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.
