CHICAGO — — Caleb Williams rolled towards the best sideline and unleashed a cross he most likely had no enterprise making an attempt. DJ Moore went up in a crowd at the back of the tip zone and got here down with a landing.
That is the kind of day it was for the Bears.
Williams threw two landing passes and Chicago beat Cleveland 31-3 on Sunday in one of many coldest video games ever at Soldier Discipline though the Browns’ Myles Garrett moved inside a sack of the NFL’s single-season file.
The Bears (10-4) heated up early on a day when the temperature at kickoff was 8 levels they usually hit double digits in wins for the primary time for the reason that 2018 NFC North championship group went 12-4. They scored two first-quarter touchdowns and broke the sport open with two extra within the third.
It was simply the form of efficiency they wanted coming off a loss at Inexperienced Bay that knocked them from first to seventh within the NFC, with a rematch towards their rivals at house subsequent week looming.
“You wish to begin the sport off each week like that,” Williams mentioned. “However positively this week not permitting them to get going, not permitting them to really feel some power or really feel they’ll beat us — that was our mindset going into this sport.”
Garrett had 1 1/2 sacks, giving him 21 1/2 on the season and leaving him one shy of the file shared by New York Giants Corridor of Famer Michael Strahan (2001) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt (2021). He bought to Williams within the second quarter on a 3rd down on the Cleveland 8, and he and Shelby Harris took down the quarterback early within the fourth. A four-time All-Professional, Garrett has not less than one sack in eight straight video games and has 17 1/2 in that span.
Williams shook off a string of shaky outings, ending 17 of 28 for 242 yards. He accomplished fewer than 60% of his passes in every of the earlier six video games.
D’Andre Swift ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Moore added 69 yards receiving and two scoring catches with Rome Odunze lacking his second straight sport due to a foot harm. His second TD — a 22-yarder within the third — was one for the spotlight reel.
“I would say 99% of the quarterbacks, you inform them, ‘Don’t even waste your time wanting again there and attempting to make that throw,’” coach Ben Johnson mentioned. “There’s often dangerous issues that occur. And but, he is bought the power to make that throw. DJ made a heck of a play there proper on the again line, as effectively.”
Rookie Luther Burden caught six passes for 84 yards, together with a 40-yarder.
The Bears held Cleveland to 192 yards and turned three interceptions towards Shedeur Sanders into 17 factors. With three takeaways, they prolonged their league result in 30.
D’Marco Jackson had an interception deep in Cleveland territory within the third. Jaylon Johnson picked off a cross on the purpose line along with his again to the quarterback later within the quarter, and each performs led to touchdowns. One other one by C.J. Gardner-Johnson within the fourth arrange a area purpose, serving to the Bears bounce again after having a five-game win streak snapped final week. Additionally they gained their fifth straight house sport since a season-opening loss to Minnesota.
“They’d an incredible defensive scheme,” Sanders mentioned. “I loved enjoying towards them. I loved enjoying in that. It was positively a little bit problem, so I stay up for studying from that.”
‘The Browns (3-11) have dropped three straight and 6 of seven.
Sanders was 18 of 35 for 177 yards and three interceptions. He was sacked 5 instances in his fourth begin. The Browns introduced the extremely publicized fifth-round choose and son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Deion Sanders can be their starter for the remainder of the season after passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns whereas additionally having a speeding rating towards Tennessee final week.
“He’s a younger participant that’s making progress, like we’ve talked about all week,” coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned. “I see it in video games. I get to see it in apply. There’s going to be ups and downs to younger gamers, significantly the quarterback place. So we’ll be taught from it, and we’ll be higher subsequent week.”
Browns: Garrett tweaked his hip throughout the sport. … G Teven Jenkins exited with a shoulder harm.
Bears: Odunze aggravated his foot harm in warmups. Johnson had no particulars on precisely the way it occurred and whether or not he’ll play once more this season. “I actually do not know … the extent of it,” he mentioned. “When one thing like that occurs proper earlier than a sport and also you’re solely targeted on getting the subsequent man able to carry out at a excessive stage.” … Williams limped towards the locker room after he was hit within the shin on a cross on the ultimate play of the primary half.
Browns: Host Buffalo subsequent Sunday.
Bears: Host Inexperienced Bay on Saturday evening. ——
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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