +165, Brock Purdy at +450, and Joe Burrow at +475. His growth comes down to a slogan he shared with USC coach Lincoln Riley, which is that decisiveness wins.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent noted that Williams is relying less on superhero plays and taking what defenses give him. He is hitting checkdowns and keeping drives moving. Chicago has put together 21 drives of 10 or more plays this season, and 15 of those ended in points.

That patient approach has helped players like tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland had 13 catches for 110 yards through the first five games. Since Williams returned in Week 6, Loveland has recorded 20 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Efficiency by the Numbers

Williams threw for 247 yards against Seattle, becoming the first quarterback to top 200 passing yards against their defense in 2026. He ranks second in the league with a 70.9% completion percentage and fifth in yards per attempt at 8.0.

When kept clean in the pocket, Williams has been extremely accurate. He has completed 86% of his passes without pressure this season, going 96 for 112 with zero interceptions. Over his last three games, he is 63 for 70 when not facing pressure.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor praised how quickly Williams gets through his reads. By delivering the ball on time or taking short throws, Williams keeps the offense on schedule and avoids negative plays.

What it means for the next game

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears (NFL, Mon, 09 Nov): Chicago Bears win 70%, Tampa Bay Buccaneers win 30%; projected score Chicago Bears 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20. Our safest pick: Bears to win.