Temperatures are expected to be in the single digits as the Browns travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears
It’s December, and that means it’s time for some classic NFC North outdoor football. The Chicago Bears (9-4) are back home at Soldier Field this Sunday to host the Cleveland Browns (3-10), and judging by the team’s comments, they’re ready for a physical, cold-weather clash. Coming off a tough loss to the Packers, this is about holding serve at home and keeping their playoff hopes firmly alive.
🏆 The Playoff Mindset: Winning Today is Everything
For a team attempting to make it’s first playoff appearance in five years, the veteran and second-year leadership are focused on the immediate task. Safety Kevin Byard III minced no words on the stakes, especially with the team’s 9-4 record leaving them on the edge of the NFC Wild Card.
DB Kevin Byard III: “Some people will call this a classic trap game… I don’t really believe in trap games in the league. I think every single week you have to bring your best ball regardless of records… The reality is that we have Cleveland coming up and then the next three weeks is against – there are three playoff spots outside of division… We have to be playing our best ball this time of the year and it starts this week against Cleveland.”
This week Byard emphasized the need to avoid looking ahead to the challenging final stretch against the 49ers plus two division games – Packers and Lions. “Let’s focus on today, let’s get better today. Let’s have our best Wednesday… I believe the momentum of the week carries on.” He later stressed that based on the current NFC landscape, “it’s going to take 11 wins to get in, in my opinion,” highlighting the “must-win” nature of the game, and echoing comments by Johnson on Monday.
Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams emphasized the mentality of moving past the recent defeat, recalling a famous player who hit or miss, also liked to take the final shot in his games.
QB Caleb Williams: “That’s how I felt as a kid. That’s how I still feel today… It kind of goes to the (Michael Jordan) MJ quote… you’re going to take those shots’ and that’s the type of mindset I have that I’ll take those shots, and I’ll roll with the punches if I do miss. That’s what happened. And so, you move on from it.”
🌪️The Myles Garrett Problem: An “S-Tier” Challenge
The biggest threat on Sunday is Cleveland Defensive End Myles Garrett, who is nearing the NFL sack record with 20 so far this season. The team is hyper-aware of the challenge he poses.
QB Caleb Williams: “I’m going to try and make sure that he doesn’t get the sack record on us and on me. But, I think those games have prepared the offensive line, us as a game plan, and going against those type of players where they’re just the S-tier players where you just have to make sure every single snap, every single play, everything is not allowing them to wreck the game.”
Williams described what makes Garrett “unblockable” at times: “He has, as the kids say, a deep bag of tricks. Whether it’s his euro step, his speed, his off the ball, they’ll put him at the linebacker area and let him just kind of do his thing.”
Coach Ben Johnson’s plan, which prioritizes the physical run game in cold weather, will be crucial to neutralizing Garrett.
TE Colston Loveland: “I think that’s what he told us in the offseason, OTAs, this is what we need to pride ourselves on. This needs to be our identity. So it’s cool to kind of see it come to life.”
Loveland also confirmed the coaches view the cold as an advantage: “Coach Johnson and the coaches, they like to tell us that’s where we thrive, that’s where we gain an advantage… I think that’s what we’re built for.”
🥶 Weather and Focus: It’s About Being Mentally Ready
Both Williams and veteran safety Byard agreed that once the game starts, the cold becomes a secondary concern.
QB Caleb Williams: “I’ve played in some cold games already here, and I’ve played in cold games before. The weather and elements don’t bother me. Just being able to get warm, get my body warm and then go out there and deliver good balls to my guys and let them go make plays.”
DB Kevin Byard III: “For me I don’t really think about the cold weather during the game. It’s more about before the game… When you’re in the game you’re thinking about the game… both teams have to play in the same weather. The game’s going to get played.”
DT Grady Jarrett stated the he prefers to play without sleeves under his jersey, and that once the game begins, adrenaline kicks in and the temperatures become secondary.
⚔️ The Young QB Showdown: Williams vs. Sanders
The game offers a compelling matchup as Caleb Williams faces Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders. The two are familiar opponents from their college days.
QB Caleb Williams: (On their 2023 USC-Colorado game): “It was a good atmosphere, good game. We ended up coming out with the victory and Shedeur was a hell of a player.”
Byard emphasized that the defense cannot take Sanders lightly, noting his recent success.
DB Kevin Byard III: “Like any rookie quarterback, he’s still working through some things, but he obviously can throw the ball. I think he’s really good throwing the ball on time. He’s very accurate. We all knew that coming out of college… Just because he’s a rookie does not mean we can take this guy lightly. He’s very talented.”
Byard pointed to key skill players like WR Jerry Jeudy and rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr., noting Fannin’s talent for running after the catch, which makes him a threat for screens and short passes that Cleveland is likely to lean on in the cold.
🔑 Final Word
Coach Johnson wants a win, and the players know the reality: the margin for error is gone. The success of the team hinges on the concepts Williams is trying to master—starting faster and improving communication with Johnson.
QB Caleb Williams: “Starting faster for myself… I really want to get on the same page with the guys… It’s just sharp, sharp, sharp, sharp focus and sharpening my focus even more.”
For the defense, Byard’s message is simple: clean up the mistakes on early downs. “Looking back at the last game… we have some explosive plays that we can’t allow to happen. That’s one thing… We’ve got to be able to stop the run. Teams are going to want to be able to run the ball.”
The team is relying on the home crowd to help them secure the win.
DB Kevin Byard III: “Be as loud as possible, especially on third downs… Having to communicate in a very loud hostile environment, I think it can be huge for us on defense… We’re playing playoff games already. I think it’s going to be huge for our crowd to really make a lot of noise and be excited.”
More from SRN Sports
