Caleb Williams saw Rome Odunze’s mistake. He also knew he would need his receiver again. After Odunze dropped the ball and was flagged for offensive pass interference in the end zone during Thursday’s game against New England, Williams offered a simple reassurance.
“I’ll come back to you.”
He couldn’t know exactly when that opportunity would arrive. But with the Bears protecting a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Williams kept his word. Odunze responded with the catches Chicago needed to finish a 30-24 victory.
Williams never lost confidence in Odunze
The end-zone play came during a frustrating second-quarter sequence.
Chicago had reached the Patriots’ 8-yard line before its trick-play handoff to Joe Thuney drew a penalty. On the next snap, the Bears tried to find the end zone through the air, but Odunze couldn’t hold on and was called for pass interference.
New England declined the penalty, and Chicago settled for a field goal. For Odunze, the missed opportunity lingered. For Williams, it didn’t change his willingness to throw him the ball.
That trust became especially important on Chicago’s final scoring possession.
With roughly five minutes remaining, the Bears faced third-and-9 from their own 10-yard line. Their lead was only 27-21, and a punt would give Drake Maye another opportunity to put New England ahead. Williams stayed in the pocket and fired toward Odunze between defenders.
“Be decisive, let it rip,” Williams said of his thinking. “Decisiveness wins, so I was decisive about the throw, decisive about throwing it to Rome — believing in him, trusting in him.”
Odunze reached back across his body, secured the pass and gained 21 yards. Chicago had breathing room.
The catch was harder than Odunze made it sound
Kalif Raymond had a clear appreciation for what his teammate had done.
The veteran receiver described a ball traveling through multiple levels of defenders, with former Bears safety Kevin Byard III nearly getting a hand on it. Odunze had to track the throw and adjust behind his body while maintaining his concentration.
“It was just about everything,” Raymond said. “It was an amazing play.”
Odunze’s explanation was considerably simpler.
“I mean, people were saying the catch was crazy,” he commented. “I mean, it just felt like I needed to make a catch. And I made the catch.”
The reception also gave him the response he had wanted after his earlier mistake.
“That was kind of me coming back to life there,” Odunze said. “I missed a play earlier in the game, so my mindset is just shake back, and that’s exactly what I did.”
He got up celebrating, releasing the frustration and energy that had built throughout the night.
Rome helped finish what Burden started
Odunze’s final numbers — four catches for 69 yards — only begin to explain his influence. Three of those receptions came in the fourth quarter. Each gained 21 yards.
Two snaps after the difficult third-down catch, Williams found him again on second-and-12, moving Chicago to midfield. The possession eventually ended with Cairo Santos’ career-long 58-yard field goal, extending the lead to nine points with 1:34 remaining.
Odunze still had one more responsibility. After New England kicked a field goal to pull within 30-24, the Bears put him on the field for the onside attempt. He recovered it, ending the Patriots’ comeback hopes.
In the locker room, Ben Johnson recognized the different ways his receivers had shaped the game. Luther Burden III had supplied the early fireworks, collecting all 130 of his receiving yards before halftime.
Then Johnson turned to the player who delivered late.
“Let me tell you who finished it now … Rome Odunze!”
Odunze received a game ball.
The promise became a decisive part of the win
Williams’ reassurance mattered because the next opportunity wasn’t an easy completion in a comfortable situation.
It came with Chicago backed up, New England within one score and the game still available to either team. Williams trusted Odunze with a demanding throw. Odunze justified that confidence.
“I feel like I was going to be called on at some point,” Odunze said. “And that’s exactly what that was when I was called on to make a play like that.”
Williams had told him he would return. When Chicago needed both of them, he did.
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