Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy jumped up to cradle what looked like a surefire touchdown reception.

But in a flash, Chicago Bears Jaylon Johnson, his back turned to the ball, somehow emerged with it for a no-look interception.

“Houdini” is usually a label assigned to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, but Johnson’s sneaky theft momentarily fooled even his own teammates.

“I didn’t even know where the ball was at,” linebacker D’Marco Jackson said. “I was getting ready to go in on special teams. So I looked back and I’m like, ‘He caught it?’”

If you can figure out how Johnson did it, tell him. Even he wasn’t quite sure.

“It’s really just playing the ball through his eyes and not really panicking at all, just understanding where the ball was going to come and then it happened to fall right into my hands,” he said.

Week 15 photos: Chicago Bears 31, Cleveland Browns 3

But he couldn’t say whether the ball bounced off Jeudy or he ripped it away, it was all so fluid.

“All those details happened a little quick,” Johnson said. “I mean, I was in position, seeing the ball, played through his eyes, and then the ball was in my hands.”

The Bears defense didn’t have to dig into a bag of tricks — they just dominated the Browns in a 31-3 romp Sunday at Soldier Field.

• Three interceptions, all in the second half, which the offense converted into two touchdowns and a field goal.

• Five sacks, including a career-high two by defensive end Austin Booker, for the most by the Bears since Week 5 in 2023.

• Just 192 yards of total offense allowed.

• One first down (1 for 6 on third down) and 57 yards of total offense allowed in the first half.

Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson makes an interception against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

“I can’t say enough good things here about our defense,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “I thought this was really an outstanding performance. I know we gave up a couple explosives that we’d like to have back, but outside of one or two plays, they really did a phenomenal job shutting down the run game, making it second-and-long, third-and-long, and getting off the field.

“When you combine that with the takeaways, once again, three takeaways there in the second half which were enormous for us, it really, I thought, carried the day for us.”

Lowlights were rare, one of which came on Isaiah Bond’s 47-yard reception against the Bears’ zero coverage

“Not too much you can do,” said Jaylon Johnson, who trailed Bond on the play. “Just a beater for that coverage.”

For the most part, the Bears defense took away the running game — holding power back Quinshon Judkins to 21 yards and a 1.8 yards per carry average — and turned the Browns one-dimensional.

When the running game couldn’t get going — the Browns had just two rushing first downs in the game — quarterback Shedeur Sanders couldn’t compensate in the passing game. He completed 18 of 35 for 177 yards and no touchdowns.

“We knew they had a good run game, run scheme,” Jackson said. “And then really just handling business in the air.”

Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson sacks Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

It’s misleading to say drives got bogged down for the Browns. Most never got started.

Cleveland went three-and-out on five of the first six drives and punted on all six drives. They had a sixth three-and-out in their first possession of the fourth quarter.

As stingy as the Bears were against the run, once again their calling card was the takeaway.

With three picks Sunday, the Bears improved their league-leading tallies to 21 interceptions and 30 takeaways.

Jackson had the team’s first pick, in the third quarter, reading Sanders’ eyes.

“Just got caught in the run, and then on my way out, trying to get to my drop, I just peeked back, and it was a low ball,” he said. “So got my hands up on it.”

Jackson’s pick proved pivotal.

On the next play, Williams zipped a pass to DJ Moore for a 22-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 21-3 cushion with the extra point.

“I think that was a game-changer to me,” Ben Johnson said. “You’re always looking for a little bit to spark your team, ignite your team there, and in the second half that’s really what it was. … We really needed it because we were able to capitalize and make that into 21-3, and it felt like we took firm control of the game there at that point.

“He’s done such a great job coming in (after training camp) … and picking up the defense.”

Jackson’s interception, as well as a first-quarter sack, were career firsts. He received a game ball.

“Just a rewarding feeling,” he said. “Just how we prepare through the week and just to come out and execute as a whole defensive unit with everybody making plays. Like, it’s a great feeling.”

Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) celebrates his interception in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

On the Browns’ next series, Jaylon Johnson followed up Jackson’s interception with his own momentum-turning pick in the end zone.

“They were talking before the snap, so I figured something was coming,” Johnson said. “Just trying to be in a good position to make a play. And that’s what I did.”

The offense drove 80 yards, with D’Andre Swift punching it in from 17 yards out.

Johnson’s first interception of the season came in his third start since returning from a groin injury that required core muscle surgery in late September.

“Still a long process,” he said about his recovery. “Just trying to keep getting in a groove, keep getting better, stronger.”

In the fourth quarter, C.J. Gardner-Johnson undercut Sanders’ pass deep right to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and returned it 32 yards to the Cleveland 22-yard line.

The Bears lost a yard on the ensuing offensive series, but came away with a field goal, a 41-yarder by Cairo Santos to give the Bears a 31-3 lead.

For the season, the Bears have 97 points off takeaways, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for second place and trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers (98). It’s the most takeaways by a Bears team through 14 games since 2018.

Bears defensive players said they hope to carry momentum into their rematch against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Soldier Field.

The Bears lost 28-21 in Week 14 at Lambeau Field.

“Really excited,” Johnson said. “It’s a very big opportunity for us — flexed (by the broadcast schedule to) this Saturday night. So we’ve got a lot to show and a lot to prove, and we got to go get our get-back.

Gardner-Johnson said that more than being excited about Sunday’s win, he’s “more so ready to get back to work. It’s a non-conference win, non-division win right here.

“It’s good to get 10 (wins) — first time in a long time. It’s in the past now, time to focus on Green Bay.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/chicago-bears-cleveland-browns-defense/