The Chicago Bears were in control against the Cleveland Browns from the outset. After a quiet start on their first drive, they scored two touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. It helped that the defense completely shut down rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the Browns’ offense. Cleveland failed to score their only points until the 3rd quarter, and that was benefited by great field position from a 4th down stop by the defense. Nothing seemed to go right for the rookie quarterback, which was disheartening after his strong performance the week before against Tennessee.

It turns out there was a reason for the ugly start to the game. Apparently, the Browns’ coaching staff gave Sanders a wristband with the wrong play calls on it. The rookie played the entire first quarter that way before anybody realized the problem. Cleveland committed three penalties in their two drives, and Sanders completed one pass for five yards. By the time the mistake was addressed, they were already in a two-touchdown hole. The odds of them overcoming that on the road in frigid conditions with a rookie QB were beyond remote.

Shedeur Sanders is at the mercy of a rough situation.

Things have gotten bad in Cleveland. It wasn’t too long ago that head coach Kevin Stefanski was Coach of the Year after leading the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. Since then, things have devolved in every way possible. There is no unity of vision inside the building. Many believe Stefanski wants out, but ownership won’t allow it. Given how the team has performed this season, it isn’t hard to tell that the coaching staff may not be fully committed to addressing the issues. This wristband fiasco is merely the latest example.

While that is unfortunate news for Shedeur Sanders, it should reinforce how lucky the Bears are to have Ben Johnson. The new head coach is notoriously meticulous about everything. No detail goes unnoticed. Everything is accounted for before games. That is why the execution is typically pretty good every week. Caleb Williams is playing some of his best football. Mistakes have become less frequent. Things are starting to click. Bears fans should be grateful they’re no longer in the same boat as Cleveland.

Caleb Williams has been on his best behavior all season. Even when things haven’t gone well for the Chicago Bears, he’s made sure to keep his comments safe and respectful. However, anybody who knows Williams is he keeps receipts. You often see him retweeting posts criticizing him and liking videos that do the same. The guy is fully aware of what haters say about him. It seems the Bears’ blowout win over the Cleveland Browns presented the perfect opportunity to finally fire back at them after months of silence.

Williams had a strong game, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. He seemed to have the most success in the play action game. When asked about it, he couldn’t resist firing a shot.

“Yeah, I don’t know. I was told I couldn’t get under center and turn my back to the defense.”

This goes back to several experts saying they didn’t believe Williams was capable of playing under center. He didn’t have the patience or calm to turn his back to the defense when faking handoffs. Players like him prefer living in the shotgun and running RPO plays. Sunday offered proof that those experts need to question their knowledge of the game.

Caleb Williams is becoming a true professional.

This is no longer the USC version of the quarterback. Those days of him just sitting back, running around and making plays are over. He is running a legitimate pro offense under Ben Johnson and looks better every week doing it. The best part is he hasn’t lost any of that otherworldly improvisational skill. It’s just that he doesn’t rely on it as much anymore. Once he gains true mastery of the system, defenses won’t be able to do much against him. He can beat them the traditional way or the creative way.

That is what eventually made guys like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes impossible to stop. Defenses couldn’t rely on exposing a particular weakness. They’d have to play perfectly on every snap and hope for a lucky break. When was the last time you could say that about a Bears quarterback? Exactly. Caleb Williams has plenty of growing to do, but to deny that he hasn’t made big strides already is lying to yourself.

The Chicago Bears knew they had to take care of business on Sunday. They were at home coming off a loss to the Green Bay Packers. It was the 3-10 Cleveland Browns, who were beset by tons of injuries. This wasn’t just a game they should win, but one they should win handily. Sure enough, they set the tone in the first quarter with two touchdown drives, taking a commanding 14-3 lead into halftime. From there, it spiraled for Cleveland as the Bears poured it on until it was a 31-3 blowout. One would think head coach Ben Johnson would be thrilled about that.

He was not.

Don’t get it twisted. Johnson was happy to get the win. However, it was apparent he felt the game shouldn’t have even been that close. His comments in the post-game presser made that clear.

He’s not wrong. The Bears’ defense was burned deep a couple of times and probably should’ve given up a touchdown pass in the second half before Jaylon Johnson ripped it away. Caleb Williams, despite a good game, still left too many incompletions on the field. The blocking up front wasn’t always crisp despite facing a depleted Browns front. Chicago won by 28, but probably should’ve won by 48.

Ben Johnson is keeping the perfect mentality.

One of the worst things a head coach can do is make it seem as if their players are doing everything right. It is vital to let them know that nothing is ever good enough. Not until you’re hoisting that Lombardi trophy. Beating up the Browns was a good thing. It helped the Bears get over their frustrating loss to the Packers last week and kept them in control of their playoff destiny. That said, Ben Johnson isn’t a fool. That kind of effort would’ve failed against the better teams in the league. More remains to clean up.

Hall of Fame legend Don Shula was notorious for this approach. His players always grumbled that there was never any pleasing him. He could make blowout wins feel like losses. It wasn’t because Shula was mean or vindictive. He merely understood that champions were built through tireless preparation. Johnson is built much the same way. He’ll celebrate the wins, but don’t expect him to be satisfied with them. His mathematical brain always seeks perfection. That is a good thing for this organization.

The Chicago Bears took care of their business on Sunday. They knew they would have to beat the Cleveland Browns to give themselves a chance to retake the division lead next weekend in a rematch with the Green Bay Packers. It was a worry-free afternoon as the Bears crushed the Browns 31-3, moving to 10-4 and beginning preparations for next week. The only thing left to do was to see what happens with the Packers in their highly-touted matchup against the AFC-leading Denver Broncos.

Nobody could’ve imagined what hell awaited them. Things started out great. Green Bay came out hot, building a 23-14 lead and had the ball with the chance to add more. Then everything went sideways. It started when Jordan Love threw an interception to Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain. Wide receiver Christian Watson appeared to suffer a nasty shoulder injury on the play.

Watson is Green Bay’s most important receiver.

He proved it last week against Chicago. His speed changes the game. If he’s out for the year, that is a brutal blow. Yet it doesn’t even compare to what came next. Micah Parsons, the blockbuster trade acquisition from Dallas, has been terrorizing opponents all season. He was doing the same to Denver until an attempted change of direction saw his left knee buckle without any contact.

This changes everything for the Chicago Bears.

Most people anticipated Green Bay would have the division wrapped up within the next couple of weeks. They’ve been on a hot streak, their quarterback is in a rhythm, and the defense is one of the NFL’s best. Now it’s all unraveling. If Parsons tore his ACL, that rips the heart right out of the defense. Don’t forget they already lost defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt for the season. So that’s their best edge rusher and interior rusher both out. Watson could be out as well, robbing them of their biggest spark plug. That doesn’t even include Zach Tom, their best blocker, who left the game with an ankle injury.

The team that beat the Chicago Bears last week won’t be the same one that walks into Soldier Field next Saturday night. A win is never guaranteed against the Packers, but make no mistake, it will be a huge opportunity. Not having to worry about Parsons will allow the Bears to focus their blocking efforts elsewhere. They put up 21 on Green Bay and came an INT away from making it 28. They know they can move the ball on the Packers. A chance to claim the division at the expense of their hated rivals has never been closer.

The Chicago Bears took care of business on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, winning comfortably at a frigid Soldier Field. Caleb Williams led the way with a highly efficient afternoon, going for 242 yards passing, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. He was complemented by another great performance from the running game as D’Andre Swift scored twice. The Chicago Bears have won ten games in a season for the first time since 2018 and only the second time since 2013. It is a testament to the young quarterback and head coach, Ben Johnson, that they were able to turn this around so quickly.

Amidst the success, people didn’t notice that Williams had achieved an individual milestone. He threw his 1,000th pass in that game and officially claimed the NFL record for the fewest interceptions [12] by a quarterback in such a span. The previous starter to hold that honor was Dak Prescott with 18. Tyrod Taylor (16) and Jacoby Brissett (14) are technically ahead of him, but neither was a full-time starter. Williams has set a new standard for taking care of the football, which is remarkable to consider for any quarterback, let alone one who plays for the Bears.

The context with Caleb Williams is even crazier.

Justin Fields reached 12 interceptions in fewer than 300 passes. Rex Grossman reached it in fewer than 400. Jim McMahon didn’t even get to 330. While the Bears have had some successful QBs in years past, none of them had the best reputation for protecting the ball. Even Jay Cutler, a Pro Bowl veteran when he arrived in 2009, didn’t even reach 300 passes before throwing his 12th interception. That should help illustrate how good Caleb Williams has been. Despite all the talk about his accuracy issues, he has been remarkably good at not giving it away.

It is a big reason the Bears have been able to hang tough in so many tight games. Nothing turns the momentum faster than turnovers. Having a quarterback who protects the football and can make something happen out of structure is so valuable. Williams isn’t perfect. He still has plenty of work to do. Still, there is no longer any doubt that the Bears made the right choice. He is as close to a franchise quarterback as they’ve been in decades. Exciting times are ahead.

I’m firmly of the belief that trap games are generally more real earlier in the season when NFL teams are still being defined. For a team that’s squarely in the playoff race and needs every win they can get to guarantee entry into the tournament?

No game can ever be a trap game.

And yet, that’s kind of what this matchup for the Chicago Bears against the Cleveland Browns felt like coming in. The Bears were atop the NFC going into last Sunday’s emotional showdown at Lambeau Field. The Bears lost a heartbreaker, and they knew they had a shot at revenge after two weeks, with the Packers coming to town for Round 2.

All that was between them and potential revenge was a frigid home game against the woeful Browns. A very injured Browns squad, at that. Surely the Bears could just step right over them, get to 10-4, and start prep for Green Bay. Of course.

That’s exactly what they did. A wire-to-wire domination of the Browns to get to 10-4 and set up a juicy primetime rematch vs. Green Bay next Saturday night.

I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.

Thoughts and Observations

1a. (PREGAME) — I posted this earlier this week as news of the Browns’ injuries came to light. Related to what I touched on above.

1b. (PREGAME) — The Bears placed Kyler Gordon on IR yet again before Sunday’s matchup against the Browns, which means he will miss the remainder of the regular season, at minimum. The hope would be for a return for the playoffs, if applicable. If he does, great. If not, the Bears have to be severely disappointed with Gordon for this season. A series of soft tissue injuries that more or less robbed him of his entire campaign. This is one of the best nickel corners in the NFL. Not having that for an entire season sucks. Ben Johnson sounds frustrated with him when asked during press conferences. You have to wonder if there’s some sort of evaluation coming in the offseason as Johnson continues to put his spin on this roster.

In another crazy development – the way Gordon became inactive right at kickoff, Rome Odunze became inactive right at kickoff as well, reaggravating his injury during warmups. Brutal. Really hope he’s OK for the Packers game next week…

1c. I will miss the hell out of these weather games when the Bears move to a boring roofed stadium. Football in the elements is fun and brings out cool game plans from innovative coaches. That’s the stuff I love to watch. Track meet football is just not as interesting. Never has been and never will be.

2. I’ll sum up the first quarter with these rapid-fire bullets:

• After Kyle Monangai‘s brutal drop on the first possession that might’ve gone for a touchdown from near midfield, very happy with how the Bears’ offense has settled in. The game plan to stay away from Myles Garrett has been executed great! The run game has been strong and Caleb Williams has been very accurate so far — with great throws to Colston Loveland, Luther Burden and D.J. Moore.
• The Browns are an awful football team. I get they have a lot of injuries but three pre-snap penalties in their first six trips to the line of scrimmage? Woof.
• D’Andre Swift is a real running back. I was high on the signing when it happened as a really high upside complementary piece, but he’s been absolutely unlocked with Ben Johnson. Fun to watch.
• Bears’ game plan for Myles Garrett has been pretty good!

3. Myles Garrett is the greatest pass rusher and probably defensive player I’ve ever seen. What he does on a football field with his body is crazy. He blew past Ozzy Trapilo in the red zone with the Bears knocking on the door of going up three scores and got Caleb Williams for his 21st sack. That yardage was the difference in… Cairo Santos missing a… 35 yard field goal attempt. Awful.

I also really like Carson Schwesinger. He’s been everywhere on defense — a player I really wanted in the draft. Browns really have good defensive talent for years to come.

4. Caleb Williams was absolutely fantastic in that first half. 12/18 for 190 yards with a LOT of downfield attempts and three drops that would’ve been huge plays of their own accord. Bears dominated the first half but have to be disappointed to only be up 14-0 with Cleveland getting the ball after halftime. Those drops arguably took an opportunity for six more points off the board.

Really hope he’s OK after taking that hit on the final play of the half. He left the field limping…

5. Gold stars in the first half to Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, D’Andre Swift, and D.J. Moore…along with Caleb.

On defense, nice stretch of play from Austin Booker and Grady Jarrett.

<HALFTIME>

6. Thankfully, Caleb is good to go after the Bears forced a three and out to start the drive. To be fair, Isaiah Bond beat the secondary deep for a second time, but this time either he lost the ball in the shade or Sanders underthrew it and off line worse than it looked. Would’ve been a walk-in touchdown potentially.

But seeing Caleb take the field afterwards is the real win. At this point, run it down their throats, burn the clock and get out of here for some treatment, shall we?

7. Ben Johnson has been fantastic overall as head coach, and he is still learning the game-management aspects of being a head coach along with play calling on offense. A couple of times today, it feels he’s been “feeling” himself a little too much and has cost the Bears clock and field position. That decision to go for it on the Bears’ first second-half drive was too high-variance of a situation to give up field position like they did.

It directly resulted in a field goal opportunity for Cleveland after they got one first down — a really nice play by Sanders to get away from an Andrew Billings sack. 14-3 Bears with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Bears’ momentum has stalled a bit. They need to step back up.

8. What a crazy sequence here…

• The Bears went three and out after an ugly series.
• Shedeur threw a pass right to D’Marco Jackson who batted it up to himself and picked it off.
• Caleb threw one of the worst decisions (yet dimes) I’ve ever seen to D.J. Moore in the end zone, who mossed two defenders somehow for a touchdown.
• Jaylon Johnson got burned for 47 yards by Isaiah Bond to set the Browns up.
• And then Johnson got beat again into the end zone by Jerry Jeudy, who had a solid throw slip through his hands and into Johnson’s lap. Interception. Touchback.

Wild sequence. The Bears have toyed with their food a bit in the second half but they’re still firmly in control now. But crazy stuff happens on days like today. Nice to see the Bears coming up out front on these situations.

9. It’s been somewhat of a weird game for the Bears’ defense, but somehow they’ve mustered four sacks to go with their two interceptions as we close the third quarter.

A couple of explosives to Bond (along with a couple more more missed opportunities) but overall they’ve played well — the stats are better than perhaps it’s “felt.” Sanders has a long way to go as a potential starter in this league, but this team is just not competitive as it stands.

10. Ben, buddy. Why are we still chucking it with a 25-point lead in the fourth quarter when the run game is working just fine?

Another sack for Myles Garrett and he’s one away from the record. Best defensive player on the planet.

11. C.J. Gardner-Johnson with an insane play for the Bears’ third INT of the day. Had flat responsibility and sank instead towards the Cover-2 hole and undercut Sanders’ pass for the INT. Played it like a WR. Just a beautiful play.

With Gordon on IR again, the Bears will continue to need him and it’s incredible how well he has stepped in. One of the more clutch signings of Ryan Poles’ tenure.

12. Remember Thought 1a.? Exactly what we wanted to see. A couple of sparkplug plays after the lull in the middle there and the Bears stepped on their throats. That’s what good teams do.

13. Next Saturday night will be something else. Primetime rematch. Can’t wait. I think the Bears have it in them to avenge last week.

Early prediction: Bears 26, Packers 24.