A recent touchdown pass from Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to wide receiver DJ Moore has drawn significant attention, sparking comparisons to one of the most iconic plays in NFL history: Joe Montana’s “The Catch.” The side-by-side video, showcasing both plays, certainly grabbed Williams’ notice.
“It popped up this morning,” Williams shared Tuesday at Halas Hall. “We obviously had a little bit later start this morning, so I was able to lay in my bed for another 30 minutes or so. It popped up on social media when I was looking at it. It was a cool comparison. Obviously, a little bit different situation and things like that. But a cool comparison video.”
While the visual comparison is striking, the context and execution of Williams’ pass presented unique challenges that, in some ways, made it more difficult than Montana’s legendary throw.
The Nuances of “The Catch” vs. Williams’ Touchdown
Montana’s pass in the 1984 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys was far more than just a touchdown in a regular-season game. It symbolized the dawn of a dynasty for the San Francisco 49ers and marked a significant shift in NFL power. “The Catch” occurred in the back of the end zone against a strong opponent with immense stakes.
In contrast, Williams’ touchdown to Moore, while visually impressive, can be analyzed for its distinct difficulties:
Distance and Degree of Difficulty:
- Williams’ touchdown pass traveled 22 yards in the air, but the throw originated from the Bears’ 28-yard line, effectively making it a much longer throw from his initial position compared to Montana’s.
- Montana’s famed pass was a 6-yard touchdown, thrown from approximately the 14-yard line.
Coverage and Receiver’s Effort:
- DJ Moore had to make a spectacular, contested catch, snagging the ball precisely between the outstretched arms of two converging defenders. The window for the pass was incredibly small.
- Dwight Clark, while making a remarkable athletic play, had beaten his defender and was in a more open space when he caught Montana’s pass. There wasn’t the same “forest of arms” surrounding the point of reception.
It’s important to acknowledge that while many NFL throws each year might technically surpass Montana’s in difficulty of execution, none carried the historical weight and pressure of “The Catch.” The stakes for Montana’s throw were a trip to Super Bowl XVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, and, of course, a place in NFL lore.
Caleb Williams’ Confidence and Ball Security
Williams himself expressed a high degree of confidence in his decision-making when releasing the ball.
“When I let the ball go, I’m pretty sure there’s not going to be a bad play,” Williams stated. “If anything, the bad play is an incompletion. I think I’ve proven that over my time so far being here and playing football in college. Like I said, when I let it go, I think it’s a good ball. At the least it’s going to be incomplete.”
This self-assuredness was evident on the field. Bears coach Matt Eberflus, when discussing the play, described his sideline reaction as a mix of apprehension and elation.
“There’s not a whole lot to say on that,” Eberflus commented. “On the sideline, I was probably vocal on the headset saying, ‘No, no, no. Yeah!’ But those are the good ones. I think that’s what the really good quarterbacks do. He was able to find his guy and gave him a good ball. I really feel like it was us or nobody. It was DJ’s ball to go get. Had we not been able to connect, I think it would have been incomplete. I think Caleb was smart with it. I think that’s what he does a great job of. Really, it’s been for a year and a half now, since he’s been in the NFL, he does a great job making sure that he doesn’t turn that ball over.”
Williams’ commitment to protecting the football is a significant aspect of his game. In the same game where he made the highlight-reel throw, he also surpassed 1,000 NFL passes. Remarkably, he has only thrown 12 career interceptions, which is the fewest for any quarterback with that many attempts in NFL history.
This dedication to ball security is a point of pride for Williams and a testament to his football IQ.
“I haven’t had to say a whole lot,” Eberflus added, referring to coaching Williams on turnovers. “He’s done that throughout training camp and up to this point in the season. I just think that’s who he is. He understands where he feels like he can fit a ball into. He has a unique skillset, just in terms of how hard he can throw that football. Some windows that may not seem open to the rest of us, they are still open to him because he’s able to get that ball in there. He has a good feel for that. He’s been playing this sport for a long time. It’s what the Good Lord has called him to do. He’s kind of grown up that way.”
If Williams can continue to execute plays with such high stakes and remarkable precision throughout an entire season, and perhaps even lead the Bears to sustained success akin to Montana’s era, then this impressive touchdown pass will be remembered as more than just an amusing video comparison. It could be a sign of something truly special unfolding for the Chicago Bears.
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