The Green Bay Packers' loss to the Chicago Bears is about as gut-wrenching and heartbreaking as they come. The sounds of Soldier Field erupting after the botched onside recovery, then the overtime fumble, and finally the game-winning touchdown, will echo inside Packers fans' nightmares.
Spare a thought for Malik Willis. He didn't deserve to lose.
Willis stepped off the bench after Jordan Love exited with a concussion, straight into the spotlight, the immense pressure of battling for the NFC North lead. But he looked unfazed, delivering a performance Packers fans have seen every time they've needed their QB2.
For many viewers, this would've been their first taste of Willis in Packers colors. Speaking on the FOX broadcast, Tom Brady heaped praise on the veteran. While the agony of defeat won't go away, we shouldn't forget just how brilliant Willis was. Brady put it best.
"He's got great throwing mechanics. Ball comes out over the top, got a really nice base, looks really balanced. Making all the throws. He's just running this offense to perfection right now," Brady said.
Moments later, just after the Packers had extended their lead to 10 points late in the fourth, Brady spoke even more glowingly of Willis.
"Lights out. What more can you say?" Brady said of his performance. "He's been masterful tonight. I don't know if there's a pass that he's missed. He's run the ball well, shown really good decision-making in the pocket. This should give the Packers fans a lot of joy watching this kid play tonight, he's just been spectacular."
Malik Willis earns respect from Tom Brady despite Packers losing late to the Bears
Not much will give us joy right now, but Brady's point stands. Willis is the best backup quarterback in the NFL.
Packers fans knew this already.
Last season, he stepped up in two starts against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 114 yards and a score in consecutive victories to save the Packers' season without Jordan Love.
Willis came off the bench in Week 8, navigating the Packers out of a tough situation in Jacksonville and leading a game-winning drive.
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But none of that could ever compare to the pressure he faced on Saturday night. Willis entered the game with the Packers leading just 6-0, but he looked in complete control from the first snap. Willis completed nine of 11 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 44 yards on the ground.
He walked off the field having led another scoring drive to put the Packers up 16-6 with 5:03 remaining in the fourth. That performance deserved a win. The next time Wills touched the ball, 24 seconds remained, and the game was tied at 16-16.
Willis again led the Packers into scoring position in overtime, but a botched snap on 4th-and-1 at the Chicago 36-yard line just about ended any hope. It happens. Despite facing a ton of adversity, Willis stepped up and delivered another memorable performance.
He deserved to win, and no matter how much this defeat stings, we shouldn't forget just how well Willis played.