The Chicago Bears hope to get over their tough loss in Green Bay on Sunday as they return home to Soldier Field. It will be a frigid affair against the Cleveland Browns. While their 3-10 record indicates an opponent who should be relatively easy to beat, that assumption would be a mistake. Cleveland has one of the best defenses in the NFL, especially against the pass. They can rack up sacks at a frightening clip if you're not careful. Most would agree this doesn't bode well for a big game from quarterback Caleb Williams.
However, that might be changing. Cleveland is already dealing with a brutal list of injuries. Their best defensive tackle, Maliek Collins, is done for the season. Rookie standout Mason Graham is questionable. Yet the biggest blow came down on Friday when word came out that All-Pro cornerback Denzel Ward will not play. He is dealing with a calf injury. Outside of Myles Garrett, nobody is more important to the Browns' pass defense than Ward. His absence opens the door for Williams to have a big game.
Caleb Williams should be able to find windows if protected.
Ward's absence has never led to anything good for the Browns. Since the start of 2022, the cornerback has missed eight games. Cleveland allowed an average of 29 points per game in those situations. They aren't the same defense when he's not on the field. The Browns will already have a tough time containing Chicago's rugged ground attack led by D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Trying to contain D.J. Moore, Luther Burden, and possibly Rome Odunze without Ward feels like a herculean labor.
Ben Johnson is a smart coach. He will be fully aware of this development. The best coaches always know where the weaknesses are. You can bet he'll have some plays ready to attack Ward's replacement. It will be on Caleb Williams to make the throws happen. His inconsistent accuracy is the only thing that should prevent the Bears passing game from finding some traction—that or letting Garrett run wild.
