Chicago Bears: How Ben Johnson & Caleb Williams Exploited Bills Defense

First Play: Play-Action Bootleg

• 🏈 Ben Johnson's opening play design utilized 12 personnel with motion to shift the formation, creating a balanced look.
• 🚀 A simple play-action bootleg to the right was executed, faking a handoff and rolling out.
• 🎯 Colston Lovin crossed the formation into the flat for an easy pitch and catch, gaining eight yards.
• 💡 This play was designed as a "layup" to settle in rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and get the offense moving.

Second Play: Seam Route to Cole Kmet

• 🔍 Pre-snap reads by Caleb Williams identified potential man coverage, but safeties drifting indicated a possible middle-field open look.
• 🧠 The slot corner's eyes in the backfield and a safety on the hash were key indicators of the defense's true coverage.
• 🎯 Cole Kmet ran a seam route, exploiting the open middle of the field against a linebacker.
• ⚡ Williams delivered a precise, low-arc throw to Kmet for a significant gain, showcasing chemistry and timing.

Third Down to DJ Moore

• 🎯 On third and five, the defense showed a Cover 2 shell with defenders switching underneath.
• 🧠 Despite defensive shifts, DJ Moore was isolated in a one-on-one matchup on a short stop route.
• ⏱️ Williams executed a quick drop and an immediate throw to Moore, highlighting efficient ball distribution.
• ✅ This play demonstrated simple, effective football that should be applauded.

Deep Over to Colston Lovin

• 🔄 The Bills rotated from a middle-field open look to a Cover 3 post-snap.
• 🧩 A receiver ran a clear-out route to push safeties back, allowing Colston Lovin to sit in the zone.
• 📈 Williams read the linebackers, throwing to Lovin in the space created behind them.
• 💨 The pass was delivered high to clear a defensive lineman's hand, resulting in a catch and yards after the catch.

Touchdown to Darnell Mooney (D.J. Moore)

• 🎯 The defense showed a single-high safety and pressed man coverage pre-snap, indicating a favorable matchup.
• 🤝 A switch release by Darnell Mooney (referred to as D.J. Moore in the transcript for this play) and Odell Beckham Jr. (referred to as Olame Zakias in the transcript for this play) created separation.
• 🚀 Mooney ran a route that cleared out his defender, allowing him to gain significant separation.
• 🎯 Williams anticipated the throw, delivering it into a clean pocket to Mooney, who then broke a tackle for a touchdown.
• ✅ The play design, execution, clean pocket, and player's ability to make a play were all crucial for the score.