Caleb Williams throws for 2 TDs, Bears pound Browns even as Myles Garrett closes in on sacks record

CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams rolled toward the right sideline and unleashed a pass he probably had no business attempting. DJ Moore went up in a crowd in the back of the end zone and came down with a touchdown.

That's the type of day it was for the Bears.

Williams threw two touchdown passes and Chicago beat Cleveland 31-3 on Sunday in one of the coldest games ever at Soldier Field even though the Browns’ Myles Garrett moved within a sack of the NFL’s single-season record.

The Bears (10-4) heated up early on a day when the temperature at kickoff was 8 degrees and they hit double digits in wins for the first time since the 2018 NFC North championship team went 12-4. They scored two first-quarter touchdowns and broke the game open with two more in the third.

It was just the sort of performance they needed coming off a loss at Green Bay that knocked them from first to seventh in the NFC, with a rematch against their rivals at home next week looming.

“You want to start the game off every week like that," Williams said. "But definitely this week not allowing them to get going, not allowing them to feel some energy or feel they can beat us — that was our mindset going into this game.”

Garrett had 1 1/2 sacks, giving him 21 1/2 on the season and leaving him one shy of the record shared by New York Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (2001) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt (2021). He got to Williams in the second quarter on a third down at the Cleveland 8, and he and Shelby Harris took down the quarterback early in the fourth. A four-time All-Pro, Garrett has at least one sack in eight straight games and has 17 1/2 in that span.

Williams shook off a string of shaky outings, finishing 17 of 28 for 242 yards. He completed fewer than 60% of his passes in each of the previous six games.

D’Andre Swift ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Moore added 69 yards receiving and two scoring catches with Rome Odunze missing his second straight game because of a foot injury. His second TD — a 22-yarder in the third — was one for the highlight reel.

“I'd say 99% of the quarterbacks, you tell them, ‘Don’t even waste your time looking back there and trying to make that throw,'” coach Ben Johnson said. “There's usually bad things that happen. And yet, he's got the ability to make that throw. DJ made a heck of a play there right on the back line, as well.”

Rookie Luther Burden caught six passes for 84 yards, including a 40-yarder.

The Bears held Cleveland to 192 yards and turned three interceptions against Shedeur Sanders into 17 points. With three takeaways, they extended their league lead to 30.

D’Marco Jackson had an interception deep in Cleveland territory in the third. Jaylon Johnson picked off a pass at the goal line with his back to the quarterback later in the quarter, and both plays led to touchdowns. Another one by C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the fourth set up a field goal, helping the Bears bounce back after having a five-game win streak snapped last week. They also won their fifth straight home game since a season-opening loss to Minnesota.

“They had a great defensive scheme,” Sanders said. “I enjoyed playing against them. I enjoyed playing in that. It was definitely a little challenge, so I look forward to learning from that.”

'The Browns (3-11) have dropped three straight and six of seven.

Sanders was 18 of 35 for 177 yards and three interceptions. He was sacked five times in his fourth start. The Browns announced the highly publicized fifth-round pick and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will be their starter for the rest of the season after passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns while also having a rushing score against Tennessee last week.

“He’s a young player that is making progress, like we’ve talked about all week,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I see it in games. I get to see it in practice. There’s going to be ups and downs to young players, particularly the quarterback position. So we’ll learn from it, and we’ll be better next week.”

Browns: Garrett tweaked his hip during the game. ... G Teven Jenkins exited with a shoulder injury.

Bears: Odunze aggravated his foot injury in warmups. Johnson had no details on exactly how it happened and whether he'll play again this season. “I really don't know ... the extent of it,” he said. “When something like that happens right before a game and you're solely focused on getting the next guy ready to perform at a high level.” ... Williams limped toward the locker room after he was hit in the shin on a pass on the final play of the first half.

Browns: Host Buffalo next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) carries for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) kicks his field goal attempt past Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, but misses the field goal in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks off the field at halftime of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama brought the energy from opening tip of the NBA All-Star Game, and it proved infectious.

Some were crediting the 7-foot-5 San Antonio Spurs star for doing more to save the midseason showcase in mere minutes than anything the league has done in years.

“It was a pretty good display of basketball,” Wembanyama said. “Better than last year, in my opinion. It was fun.”

Wembanyama had been confident going in that setting the tone with competitive fire would make a difference in the league's 75th annual showcase on Sunday at Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers' year-old arena.

“If you share that energy," he said, "people feel like they have a responsibility to share it back to you.”

This year featured yet another new format. Two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players competed in a round-robin tournament consisting of three 12-minute games, all of which had exciting finishes. The top two teams by record advanced to the title game.

“I liked it,” Wembanyama said. “I wouldn’t be against this format in the future, and I wouldn’t be against the regular East versus West either.”

The U.S. Stars team beat the U.S. Stripes 47-21 for the championship, with Anthony Edwards earning MVP honors.

Retired Spurs player Manu Ginobili on X called it the “most fun NBA All-Star Game in a loooong time!”

World team player Karl-Anthony Towns said, “I feel that after today I think you all can see the competition is there, and I think that we all brought it today and a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it.”

The first All-Star Game in 1951 debuted an East vs. West format that continued until 2018, when it was replaced with a player draft, where that year’s top vote-getters acted as captains and selected their teams from the pool of available starters, regardless of conference.

That lasted until 2024, when East vs. West returned for one year.

Last year, in San Francisco, the game was played tournament-style, with three eight-player teams and a fourth team of rising stars. Games were played to 40 points to decide a winner.

Next year a U.S. vs the rest of the world format is on tap for the game in Phoenix.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, who is from Israel and played on the World team, called the latest change a fun format.

“People are about to understand that it’s fun watching the All-Star Game,” he said. “It’s going to be a little more competitive, try to bring it back.”

Boston Celtics fan Siddakk Chatrah was initially skeptical of a new format that wasn't easily explainable.

“The first game Wemby and some other international stars brought the energy, and Anthony Edwards matched them,” said Chatrah, who was at his first All-Star Game. “Then these young dudes brought the energy to LeBron, KD, they stepped up. It's a better watching experience at a way better level than I could have imagined. Yeah, it’s a little confusing, but I think they might have found something they can tweak a little more."

Even Kawhi Leonard was a bit unsure of how things worked. Cheered by his home fans, the Los Angeles Clippers superstar scored 31 points and shot 84% from the floor.

“Even as the game’s going on, trying to figure out the records for being 2-1 and how you play that out as well. Is it like by points? How many? Point spread or what?” he said. “I thought it was good, but I still think going back to East-West will be great. I think guys will compete still.”

Instead of being played in the evening, the event was held in mid-afternoon — ideal in attracting younger viewers — so NBC could feature the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in prime time.

Jaylen Brown likes the idea of adding a 1-on-1 competition to All-Star weekend.

“It reminds me of the purity of the game. Like, it’s just mano y mano,” the Boston Celtics guard said. “You got people on the court talking trash. You got to be an offensive and a defensive player.”

Brown took the idea further, suggesting players could challenge each other to 1-on-1 games.

“There are some people I would love to challenge," he said. "We could donate to whatever charity. Let's set it up.”

Detroit's Cade Cunningham has played under different formats in each of his first two years as an All-Star. He'd like to try the traditional East vs. West format.

“I want to be able to experience what all the greats played in and everything,” he said. “But I’m just playing the cards I was dealt. I’m sure it will come back eventually.”

Count LeBron James among its fans, even if the 41-year-old isn't around to see a potential return.

“I like the East and West format,” he said. “It’s been really good.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Barack Obama talks to Julius Erving during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

USA Stars guard Tyrese Maxey, left, is defended by World center Victor Wembanyama, of France, during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

World center Victor Wembanyama, of France, reacts next to USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

USA Stripes forward Kawhi Leonard, left, celebrates with forward Kevin Durant after scoring against World during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)