Two USC quarterbacks, one historic Sunday

Sunday’s Best is a weekly column highlighting the NFL’s top five performers. Each week, the players who are spotlighted not only put up big numbers but also set the tone for their teams and shape the storylines of Sunday.

Week 9 didn’t just bring highlight reels; it brought defining performances. A young quarterback reminded everyone why he was once the most hyped prospect in football. A veteran rewriting his narrative in real time. And a defense that reclaimed its old-school identity. This week, “Sunday’s Best” belongs to those who didn’t just win, but evolved.

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

At this point, Caleb Williams isn’t playing like a raw quarterback; he’s playing like an experienced one.

In Chicago’s 47–42 shootout win over Cincinnati, Williams turned chaos into choreography. He threw darts on the move, ripped off scrambles that looked more like planned plays, and even lined up as a receiver — apparently, being the quarterback wasn’t enough.

By the end of the day, he had 280 passing yards, three touchdowns, 53 rushing yards, and two catches for another score, becoming the first player in NFL history to post 275 passing, 50 rushing, and 20 receiving yards in a single game.

It wasn’t just about making history. though. Down by one with less than a minute left, Williams engineered a drive that felt like the start of something bigger. He scrambled to keep the drive alive, then hit Colston Loveland for the game-winner.

It was something that looked like vintage USC Caleb if you squinted your eyes enough: confident, creative and completely in control.

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold has truly revitalized his eight-year career after struggling to find his place on a squad.

For one half of Sunday Night Football, he was quite literally flawless. Darnold completed his first 16 passes, four of which were touchdowns, as Seattle dismantled the Washington Commanders.

He finished 21-for-24 with 330 yards, four touchdowns, and a single interception, the most efficient performance of his career and one of the most accurate games in franchise history.

Beyond the stat line, it was his poise that stood out; the quick reads and the confidence in his throws. The veteran calmness of someone who’s seen the league from all angles: the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers, the San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings, and finally, landing in Seattle, where he belongs.

Darnold isn’t chasing potential anymore like he once was coming out of USC; he’s living it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defense

Pittsburgh’s defense had been criticized for the past couple of weeks, but on Sunday against arguably the best offense in the AFC, the Steelers brought back their trademark edge.

They forced six takeaways, notched five sacks, and reminded everyone what “Steel Curtain” football is supposed to look like. T.J. Watt set the tone early with a strip-sack that flipped the game’s momentum, and from there, an avalanche followed. Rookie Jack Sawyer grabbed his first interception, Elandon Roberts and Mykal Walker flew sideline to sideline, and the Steelers cashed in on 24 points off turnovers.

From Williams’ all-around brilliance to Darnold’s control and Pittsburgh’s resurgence, Week 9 reminded us that greatness doesn’t always announce itself at first; sometimes, it just settles in.

Each performance continues to carry its own story: creativity, redemption and resilience. Together, they showed why Sundays still have the power to surprise us.