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12/14 17:42 CST Caleb Williams throws for 2 TDs, Bears pound Browns even as
Myles Garrett closes in on sacks record
Caleb Williams throws for 2 TDs, Bears pound Browns even as Myles Garrett
closes in on sacks record
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Caleb Williams rolled toward the right sideline and unleashed
a pass he probably had no business attempting. DJ Moore went up in a crowd in
the back of the end zone and came down with a touchdown.
That's the type of day it was for the Bears.
Williams threw two touchdown passes and Chicago beat Cleveland 31-3 on Sunday
in one of the coldest games ever at Soldier Field even though the Browns' Myles
Garrett moved within a sack of the NFL's single-season record.
The Bears (10-4) heated up early on a day when the temperature at kickoff was 8
degrees and they hit double digits in wins for the first time since the 2018
NFC North championship team went 12-4. They scored two first-quarter touchdowns
and broke the game open with two more in the third.
It was just the sort of performance they needed coming off a loss at Green Bay
that knocked them from first to seventh in the NFC, with a rematch against
their rivals at home next week looming.
"You want to start the game off every week like that," Williams said. "But
definitely this week not allowing them to get going, not allowing them to feel
some energy or feel they can beat us --- that was our mindset going into this
game."
Garrett had 1 1/2 sacks, giving him 21 1/2 on the season and leaving him one
shy of the record shared by New York Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan
(2001) and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt (2021). He got to Williams in the second
quarter on a third down at the Cleveland 8, and he and Shelby Harris took down
the quarterback early in the fourth. A four-time All-Pro, Garrett has at least
one sack in eight straight games and has 17 1/2 in that span.
Williams shook off a string of shaky outings, finishing 17 of 28 for 242 yards.
He completed fewer than 60% of his passes in each of the previous six games.
D'Andre Swift ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Moore added 69 yards
receiving and two scoring catches with Rome Odunze missing his second straight
game because of a foot injury. His second TD --- a 22-yarder in the third ---
was one for the highlight reel.
"I'd say 99% of the quarterbacks, you tell them, ?Don't even waste your time
looking back there and trying to make that throw,'" coach Ben Johnson said.
"There's usually bad things that happen. And yet, he's got the ability to make
that throw. DJ made a heck of a play there right on the back line, as well."
Rookie Luther Burden caught six passes for 84 yards, including a 40-yarder.
The Bears held Cleveland to 192 yards and turned three interceptions against
Shedeur Sanders into 17 points. With three takeaways, they extended their
league lead to 30.
D'Marco Jackson had an interception deep in Cleveland territory in the third.
Jaylon Johnson picked off a pass at the goal line with his back to the
quarterback later in the quarter, and both plays led to touchdowns. Another one
by C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the fourth set up a field goal, helping the Bears
bounce back after having a five-game win streak snapped last week. They also
won their fifth straight home game since a season-opening loss to Minnesota.
"They had a great defensive scheme," Sanders said. "I enjoyed playing against
them. I enjoyed playing in that. It was definitely a little challenge, so I
look forward to learning from that."
'The Browns (3-11) have dropped three straight and six of seven.
Sanders was 18 of 35 for 177 yards and three interceptions. He was sacked five
times in his fourth start. The Browns announced the highly publicized
fifth-round pick and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will be
their starter for the rest of the season after passing for 364 yards and three
touchdowns while also having a rushing score against Tennessee last week.
"He's a young player that is making progress, like we've talked about all
week," coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I see it in games. I get to see it in
practice. There's going to be ups and downs to young players, particularly the
quarterback position. So we'll learn from it, and we'll be better next week."
Injuries Browns: Garrett tweaked his hip during the game. ... G Teven Jenkins exited with a shoulder injury. Bears: Odunze aggravated his foot injury in warmups. Johnson had no details on exactly how it happened and whether he'll play again this season. "I really don't know ... the extent of it," he said. "When something like that happens right before a game and you're solely focused on getting the next guy ready to perform at a high level." ... Williams limped toward the locker room after he was hit in the shin on a pass on the final play of the first half.
Up next Browns: Host Buffalo next Sunday. Bears: Host Green Bay on Saturday night. -__ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Injuries Browns: Garrett tweaked his hip during the game. ... G Teven Jenkins exited with a shoulder injury. Bears: Odunze aggravated his foot injury in warmups. Johnson had no details on exactly how it happened and whether he'll play again this season. "I really don't know ... the extent of it," he said. "When something like that happens right before a game and you're solely focused on getting the next guy ready to perform at a high level." ... Williams limped toward the locker room after he was hit in the shin on a pass on the final play of the first half.
Up next Browns: Host Buffalo next Sunday. Bears: Host Green Bay on Saturday night. -__ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
