Williams, Bears offer no apologies for tight wins, see room to improve with Eagles up next

CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears weren’t offering any apologies.

They pulled out a win, even if it was yet another tight one, and that's what mattered most. They know they have room to improve, too.

“We’re an 8-3 team in the National Football League,” Williams said. “We feel good where we’re at, but we do got to get better. I would say, yeah, we don’t feel like we’re the same old Bears. We pull through for each other when it matters most.”

The Bears hung on to beat Pittsburgh 31-28 on Sunday with Chicago's old nemesis Aaron Rodgers sidelined by a broken left wrist, after rallying in the final two minutes the previous three weeks. With their eighth win in nine games, they maintained a slim lead in the NFC North over Green Bay (7-3-1) and Detroit (7-4).

The Bears will try to keep the momentum going when they visit defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia on Friday.

“As a coaching staff, we always try to have the right messaging for whatever that week entails and the path to victory, team building, things of that nature,” coach Ben Johnson said Monday. “I think it’s come along really well, but it’s really those veterans that I just can’t sing their praises enough. They lead the charge there in terms of how that locker room responds each and every week.”

Takeaways. The Bears had two more takeaways, boosting their league-leading total to 24, and converted both into touchdowns on Sunday.

Cornerback Nahshon Wright picked off Mason Rudolph's first pass when he made a leaping grab along the sideline on a deep ball intended for DK Metcalf. That led to a 5-yard touchdown catch for DJ Moore. It also vaulted Wright into a tie with teammate Kevin Byard for the league lead in interceptions with five.

Montez Sweat strip-sacked Rudolph with the Bears leading by three in the third quarter. That led to Kyle Monangai scoring from 2 in the opening minute of the fourth to make it 31-21.

Williams’ accuracy. Though he settled down after a shaky start and threw for three touchdowns, Williams still struggles with accuracy.

Coming off a shaky outing at Minnesota, he consistently overthrew receivers in the early going Sunday before settling down in the second half and finished 19 of 35 for 239 yards. He also was strip-sacked by T.J. Watt in the end zone early in the second quarter when he could have thrown the ball away, and the Steelers’ Nick Herbig recovered the fumble for a touchdown.

Williams ranks 27th among qualifying leaders in completion percentage at 59.2 and is one of just three below 60%, along with Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Tennessee’s Cam Ward.

Sweat. After a slow start, the veteran defensive end is on pace for his second double-digit sack season. Sweat had two more sacks against Pittsburgh, giving him 7 1/2 this season. All but one have come in the past six games. Sweat had a combined 12 1/2 sacks for Washington and Chicago in 2023.

“I think I am just taking advantage of my opportunities," Sweat said. "Early in the season I felt like I was playing good ball, but the stats are starting to come through for me.”

LT Theo Benedet. Benedet missed the game because of a quad injury after starting the previous seven. Second-round draft pick Ozzy Trapilo started in his place, and it's not hard to envision the Bears sticking with the Boston College product after a strong showing.

Trapilo more than held his own against a pass rush featuring Watt and Herbig. Trapilo began training camp competing for the left tackle job and was quickly moved to the right side. Braxton Jones opened the season as the starting left tackle before getting benched in Week 4 for Benedet and currently is on injured reserve.

Johnson had no update on LB Ruben Hyppolite (shoulder), CB Tyrique Stevenson (hip) and DL Dominique Robinson (concussion protocol), who all exited Sunday's game.

5 — Six of the past eight games have been decided by five points or fewer, and the Bears have won each of those six games.

The Bears go for their fifth straight win when they visit Philadelphia on Friday. The NFC East-leading Eagles blew a 21-point lead against Dallas and lost 24-21 to the Cowboys when Brandon Aubrey kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright, left, breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to pass the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat meets with reporters following an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh )

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, forcing a fumble that the Steelers Nick Herbig recovered in the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 12, 2026--

Global Critical Resources Corporation (GCR) today announced the appointment of Matthieu Bos as a Member of its Advisory Board. Mr. Bos is a seasoned executive with more than fifteen years of experience in the mining and banking industries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112354990/en/

Mr. Bos is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Energy Materials Plc (TSX: FLCN) (Falcon), an anode material development company. Backed by La Mancha Fund, Falcon is building a battery material plant in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Prior to joining Falcon, Mr. Bos served as Executive Vice President Africa of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) (Ivanhoe), a leading Canadian diversified mining company which has developed the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His responsibilities included corporate development, investor relations, concentrate marketing, and government relations. Mr. Bos also helped Ivanhoe secure more than $3 billion in financing and investment. Mr. Bos began his career in the metals and mining group of BMO Capital Markets.

Mr. Bos also has an impressive track record of advising companies in the natural resources sector. He will continue to serve on the board of Hercules Metals (TSX:BIG), an Idaho-focused copper exploration company, and SRQ Exploration (TSX:SRQ), a Quebec-focused nickel exploration company. Mr. Bos was previously Non-Executive Director at Elemental Altus Royalties, a precious metals royalty company which attracted the first investment in the mining sector from the Tether stablecoin, and Shanta Gold, an East African gold producer.

Mr. Bos holds a Master of Science degree in Metallurgy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering, both from the Delft University of Technology. He speaks Dutch, English, and French.

“We are excited to welcome Matthieu to our team. His considerable experience and track record of success in the mining industry across Africa and the world will help bring GCR to its next chapter of growth,” said GCR’s Executive Chairman Cevdet Caner.

GCR Chief Executive Officer Richard Bunning said, “Matthieu’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to building a world-class advisory team with deep technical, operational, and geopolitical expertise. His leadership and unique perspective will accelerate the execution of our strategic vision.”

Mr. Bos stated, “I am honored to join GCR’s Advisory Board at such a pivotal time for the company. I look forward to working with Cevdet, Richard, and rest of GCR’s first-class team as they create a strong foundation for long-term success in this critical industry.”

Global Critical Resources Corporation (GCR) is a U.S.-registered producer of the critical metals that power modern life with assets in Africa and South America. GCR’s Executive Chairman, Austrian entrepreneur Cevdet Caner, has over two decades experience investing in the mining and property sectors and is the founder of several multi-billion-dollar real estate and natural resource companies.

Matthieu Bos, Advisory Board Member, Global Critical Resources Corporation