If there was ever a game built for Kyle Monangai, it’s this one. The forecast in Chicago calls for brutal, freezing conditions — a wind chill that could dip near –20 degrees — the kind of weather that turns football into a fistfight at the line of scrimmage. And in that environment, Monangai becomes the most dangerous player on the field. He showed it last week against Green Bay.
Monangai’s entire identity as a running back translates perfectly to cold-weather football. He’s compact, powerful, and relentless through contact. His balance is great, defenders bounce off him, especially when tackling becomes harder and footing disappears. A great example can be seen below from a run against Green Bay last Sunday.
In a game where throwing could be limited by wind and bitter cold, Ben Johnson is expected to lean heavily on the run, and Monangai is built to carry the offense alongside D'Andre Swift.
For Cleveland, this is a nightmare scenario. The Browns defense is explosive off the edge, but their biggest vulnerability has been sustaining drives against downhill power. Their pass rush can’t take over if Chicago stays on schedule with early down runs, and Monangai is the type of back who consistently turns two-yard gains into five. Every hit will sting in that weather. Every attempt to tackle him will feel like punishment.
Johnson won’t overcomplicate this. Expect a steady diet of Monangai pounding the Browns front seven all afternoon. As the game wears on, the conditions and physicality will tilt toward Chicago especially if they lean on their offensive line. Green Bay got worn down in the second half. I expect the Bears to take the Browns to the deep end as well.
On Sunday, Kyle Monangai is Cleveland’s worst nightmare in the cold.
