Caleb Williams, Bears face enormous test as Myles Garrett chases NFL history

Looking at their record, the Cleveland Browns (3-10) may not appear to be a big threat for the Chicago Bears (9-4) in Week 15. But they could be one of quarterback Caleb Williams toughest tests all season.

On Wednesday, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft discussed his pending game against All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, who has 20 sacks, three shy of the official single-season record.

"I'm going to try and make sure that he doesn't get the sack record on us and on me," Williams told reporters, per the Akron Beacon Journal Browns beat writer Chris Easterling.

That could be easier said than done. But if successful, it might be the biggest sign yet of Williams' growth from Year 1 to 2.

Myles Garrett an important litmus test for Bears, QB Caleb Williams

Garrett is well on his way to earning his second Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year honor in three seasons. He's been on an unprecedented run of late. Since sacks became an official stat in 1982, his 15 since Week 8 are the league's most in a six-game span. (h/t Stathead) 

Garrett has a sack in seven consecutive games (the NFL's longest active streak), including three games with at least three sacks.

The Bears know the importance of avoiding those negative plays. After being taken down a league-high 68 times as a rookie, Williams has a much stronger interior offensive line thanks to significant front office investments. This offseason, Chicago added guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman. Entering Week 15, Williams has been sacked 20 times, and his sack rate has decreased 58.9 percent, from 10.79 percent last season to 4.43 percent in 2025.

That's even with an uptick in play action plays under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, who emphasized the run fakes during his time as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.

Per SumerSports data, Williams ranks first among quarterbacks in play action plays (167). In a Week 14 loss at the Green Bay Packers (9-3-1), Chicago ran play action at a 61.5 percent rate, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bears held All-Pro edge-rusher Micah Parsons out of the sack column, although he finished with seven pressures, tied for his fourth-most in a game this season.

Williams has averaged 3.5s time to throw on those snaps (4.15s against the Packers); only New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (3.65s) and Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (3.6s) average longer time to throw on play action pass attempts.

He must get the ball out quicker facing Garrett.

Per NFL Pro data, Garrett averages 2.77s time to pressure and ranks No. 1 among 97 qualifying defensive linemen in average get-off time (0.72s), which measures how quickly a player crosses the line of scrimmage once the ball is snapped.

The Bears may have to alter their modus operandi for Williams to avoid becoming a footnote in NFL history. If successful, it would arguably be the biggest sign yet that their process is working.