Vikings Coach Gets Honest About Bears QB Caleb Williams
The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for a Week 11 matchup with a Chicago Bears team that looks far different from their first meeting of the season. Since that Week 1 clash, the two NFC North teams have gone in very different directions.
The Vikings sit at 4-5, stumbling after a Week 10 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens that followed their Week 9 victory over the Detroit Lions. That defeat kept them below .500 and slowed any momentum they had built.
On the other hand, the Bears have climbed to 6-3, winning six of their last seven games, with their only loss coming to the Ravens on October 26. Caleb Williams’ late-game poise has fueled several close wins this season, putting Chicago firmly in playoff contention.
While speaking to reporters on November 12, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell shared what’s different about Williams now than when they faced the young quarterback in Week 1.
“We felt it in Week 1,” O’Connell told reporters on November 12. “Some of the throws he can make are at the highest level, whether it’s a play-action pass, on the move, or in the keeper game, with different ways of attacking downfield. When he breaks containment, he can make every throw.
“He’s made some throws that haven’t ended up in completions, but you watch him on tape because of the difficulty of the throws he can make in and out of the pocket. As he accumulates more snaps and builds off what he did last year, that experience is showing up in a consistency that’s helping them win.”
Minnesota Know What to Expect from Caleb Williams
The Vikings’ coach, who will be in charge of containing Williams, will be defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Ahead of the Week 11 matchup, reporters asked Flores about Williams’ late-game performances for Chicago.
“He’s proven that in those moments he’s come up big multiple times,“ Flores told reporters on November 11. “It looks like he thrives in those situations, which for a young quarterback is certainly an area you want to see.
“For us, we know that when it comes down to those moments—which most NFL games do—we’ve got to be at our best because he’s going to be at his best, and so are they. It’s a division game, so that’s probably what it’s going to be: A 60-minute battle. We’ve got to prepare the right way. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
Bears QB Caleb Williams Is Ready for the Vikings Challenge
Williams knows that whatever the Vikings throw at him, he will need to be ready. Despite the rivalry between the Bears and Vikings, the young quarterback didn’t hesitate to praise Flores.
“I would say he’s probably one of the more challenging coaches that I’ve had to go against so far in my career,“ Williams said on November 12 when talking to reporters about Flores. “Obviously, I haven’t played every single team yet and every single defensive coordinator, but up to this point, he’s been that.
“It’s all 70-plus plays that you have or so. It’s a full mental test. Every single play, he challenges you to reach your full mental capacity. This is always a fun game, going against Flo and his defense and the players he has on that side of the ball. Like I said, it’s always fun going up against a defensive coordinator and a team like this.”
Cleveland Browns Legend Bernie Kosar Has Medical Procedure Delayed
Bernie Kosar has always been a fighter. You don’t spend nine seasons dodging defensive linemen, racking up nearly 22,000 passing yards and suffering an estimated 100 concussions without a surplus of grit. He’s the guy who stared down John Elway’s Broncos in three AFC Championships. But the battle Kosar faces now makes a blitzing linebacker look like a walk in the park.
The beloved former quarterback is currently in a hospital bed, awaiting a life-saving liver transplant while dealing with a cascade of terrifying health setbacks. It’s a gut-wrenching turn for a guy who once owned the city of Cleveland.
The Unforgiving Reality For Bernie Kosar
Just when things seemed to be looking up, Kosar was hit with a brutal one-two punch. He was scheduled for a liver transplant, the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, only to have it cruelly delayed. The donor organ, his ticket to a new lease on life, was found to be infected. It is the kind of plot twist you’d find unbelievable in a movie, but it’s Kosar’s grim reality.
As if that wasn’t enough, he then experienced internal bleeding, forcing doctors to perform “two aggressive procedures” to get it under control. From his hospital room, Kosar posted a video, asking for “love, support, and actual prayers.” Ever the competitor, he even managed a little gallows humor, pointing out his “Steelers black and gold regulation university hospital attire.” Even in his darkest moments, the old quarterback’s wit remains as sharp as his passes once were.
The Long Road To This Moment
This health crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. Back in July, the 61-year-old revealed he was grappling with both cirrhosis of the liver and an early-stage Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. The physical toll of his playing days, a career that also included stints with the Cowboys and Dolphins, has been immense. Kosar has spoken about the 80 broken bones and countless concussions he endured, a stark reminder of the price paid for NFL glory.
He recalled his body finally “giving out” during a Browns game in December 2023. True to his tough-as-nails reputation, he put off seeing doctors until the new year, a decision that led to a massive blood transfusion. It’s been a long and grueling journey since, with constant procedures and the emotional weight of being on a transplant list for over a year.
For now, the Dawg Pound and the entire NFL world hold their breath, sending their prayers and support to a legend facing his ultimate opponent. This isn’t a game against the Broncos; it’s a fight for his life. And if there’s one thing we know about Bernie Kosar, it’s that he never, ever goes down without a fight.
