The Bears are coming off a loss for the first time since Week 9, and this is another great chance to see growth in this football team and how it responds. The Browns are not a team to sneeze at. Their defense has a Hall of Famer on the edge, and their offense has drastically gotten better. This could very well be a trap game, but I think this will be a game to propel the Bears and Caleb Williams to a stellar finish to an already great season.
Here are my five expectations for the Bears versus the Cleveland Browns on Sunday:
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Caleb and Shedeur both put up big numbers
Cam Ward and the Titans had great success against the Browns last week. The Bears should be able to replicate that success and right the wrongs of last week’s loss. The Bears’ offense is showing it is turning the corner, but this week, I think it gets unlocked, and the Bears post up 30 points. That will be behind a stellar Caleb Williams performance. Even with it being freezing cold, I still think Caleb will deliver multiple great passing touchdowns and have a very efficient day. Shedeur Sanders is coming off a great showing, and while this Bears defense is elite at getting takeaways, they still give up too many big plays. Shedeur has been great at creating big plays for the Browns, and I think he will have success against the Bears’ defense.
Both rookie tight ends have big days
To start this season, all the talk was about how great Tyler Warren was. Warren did get off to a phenomenal start, but now the talk has been about Harold Fannin Jr. and Colston Loveland. Harold Fannin Jr. had a slow but steady start to the season, and he is coming off his best performance of the year last week with 8 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. It seems like him and Sheduer have a nice connection, and he is currently the leading receiver for the Browns. I think he will be the playmaker who gives the Bears’ secondary the most fits, especially given the injuries at the linebacker position. Would not be surprised if he pops off for 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. Colston Loveland is also a matchup nightmare for linebackers, and even the best of the best corners have trouble handling him. He has surged as of late, and I think he posted big numbers against Cleveland. Given that most likely Rome will miss another week, Caleb will need a replacement target. I could see Caleb getting the ball out quickly to Loveland, resulting in a 100-yard performance from him as well. Along with two touchdowns, too.
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Ozzy Trapilo and Darnell Wright will hold Myles Garrett to just one sack
You do not play football with the goal in mind to give up any sacks, but against Myles Garrett, only giving up one sack is a great day. Myles Garrett, in this matchup, has to deal with a really physical offensive line, which has great blocking tight ends to chip. Caleb Williams is also one of the best escape artists in the NFL. I think Ben Johnson will also make it very easy for Caleb Williams to get the ball out quickly. Garrett is a general talent, one of the best the league has ever seen off the edge. I still do not think this is a game that gets him closer to breaking the sack record. This is as good a test as any to see just how good Ozzy Trapilo is. So far in each of his previous tests, he has passed with flying colors. Darnell Wright, at times, has looked like an All-Pro. Seeing what the Bears did to Micah Parsons in the second half and how he didn’t finish with a sack last week, I am confident that Myles Garrett will only bring Caleb down once.
Montez Sweat finishes with more sacks than Myles Garrett Sunday
Myles Garrett and Montez Sweat are on two different stratospheres when you get to comparing both players. Matchups will play a big factor in this one. The Browns have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL this season. One of Shedeur Sanders’ worst traits is that he drifts in the pocket and holds onto the ball way too long. Mix in the fact that his playmakers are not that good, and this is a great match-up for a guy like Montez Sweat to feast. Sweat has 8.5 sacks this season, and this could be the game where he produces 2-2.5 sacks, putting him at double-digit sacks for the year. As I predicted above I think Garrett has one sack, so this will be one of the few times that Montez Sweat outplays Myles Garrett.
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Nahshon Wright will ink himself as an All-Pro with his 6th interception Sunday
In his three starts, Shedeur Sanders has thrown at least one interception. Shedeur takes more chances and more risks, while that is great for the Browns’ offense at times, it also bodes well for the opposing defense. Especially a defense like the Bears, that thrives off opportunities to get an interception. Nahshon Wright has been stellar in coverage, and he has been a ball magnet. I think he catches Sheduer slipping once in Sunday’s game. For some reason, teams like to test Nahshon Wright, and time in and time again they learn to regret that decision. With 6 interceptions on the season and just the amazing story that has been Nahshon’s career, I think he would be a shoo-in for an All-Pro selection.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Bold predictions for Caleb Williams, Bears vs Cleveland Browns
