At this point, every game is big for the Chicago Bears.
Coach Ben Johnson’s team returns to Soldier Field for a matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. With only four games remaining, the Bears — who hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC — need to keep winning if they’re going to reach the postseason.
This game will pit two much-discussed young quarterbacks against each other. There is, of course, the 2024 No. 1 pick in Caleb Williams suiting up for the Bears. On the other side, Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders will make his fourth NFL start after beginning the season buried on the depth chart.
The Bears (9-4) square off against the Browns (3-10) on Sunday at Soldier Field (noon, Fox-32). Here are five things to watch ahead of Week 15 — plus the Tribune’s predictions for the game.
1. A must-win game for the Bears?
The Bears are in the midst of a tight playoff race. As it stands heading into Week 15, the Bears are the No. 7 seed in the NFC, hanging on by a thread. The San Francisco 49ers are right ahead of them with an identical 9-4 record, and the Detroit Lions are a game back at 8-5.
Three of the Bears’ four remaining games come against teams with winning records firmly in the playoff race. Sunday’s game is the lone exception.
The Browns are the worst team remaining on the schedule. Ben Johnson noted this week that his team probably needs at least two more wins to put itself in position for a postseason spot. So does that make Sunday’s game a must-win?
Ask any NFL player and they’ll say every game is a must-win. But safety Kevin Byard III, a team captain, said the veterans on this Bears team aren’t letting the youngsters on the roster look too far ahead.
“Some people would call this a classic trap game or whatever it may be,” Byard said. “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. This is the National Football League and every team and everybody’s playing for something regardless of what the record is.”
The fact is, the path to two more wins probably becomes much harder if the Bears can’t take care of business against the Browns. The Bears close out the season with a rematch against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field, a trip to San Francisco and a finale against the Lions in Chicago.
The Browns might have one of the worst records in the NFL, but their defense is among the best. Their defense ranks second in yards per game and first against the pass. It has the second-best sack rate in the NFL and allows the second-fewest number of first downs. The Browns’ struggles on offense are what has held them back.
Despite the Browns’ bad record, this will not be an easy win.
“We have goals and we know what’s out in front of us,” Johnson said. “It’s just that awareness that every game matters. That’s where this week, you go from an emotional rivalry game like we just played (against the Packers), this week is equally important. We need this win. We desperately need this win.”
2. Player in the spotlight
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett looks on during the fourth quarter against the Titans on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Browns DE Myles Garrett
Garrett has a chance to make history this season, and it’s not out of the question that he could do it Sunday in Chicago.
With 20 sacks through 13 games, Garrett is three shy of setting a single-season record. Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021) share the single-season mark at 22½ sacks. Garrett has recorded three or more sacks in a game three times this season, so it isn’t crazy to think he could set the record Sunday.
“He’s done an incredible job,” Johnson said. “And just to look at the number of double teams, triple teams, as you see on tape, and yet, he still has 20 sacks on the season, it’s pretty remarkable. And it’s a special season for him, no doubt.”
Can Myles Garrett set the NFL sack record vs. the Chicago Bears? Here’s what the numbers say.
The Bears are hoping the special season doesn’t become historic this weekend. Williams has been much improved in the sack department, thanks in large part to a revamped Bears offensive line. Williams has been sacked 20 times in 13 games after leading the NFL with 68 a year ago. Only twice this season has Williams been sacked three times in a game.
Whether or not Garrett sets the record, though, the six-time Pro Bowler is going to be a major focus for the Bears offense this week.
“He provides a very unique challenge — those guys just don’t grow on trees,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “He’s a guy that we’re very aware of. You study a lot of tape during the week, and just having a plan to handle him. But that’s really the main thing is we maintain focus on that player throughout the game and we know where he is.”
While Garrett will line up on both sides of the formation, he primarily has lined up opposite the offense’s left tackle. That could mean quite a challenge for Bears rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who has just three NFL starts under his belt.
Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass under pressure from the Titans on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Cleveland. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
3. Sanders will make NFL start No. 4.
Sanders’ much-publicized rookie season has been quite an odyssey.
To recap, there were first-round expectations for him ahead of the draft, followed by a draft-day prank call while livestreaming to the world. Then he fell all the way to the fifth round of the draft, he began the offseason as the fourth-string QB in Cleveland and, finally, he earned his shot in November thanks to injuries to and trades of quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart.
The Browns traded Joe Flacco ahead of the trade deadline. Then Dillon Gabriel’s November concussion opened the door for Sanders. But even with Gabriel back healthy, the Browns are moving ahead with Sanders as their starter.
After all that, Sanders is coming off his best game as a pro. He threw for 364 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in a loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. It was the first 300-yard performance from a Browns rookie quarterback since Baker Mayfield in 2018.
“Really the last three games with the new quarterback, you can feel their offense picking it up a little bit,” Johnson said. “He’s a dangerous player.”
In four appearances this season, Sanders has thrown for five touchdowns and three interceptions. The Bears defense leads the NFL with 18 interceptions. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will probably try to cause some confusion for the rookie QB.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to take the ball away, regardless of who’s playing,” Allen said.
Titans linebacker Cody Barton tackles Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. on Sunday, Dec. 7 2025, in Cleveland. (Kirk Irwin/AP)
Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has really benefited from Sanders’ emergence. Fannin caught eight passes for 114 yards and a touchdown last week.
A year ago at Bowling Green, Fannin led not only tight ends but also all FBS players with 117 receptions and 1,555 receiving yards in 2024. As so often happens with a player at a smaller school, Fannin slipped into the third round of the draft despite his absurd college production. Now, Fannin leads all Browns players with 59 catches for 619 yards and four touchdowns.
Allen said Fannin plays faster than his 40 time might indicate.
“He runs good routes and really, he does a great job after the catch,” Allen said. “I mean, he’s a violent runner after the catch. He can make you miss. He can run over you, run through you. So I think he’s certainly a weapon in their offense.”
He could be Sanders’ favorite target again Sunday.
Bears fans brave the frigid temperatures during a 35-13 loss to the Bills on Dec. 24, 2022, at Soldier Field. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
4. Keep an eye on …
The cold weather.
Temperatures could flirt with a record cold Sunday. As of Thursday evening, the National Weather Service predicted a high of 13 degrees with wind chills below zero.
The temperature would have to be just 1 degree below that expected forecast to tie for the 10th-coldest game at Soldier Field.
Temperatures that cold undoubtedly will have an effect on the game. Both teams, of course, will be dealing with the same conditions. Wind gusts up to 20 mph could make the kicking game a little more challenging. The same could be said of the passing attack.
“Obviously the ball and the kicking game could be affected based on the weather,” Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “The ball’s harder, doesn’t travel as far. But I’ll tell you what, their specialists and our specialists have both played in it.”
The Bears already have some experience in the elements. The Black Friday game in Philadelphia was extremely windy, and they battled cold temperatures a week ago in Green Bay. The Browns also play outdoors and are no strangers to the cold.
But Sunday is looking like it will be a different animal.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze warms up before a game against the Steelers on Nov. 23, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
5. Injury updates: Will WR Rome Odunze and CB Tyrique Stevenson be back?
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon has not practiced yet this week after suffering a groin injury in pregame warmups in Green Bay. Asked whether Gordon, who has missed all but three games this season, will play again this year, Johnson said it’s “to be determined.”
In positive injury news, Odunze and Stevenson have both been back at practice this week, albeit in a limited capacity. Odunze missed last week’s game with the foot injury, while Stevenson has missed two consecutive games with a hip injury.
Meanwhile, the Browns have had nearly a dozen starters on their injury report this week. The offensive line is particularly banged up. Starting guards Joel Bitonio (knee/back) and Wyatt Teller (calf) have not practiced this week, nor has starting right tackle Jack Conklin, who is in concussion protocol. Additionally, tight end David Njoku (knee) has yet to practice this week.
The Browns added backup guards Teven Jenkins (shoulder) and Zak Zinter (back) to their injury report Thursday. Both were limited in practice. Jenkins, the former Bears guard, will be making his return to Soldier Field for the first time since leaving in free agency.
The Browns defense is working through several injuries too. Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward (calf) has not practiced this week, nor has defensive tackle Mason Graham (rib), who was the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft. Cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder) and safety Grant Delpit (illness/groin) were limited Thursday.
Both teams will release updated injury reports Friday.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (9-4)
This sets up as the kind of game in which defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can lay some traps for Browns quarterback Sheduer Sanders. The rookie is coming off a 364-yard game against the lowly Tennessee Titans. He has breathed some life into the Browns offense, involving tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and that’s much better than the dink-and-dunk the Browns had going with fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. But Sanders is completing only 52.4% of his passes, and the Bears probably can force him into some mistakes that set them up with short fields. But it will be interesting to see how the Bears offense responds against one of the league’s best defenses.
Bears 23, Browns 14
Sean Hammond (10-3)
The Bears need this game, and I don’t anticipate a letdown. As Brad noted, Allen is going to keep Sanders guessing. I’d expect some exotic blitzes now and then, particularly on third down. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Bears defense finishes this game with two or more takeaways. On the other side, the Bears need to establish the run and find ways to avoid third-and-long. The cold weather might make this more of a low-scoring affair.
Bears 20, Browns 17
Phil Thompson (8-5)
The Browns can’t make up their minds. Are they the stout team that held the Green Bay Packers to a 13-10 loss in Week 3, or the team whose rally bid fell a two-point conversion shy in a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans last week? The defensive numbers say the Browns will be a very tough out, but no need to panic. Their offense is still inconsistent, banged up (former Bears lineman Teven Jenkins will have to start) and turnover-prone (two giveaways in each of the last three games).
Bears 24, Browns 20
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/chicago-bears-cleveland-browns-predictions/
