Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold lead their teams to epic wins

Week 16 had to be one of the most exciting weeks in the NFL this season. The beginning of this slate of games started with a battle for the NFC West title that ended in overtime last Thursday. Last Saturday night, one of the best rivalries in the NFL delivered an instant classic. Bears-Packers resulted in a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime. Both thrilling games featured a former USC Trojan quarterback, Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold.

Seahawks down 16 to the Rams in the fourth

Sam Darnold and the Seahawks were down 30-14 against the Rams and rallied to win in overtime 38-37. Sam Darnold stunk up the joint in the first half. This game had all the makings of another big game that Sam Darnold did not show up for. The Rams had everything going their way. Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford both showed the whole NFL that they are the best players at their position. For the first time ever, Matthew Stafford got closer to an MVP title in a loss. All that did not matter.

Darnold delivered dimes when it counted

Sam Darnold played his best football down the stretch. With the game on the line and the lights shining the brightest, Darnold drove down the field and threw two touchdown passes to win this game in overtime. All the talk was not about Stafford nor Puka Nacua’s video game numbers. It was instead about how special Sam Darnold was down the stretch and how he outdueled Stafford in overtime. Sam Darnold not only threw a clutch touchdown in overtime, but he also converted the 2-point conversion.

The key variable in Seattle

Everyone knows just how good Seattle is everywhere else on their roster and their coaching staff. Sam Darnold, however, showed Seattle has an elite quarterback as well. If Darnold can be at his best, Seattle can come out of the NFC.

Caleb Williams with his back against the wall

Caleb Williams also showed up big in the clutch. It was the same story as Sam Darnold. The Packers’ defense had Caleb Williams bottled up, and this game was a battle of field goals. Jordan Love got hurt and missed the rest of the game, but that did not let the Bears off the hook. Malik Willis threw a passing touchdown, and he was more than serviceable. The Bears were facing a 10-point deficit with 5 minutes left in regulation. That would be a death sentence for most teams.

Caleb Williams has been elite in the clutch, but against the Packers, he put on his best show. Two straight drives down the field on Green Bay created a 180-degree shift. The Packers had nothing they could have drawn up to stop Caleb Williams. He did it through the air and with his legs. Caleb got the help of an amazing onside kick recovery, but he finished the job.

Throwing the hammer and nailing it

The Chicago defense got a stop in overtime. Caleb Williams on 1st and 10 wanted to go big or go home. Just like a Michael Jordan game-winning shot at the United Center, Caleb Williams delivered Bears fans one of the best moments in Chicago sports history with a 50-yard bomb to D.J. Moore. There has not been a moment from a Bears quarterback, in this rivalry, like that throw. Potentially throw of the year.

Seahawks and Bears occupy top two seeds in NFC

Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold both stepped up in the biggest moments this past week of football and delivered their teams two of the biggest wins in their franchise history. It was a great week of football that was headlined by two former Trojan quarterbacks who were the biggest stars in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold gain NFL spotlight in crunch time