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)

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens served notice that they have plenty of fight left as they pursue a third straight AFC North title.

The Ravens snapped a two-game losing streak and had what coach John Harbaugh said was their most complete game of the season as they blanked the Cincinnati Bengals 24-0 on Sunday.

Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns and the Baltimore defense sacked Joe Burrow three times. Kyle Van Noy and Alohi Gilman teamed up for a 95-yard pick-6 in the fourth quarter that served as the knockout punch, and Burrow was shut out for the first time in his six-year career.

“Complementary football in all three phases, coming off our best week of practice. We’ve had really good weeks of practice, very intentional weeks of practice, and this was another level,” Harbaugh said. “At this point in time, to see that is really what is impressive about these guys.”

The Ravens (7-7) won their fourth straight road game and pulled within a half-game of Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Steelers host Miami on Monday night.

Baltimore avenged a 32-14 loss to the visiting Bengals on Thanksgiving night.

The Ravens shut out the Bengals for the fourth time. It was the first time the Bengals have been shut out since their 2017 opener, which was also against Baltimore.

“I think we were (ticked) off we lost to them the first time; I’m not going to lie,” Gilman said. "It was good to go out there and just put that on tape and let everyone know that we’re ready to roll.”

Jackson threw first-half TD passes to Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers and finished 8 of 12 for 150 yards. Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries, his sixth game of 100 or more this season.

Baltimore's offense was on the field for just 20:41, but scored on three straight drives late in the second quarter and early in the third.

“I believe all of us on offense had good rhythm. It felt like us, and we just have to keep pushing the envelope. We got positive yards and stayed ahead of the sticks,” Jackson said.

Cincinnati (4-10) — eliminated from playoff contention with the loss — drove into Baltimore territory four times but couldn't score.

“It starts with our offense getting shut out. Never saw that coming,” coach Zac Taylor said. “There’s a huge amount of accountability I have to take with that. It’s frustrating to score zero points. That’s unacceptable.”

Burrow completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards but went 4 of 10 for 59 yards and was picked off twice when under pressure. The game capped a frustrating week for Burrow, who earlier in the week said he wasn't having fun playing football.

“I mean, I think this is one of the worst games I've played. When your quarterback plays like that, your team is not going to have a chance to win,” said Burrow, who has thrown four interceptions in the last five quarters.

Ja’Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 132 yards.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Burrow drove the Bengals to the Ravens 7. On third-and-goal, Burrow tried to avoid the rush of Baltimore linebacker Tavius Robinson when he was picked off by Van Noy at the 5. Van Noy handed it off at the 16 to Gilman, who went 84 yards up the right sideline for the first defensive touchdown of his five-year career.

Gilman said he wasn't surprised that Van Noy handed the ball off.

“I was actually yelling at him to pitch the ball after he caught it, so it worked out,” he said. “I saved some hamstrings for him. Put it on me. So, shout out to Kyle Van Noy. It was a great play.”

The Ravens extended their lead to 14-0 with 23 seconds left in the first half on Jackson's 28-yard strike to Flowers in the back left corner of the end zone. Bengals safety Geno Stone was late on coverage as the Ravens took only 42 seconds to go 80 yards in five plays.

On the second play of the drive, cornerback DJ Turner had a potential interception deflect off his facemask at the Bengals 17 when Jackson overthrew Mark Andrews.

“To get down there and to get the seven points, take it the 14, two-score game going into halftime — it was a huge drive,” Harbaugh said.

Ravens: LB Teddye Buchanan (knee) left in the first half. CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot) and CB Marlon Humphrey (knee) were injured in the second half. Humphrey returned to the game.

Bengals: WR Charlie Jones (right ankle) came out in the second quarter. TE Noah Fant (right ankle), DT Kris Jenkins Jr. (left ankle) and RT Amarius Mims (right knee) were injured in the second half and did not return.

Ravens: Host New England next Sunday night.

Bengals: At Miami next Sunday.

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

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53), with safety Alohi Gilman (12) running next to him, returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) is unable to complete a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after being sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, makes a catch for a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)