Caleb Williams reveals personal goals ahead of Week 18 game vs. Lions

The Chicago Bears have at least something to play for as a team in Week 18’s game against the Detroit Lions. But it’s Caleb Williams who might have the most to gain depending on how Sunday shakes out.

A Bears’ win means Chicago will clinch the No. 2 seed and host the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round at Soldier Field in the first weekend of the 2025 NFL playoffs. It would make for an epic showdown for the league’s oldest rivalry.

A Bears’ loss coupled with a Philadelphia Eagles’ win would drop Chicago to the No. 3 seed and swap their opponent from the Packers to either the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams. Again, at Soldier Field.

Depending on how you view those three teams, that’s how much you’ll care about whether the Bears win on Sunday.

Caleb Williams’ record chase is must-watch TV for Chicago Bears fans

What may end up being more important for long-suffering Bears fans is how many passing yards Caleb Williams throws for against the Lions.

Williams enters Week 18 just 270 yards shy of 4,000 passing yards. No Chicago Bears quarterback has ever joined the 4K club.

For the Bears’ record books, Williams needs just 109 passing yards to break Erik Kramer’s 30-year single-season passing record of 3,838 yards.

And make no mistake, Caleb Williams wants to make history. But he’s putting team before self as the 2025 regular season comes to an end.

“For me, it would be cool just in the sense there’s never been one here,” Williams said of reaching 4,000 passing yards. “I was brought here for those types of things and those types of moments, the things that haven’t been done here, to try and be able to accomplish. But the self-goals and all of that always get swept under when you go for team goals, and that’s winning ballgames. That’s first and foremost on my mind. That’s first and foremost for this team because the most important thing is winning ballgames and heading into the playoffs with some momentum and some good energy.”

Still, making history would be fantastic. A Bears 4,000-yard passer would be the icing on top of a ridiculously fun season.

“That’s a goal, is to be the top of (the record books),” Williams said this week. “I want to be the top quarterback for not only Chicago but in the league. That starts with consistency, that starts with me preparing the right way. That’s important to me because I don’t get up to be mediocre.”

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