Caleb Williams looks forward to the
rematch against the Packers after the Bears rout the Browns
[December 16, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears had just wiped out the Cleveland
Browns on Sunday. Caleb Williams wasted no time turning his
attention toward the next game.
Chicago and Green Bay will meet for the second time in three weeks
when the Packers visit Soldier Field on Saturday night. And Williams
is ready for the rematch.
“I’m definitely excited,” he said after beating Cleveland. "I’m
excited for the moment. They’re coming here, and it’s another game
for us. But I’m excited.”
The NFC North-leading Bears (10-4) won five straight games and nine
of 10 before losing 28-21 at Lambeau Field two weeks ago, when
Williams underthrew Cole Kmet on an interception in the end zone in
the closing minute. Chicago fell behind the Packers in the division
and dropped from first to seventh in the conference.
The Bears bounced back in a big way against the struggling Browns,
winning 31-3 in one of the coldest games ever at Soldier Field. With
the Packers (9-4-1) losing at Denver, Chicago regained the division
lead.
The schedule is about to take another tough turn, with Green Bay
visiting and a trip to San Francisco before Chicago hosts Detroit in
the finale. The Bears at least won't have to deal with Micah Parsons
after the Packers' superstar pass rusher tore his left ACL in the
third quarter at Denver.
Even so, a win over Green Bay is hardly a sure thing for Chicago.
The Packers have dominated the NFL's longest-running rivalry the
past few decades. And if Williams wants some payback for the most
recent meeting, that's fine with coach Ben Johnson.
“I’m glad Caleb didn’t like how the last one ended,” he said Monday.
"None of us should. No one likes to lose. And so the only way you
can shake that feeling is to look to stack more victories. And so
that’s our intent.”
What’s working
The defense. Chicago held Cleveland to 192 yards and sacked Shedeur
Sanders five times in his fourth start. The Bears also had three
interceptions, leading to two touchdowns and a field goal, and
extended their league-leading totals in INTs (21), takeaways (30)
and turnover differential (plus-20).
What needs help
The way the Bears dominated, it was hard to find fault with their
performance.
Stock up
WR DJ Moore. If Moore seemed like a forgotten man the previous week,
well, consider this quite a reintroduction.
[to top of second column] |
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates as he runs
off the field after an NFL football game against the Cleveland
Browns in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
He went from being targeted just three times and
catching one pass for a 4-yard loss to contributing 69 yards and two
touchdowns with leading receiver Rome Odunze missing his second
straight game because of a lingering foot injury. That included a
highlight-reel grab on a 22-yarder in the third quarter. Williams
rolled toward the right sideline and Moore went up in a crowd in the
back of the end zone to haul in the pass.
Moore, who is second on the team with 43 receptions and 567 yards,
is on pace to finish with 689 yards. His career low is 788 yards in
2018 as a rookie with Carolina.
Stock down
K Cairo Santos. In seven seasons with the Bears, Santos had never
missed a field goal of 39 yards or less. He was 84 for 84 before a
35-yarder nicked the right upright in the second quarter, a bad miss
even with the Browns' Myles Garrett coming in off the edge. Santos
is 21 of 26 on field goals this season.
Injuries
Johnson said “all options are on the table” with Odunze after he
aggravated his foot injury in warmups and was a late scratch. It's
been bothering him since October, and the team had been managing the
situation by having him sit out some practices. “There may be a case
where we have to protect him from himself a little bit and just make
sure we get him right and he’ll be able to help us down the road,"
Johnson said. ... The Bears opened a 21-day practice window on LB
Tremaine Edmunds (groin), who has missed the past four games. He was
hurt in Chicago's Week 11 win at Minnesota. ... WR Luther Burden
(ankle) is day to day after he was hurt on Sunday.
Key number
3 — The three points were the fewest allowed by Chicago since a 29-3
victory over the New York Giants in Week 17 of the 2021 season. The
previous low this year was 14 in wins over Dallas in Week 3 and New
Orleans in Week 7.
Next steps
The Bears will try to beat the Packers for the second time in three
meetings and get some payback for the loss in Week 14. Chicago won
at Lambeau Field in last year's finale, ending an 11-game losing
streak against Green Bay.
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