>> It might not be spring yet, but the Chicago Bears are coming out of an extended hibernation Bears.

Fans have long dreamed of days like these seeing their team at not only the top of their division after 12 games, but also the top team in the NFC.

But their heading into their biggest game yet against their arch enemy, Green Bay Packers, who they will face Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Joining us now with more on the big game is the big cat James Williams, former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears.

Welcome back.

Thank you very OK?

So ahead of the season, you joined us and we asked you how far you thought the team would go.

You said 8 to 9 winds would be a good season fast forward to today.

And they are says right here says 9 when it was James, have they exceeded your expectations?

Most definitely.

>> Most of They all are.

They have been able to get over hurdles that I did not think they were going to be able to get over this early in the season.

For this early in coach.

Johnson's career.

There are ability to go and the bye week after 2 losses and be able to fine tune some things and turn something around was very impressive and it gives a lot of confidence to the players as far as what the coaching staff is doing on the Bayview daily basis.

>> What do you make of Caleb Williams progression this year?

it's been stories ways to go.

There are things that he's going to have that he has to work on.

But when you have the ability to win these games and still be able to make corrections, I that's a good thing because you're you're progressing.

You know, one of the reasons why I didn't think they would be overnight where users because of, you know, new coaching staff, his second staff and 2 years, actually for his 3rd or 4th coordinator in 2 years.

>> So to see the progress they have made is very impressive.

>> Do you think the offensive line?

Do you think they're doing a better job protecting Williams this year?

Yeah, I think I think it's everything tied.

>> being able to run the ball talent that they have with the wide receiver position.

Titan position.

All those things are coming together with 2 making this team as dominant as it is right now.

>> So they're going to be facing a big test this weekend with the Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons.

What are they have to do trying to stop him?

>> some of it's going to coach Johnson.

So that's going to be on the players, the majority of its going to be on the players because Parsons is a guy that can line up all over the field.

A lot on the right side of lineup on the left side or whatever.

The middle a lot of all football.

So you never really know where he's going to be, but they are going to try and do things as far as keeping tight ends there or tigers chipping on their way out back, stripping on their way out.

They are going to be able to do some things with are sure things like that to try and slow him down a little bit and give the offensive line a chance.

>> So they're rushing game.

Also improved.

The team is second in the league, averaging 153 rush yards, a game.

What's been the key to getting a drink and going.

>> You bring 3 guys, 3 new guys as free agents and you put them in the middle and they're doing exactly what you are.

You know, you look at the combination blocks that we like to it right.

And you know what Jackson's able to do in the middle, these guys are moving people off the ball.

know their assignments.

They know what they have to do and they're getting the job done.

And I think Coach Johnson is doing a good job of law.

Keeping things simple you know, might look different to the defense, but for the offensive line for the backs, that's the same So they're blocking a lot of the same plays in a row.

But that making look, Bears defense has also been leading the league in forcing turnovers.

Is that sustainable?

>> Early in the season, I would have said but I would not have thought it was going to be sustainable for as long as it has been.

So it is I think it's something they preach.

You know, you often heard people talk about Lovie Smith's defense and how they practice preach.

Turn the ball over forced fumbles interceptions Sachs, things like that.

And I think you're looking at the same thing here.

They're practicing They are going over every day practice and and it's contagious.

And you see a lot of guys do a lot of different things.

Think creative rivalry may not have been or may not be what it used to be with the Packers winning 17 out of the last 20 matchups.

>> Are the Bears finally back in a spot where they can compete?

This caravan rolls.

This game they know it's still a long road.

17 out of 20.

You still have a lot of ground to make up.

>> But I think they're headed in the right direction of the things that they're doing offensive.

We defensively special teams wise.

These are things that travels so being able to watch them open Lambeau Field this week will be a good.

You know, we thought the Philadelphia game was going to be a good kind of gauge to see where they are.

Green Bay Game is going to be even more of a gauge.

You play those rivalry games.

What's that like for players?

It's it's different.

It's it's the team that right up the street.

It's your neighbors.

The has burned as we're Chicago and the wife was with Green household divided household, right, right.

You know, you walk to the grocery store and now people want to talk to you about the Green Bay Bears game.

That's coming So is a lot different and it means a lot to the fans.

So, you know, as players you feed into that more and more the more you're here.

So with this game, having as much on the line as it does.

It's got to be a big week for those guys.

Coach Johnson seems to done a good job getting city getting the fans fired up.

The winner's circle said that they would give away free hot dogs if he took off his shirt, which he did in celebration of the Eagles game or the Eagles win last week.

He did that in the locker room.

>> Talk about the impact that the team is having on Bears fans.

Here's that show removal.

Yeah, could do save that for the Super Bowl or >> we will have to win the Super Bowl or something like that.

But it gets the guys in the locker You know, he is one of them.

>> And as far as the fans go, the fans are looking for anything to grasp on to that says this coach is different than what we've had in the past and the in the old last couple years and they love will.

And what the winner's circle does kind makes everyone feel like they're part of this team.

right.

So then what do you think?

The coach and the winner Circle will do if they win against the Eagles and origins of the shirt for next 3 years ago, parents?

>> but I'm sure they will come up with some kind you know, the Bears rush 300 yards or throw for certain amount of yards do something crazy.

No further something.

All right.

Before we let you go, predictions for the season for this weekend.

Predictions for this weekend.

This is going to be the first time out of the last 3 weeks.

But I'm going bears.

We're convinced that.

>> You know, they can keep a close.

They really stand a chance excited for them about that.

And playoff some >> I'd like to see it.

I'd like to see We have a long ways to go before we get to Super Bowl talk, though.

But if they keep performing like they are now and they are still cleaning things up as they move along, why not?

Why not?

All right.

Should be fun watching the game this