CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears had just wiped out the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Caleb Williams wasted no time turning his attention toward the next game.
Chicago and Green Bay will meet for the second time in three weeks when the Packers visit Soldier Field on Saturday night. And Williams is ready for the rematch.
''I'm definitely excited,'' he said after beating Cleveland. "I'm excited for the moment. They're coming here, and it's another game for us. But I'm excited.''
The NFC North-leading Bears (10-4) won five straight games and nine of 10 before losing 28-21 at Lambeau Field two weeks ago, when Williams underthrew Cole Kmet on an interception in the end zone in the closing minute. Chicago fell behind the Packers in the division and dropped from first to seventh in the conference.
The Bears bounced back in a big way against the struggling Browns, winning 31-3 in one of the coldest games ever at Soldier Field. With the Packers (9-4-1) losing at Denver, Chicago regained the division lead.
The schedule is about to take another tough turn, with Green Bay visiting and a trip to San Francisco before Chicago hosts Detroit in the finale. The Bears at least won't have to deal with Micah Parsons after the Packers' superstar pass rusher tore his left ACL in the third quarter at Denver.
Even so, a win over Green Bay is hardly a sure thing for Chicago. The Packers have dominated the NFL's longest-running rivalry the past few decades. And if Williams wants some payback for the most recent meeting, that's fine with coach Ben Johnson.
''I'm glad Caleb didn't like how the last one ended,'' he said Monday. "None of us should. No one likes to lose. And so the only way you can shake that feeling is to look to stack more victories. And so that's our intent.''