Ben Johnson's dynasty plan hinges on Caleb Williams surviving Bears' savage early schedule

But the schedule offers no soft landing. September throws Williams into back-to-back-to-back matchups with the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles, three defenses built to disrupt rhythm passers.

October and November bring the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in rapid succession. Seven of the first nine opponents arrive with elite defensive personnel, meaning Williams cannot wait for halftime adjustments or rely on Chicago's defense to bail him out the way it often did during last year's wins over Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Green Bay.

Why a fast start matters more than ever for Williams and the Bears

The tactical reality nobody wants to say out loud: Williams was a passenger in several of last year's biggest wins. Reviewing the 2025 tape against the Vikings, Eagles, and Packers shows a quarterback who needed turnovers from his defense and steady production from the run game to stay competitive.

He did not look comfortable until the second half of the second Vikings meeting, and his rhythm against Green Bay did not arrive until the final two matchups with that team. That timeline does not work in 2026.

If Chicago wants the top seed in the NFC, Williams needs to dictate games from the first quarter onward against opponents who specialize in shutting down young quarterbacks. There is no easing-in period.

Bagent, after spending the offseason around Williams, sees the leap coming.

"I see him being a team leader in the building. I see him working hard and really trying to do things the right way," he told Kaplan, adding, "I think the sky's the limit for what our offense can be."

The framework supports optimism. Chicago came one completed pass from advancing past the Divisional Round. Williams has doubled down on chasing multiple Super Bowls. Whether the Iceman, owner of the most fourth-quarter comebacks by a quarterback under 25 in NFL history, can deliver Chicago's first title since 1986 starts with surviving September.

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