CHICAGO — The Bears lost a key starter before the game for the second straight week.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon was ruled out last week against the Green Bay Packers after suffering a groin injury during pregame warmups. Wide receiver Rome Odunze, who has been dealing with a foot issue, was scratched before Sunday’s kickoff against the Cleveland Browns as he aggravated the injury.
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Although the Bears lost one of their top offensive weapons, they convincingly defeated the Browns 31-3 to improve their season record to 10-4.
Here are five Chicago players who raised their stocks with a Week 15 win at Soldier Field.
Everyone remembers how the Bears-Packers game ended last week. Williams’ final pass was intercepted in the end zone while trying to target Cole Kmet, and the Packers won.
There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding this game leading up to this game, but Williams’ performance against the Browns should shift that discussion to the second-year pro’s performance. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
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Williams made the on-point pitches with anticipation, but he also made the “whoa” throws.
After D’Marco Jackson’s third-quarter interception put Chicago deep in Cleveland territory, Bears coach Ben Johnson called for a field goal into the end zone. Williams rolled to his right, looked downfield, and threw toward the end zone, which was packed with Browns defenders. But DJ Moore jumped up and knocked down the football for a stunning 22-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 21-3 lead.
Although the Bears offense started the game with a punt, the special teams did their part to impact the game right away.
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Tory Taylor kicked the ball 45 yards and Blackwell raced downfield, tracked the ball through the air and prevented it from reaching the end zone, putting the Browns offense on its own.
Cleveland challenged the ruling, but it was upheld after review.
The Bears defense forced a three-and-out, and Williams and the offense then went on a six-play, 42-yard drive that led to D’Andre Swift’s 6-yard touchdown run.
Every phase of the game worked together to help the Bears get off to a fast start after their offense fumbled last week against the Green Bay Packers.
Moore had just one catch for 4 yards against the Packers last week, the lowest number in a game in his eight-year NFL career.
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That won’t happen again, as he finished Sunday’s game with 4 of 5 catches for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Moore’s first target on Sunday was a 3-yard touchdown, when he separated Browns defensive back Myles Harden on a drag route and Williams made a pinpoint pass to give the Bears a 14-0 lead.
Moore’s second catch went for 15 yards, and he showed good body control and dropped two feet before going out of bounds.
Moore saved one of his best catches in the second half, though, when Williams hit him on a 22-yard strike in the end zone.
The Bears went the entire half without creating any scoring chances against the Browns, but Jackson changed that in the third quarter.
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Browns quarterback Shaddell Sanders attempted a pass to tight end Harold Fanning Jr., but Jackson fell into the throwing window, tipped the pass and caught it for the first interception of his career.
Jackson’s takeaway led to a Williams pass to Moore for a touchdown on the next play, and the Bears started from there.
Swift arrived this season with a lot of skepticism. The main question is, can he be the featured back that Johnson’s offense relied on so much in Detroit?
The Bears’ veteran running back has proven people wrong and shown he can take one pass at a time.
Swift brought physicality and decisiveness against a Myles Garrett-led defense, and his 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter highlighted his vision, ability to change directions and how he battles through tackles.
Swift rushed 18 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
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