Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are still reveling in their win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. Facing a short week, however, they have also kept one eye on the Green Bay Packers, their opponents in Weeks 14 and 16.
The Bears lost their first meeting. They are determined to atone for what they felt was a game they could have won but failed to.
However, they can enter their rematch with a sense of renewed optimism for many reasons.
Bears Get Good News After Beating Browns
Bears Get Helping Hand With NFC North
With the Bears still in the glow of their own victory, they received a double dose of good news from other contests around the league. First, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Detroit Lions, pushing the latter further down in the NFC North standings.
The second, and more pressing item, however, came as the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers.
That win elevated the Bears to the No. 1 spot in the NFC North and No. 2 in the conference.
The Rams control the top spot, but the Bears still benefited, and they can avenge their Week 14 loss next week against a potentially critically short-handed Packers squad that saw stud pass rusher Micah Parsons exit with what is believed to be a torn ACL.
What’s more, Parsons was the last in a slew of injuries that are sure to affect the Packers moving forward, including wide receiver Christian Watson.
Parsons and Watsons were key to the Packers’ win over the Bears in Week 14.
“In a matter of minutes the Packers have lost Christian Watson, Zach Tom, Quay Walker, and now Micah Parsons,” SleeperPackers said in a post on X on December 14. “THIS IS A DISASTER.”
Watson exited with what the Packers called a “chest” injury. Tom exited with a knee injury in the second frame and did not return. Walker returned and finished the outing.
However, safety Evan Williams picked up a knee injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.
In a week full of encouraging developments, the Bears also exited the contest with additional injury concerns. Wide receiver Luther Burden III injured his ankle during the third quarter and did not return.
Tight end Cole Kmet also got banged up, but he was able to finish the game.
The Bears hoped to get wideout Rome Odunze back this week after he missed the first Packers game, but a pregame setback ended those hopes.
Bears Standout Stats
The Bears’ defense had a day, getting to Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders for 5 sacks, which is a season high, and 3 interceptions, which ties their best mark of the campaign.
They held Browns running back Quinshon Judkins to a season-low 1.8 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, Williams completed 60.7% of his passes. While there have been many factors in his inefficiency, Williams had not completed 60% of his passes in a game since Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens.
He also set the NFL record for the fewest interceptions through a player’s first 1,000 passes in their career.
At 10-4, the Bears have their most wins since the 2018 season.
They are singularly focused, and this week that means all efforts towards defeating the Packers at home. The most encouraging thing may be that the Bears admittedly played far from their best football in Week 15.
They will certainly need to be sharper to finish out what is the toughest remaining slate in the league. The Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions are all on deck.