LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Letdown? What letdown?
The Bears beat up on the Browns, 31-3, on Sunday at Soldier Field. After a week of proclaiming they couldn't afford to overlook a struggling opponent, the Bears proved they indeed had the right focus. Here are the observations from a frigid afternoon along the lakefront.
Defense dominates
The Bears did what they had to do on Sunday, taking care of business with a complete performance. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams had 242 passing yards and two touchdown throws to receiver DJ Moore, and Chicago's defense dominated all day.
The Bears held the Browns to 192 yards of offense and 3.4 yards per play. Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was 18-of-35 for 177 yards and three interceptions – which were recorded by Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and nickelback C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Bears' pass rush also got to Sanders for five sacks
“It’s about time he ran into some problems,” Gardner-Johnson said of Sanders.
“Sometimes you got to teach a rookie how to stay in a rookie’s place.”
This Bears defense is finding its best form late in the season. Chicago has allowed 291.2 yards of offense to opponents over the last five games compared to 375.6 yards of offense per game in its first nine contests.
Johnson's recent return after core muscle surgery has made a significant impact, even though he isn't yet quite 100%. His mere presence forces offenses to adjust their plans. On the other side of Johnson is cornerback Nahshon Wright, who has five interceptions in a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen deserves credit for guiding his unit through injures and molding it into a strength late in the season. Despite needing to use reserves in key roles, Allen has stayed true to his defensive identity and found a way to lead his group to success. Now, the Bears defense is aiming to help clinch a playoff berth and lead a deep run.
Pairing it together
Williams' 22-yard touchdown pass to Moore in the back of the end zone in the third quarter was something special. It was the type of throw that few quarterbacks in the NFL can make, as he rolled right and threw back across his body. One might have viewed the throw as a risk, but not Williams.
“I can make any throw,” Williams said with a smirk.
Making any throw doesn’t just mean accomplishing the spectacular. It also means executing the basics.
Johnson sees the 24-year-old Williams taking steps toward becoming a franchise quarterback in his second NFL season, but he also wants to see Williams pair the sensational plays with the routine ones.
“There’s certainly some you talk about each week where you feel guys are open and we can certainly give them the ball on time and give them a chance to run after the catch and all that, and then there’s that mix of, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s one of the most incredible plays I’ve ever seen in my life’ type deals with him,” Johnson said last week.
“What we’re trying to do is combine both of those worlds to where we think we’re going to have a really good quarterback in this league, a really dangerous quarterback in this league, a really dangerous offense, a really good team for a long time when we’re really able to combine both of those thought process. We’re not quite there yet. We’re working diligently every day.
“You see growth in so many other areas, I think when that last little bit comes along, we’re going to be really pleased with where we are.”
On Sunday, Williams led his targets with more precise passing, creating opportunities for yards after the catch. It allowed the Bears’ offense to function at a higher level.
Johnson and the Bears hope to see that consistently from Williams, and this was an important step toward that goal.
A change in tone
When the Bears ascended to first place in the NFC North after Week 10 concluded, head coach Ben Johnson pushed the playoff conversation aside.
“We’re way far away from that,” Johnson said back on Nov. 17. "I haven't been thinking about that.”
That tone changed a bit last week following the Bears' 28-21 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7. Suddenly, the Bears were in second place in the division and set to face a scuffling Browns team.
Johnson used the playoffs as a motivational tactic in a way that he hadn't before. He spoke about it with the Bears last week, pointing to the postseason as a real possibility. That marked a change in rhetoric from Johnson.
"We’ll be a playoff team once we earn enough wins to become a playoff team,” Johnson said last week. “So, right now, we’re a nine-win team. I don’t think nine wins is going to get you in this year. We got to do what we can to get enough wins to find a way to get into the tournament."
The Bears now have 10 wins after beating the Browns. Johnson believes they need 11 to feel fully comfortable about securing a playoff spot.
His messaging certainly worked as the Bears came out strong and had an inspiring effort against the Browns.
Extra points
--- Sunday was a day for the diehards, with the temperature recorded at 8 degrees at kickoff and the wind chill below zero. Despite the frigid conditions, Bears fans brought the energy in what tied for the fourth-coldest game in Soldier Field history.
--- For the second straight Sunday, a key Bears player suffered an injury in pregame warmups. This time it was receiver Rome Odunze, who reaggravated the stress fracture in his foot. The injury wasn't worth playing through, and now the team has to hope Odunze isn’t lost for more games. He has missed the last two contests.
--- Veteran returner Devin Duvernay set the tone with his 52-yard kickoff return to start the game.
--- Williams thought the Bears left opportunities on the field offensively, and he was right. Tory Taylor punted four times, Cairo Santos missed a field-goal attempt in the second quarter at the end of a 14-play drive and there were other opportunities for the Bears to score more points.
--- Williams became the first Bears quarterback since Jay Cutler in 2014 and 2015 to throw 20 touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons. It isn't a grand accomplishment, but it's another sign of his progress.
--- Bears running back D’Andre Swift rushed 18 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns in another strong performance. He looks like a new man in Johnson’s offensive system this season.
--- The Bears’ offensive line wore down another opponent.
--- The Browns looked like they didn’t want to be out there.
--- In the third quarter, Soldier Field broke out in chants of “Green Bay sucks,” which Williams and Moore quieted down.
--- It’s Packers week once again.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.