The Chicago Bears know the stakes in this game. After losing to Green Bay last Sunday, their margin of error to make the playoffs has shrunk. Head coach Ben Johnson said they probably need 11 wins to get in. That means they must win two of their last four. This upcoming matchup against the Cleveland Browns is the only should-win one left. This team is 3-10, likely facing significant changes in the offseason. They're horrifically banged up, too. There are no excuses. The Bears must take care of business. Of course, that is easy to say, but it is much harder to do when Myles Garrett is your opponent.
The future Hall of Fame pass rusher is on the cusp of NFL history, just three sacks away from the single-season record. He hopes to continue that chase by getting after Caleb Williams in this game. However, the Bears quarterback has been far less accommodating in the sack department than he was last year. Garrett was asked about Williams ahead of the game. The superstar defensive end was highly complimentary, even going so far as to say the quarterback reminds him a lot of two of his biggest AFC rivals.
Myles Garrett can't put Williams in better company.
Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are two of the five best quarterbacks in the sport. Their calling card for years has been their ability to extend plays with their legs, evading pressure or taking off running for crippling first downs. It is a nightmare for defenses to deal with. Williams has done that since his high school days, but he seems to have taken it to a new level this year. People have lost count of how many times he's evaded pressure that would've resulted in a sack from almost any other quarterback. Johnson didn't call him Houdini by accident.
Chicago knows the agenda in this game. If they can at least keep Myles Garrett under control, there is a real chance Williams can have a productive afternoon. Cleveland's star cornerback, Denzel Ward, won't play. Their run defense has looked a lot weaker lately. Garrett is the only one who can wreck their plans. Expect Ozzy Trapilo to get plenty of help trying to block him. Williams will need to have his instincts on high alert. He'll probably burn a lot of calories from running in this one.
