Just 48 Hours Before a Win-or-Go-Home Clash With the Cleveland Browns, NFL Drops “Season-Shifting” Bears News That Sends Shockwaves Through the NFC
Chicago, Illinois – 12/11/2025
The Chicago Bears enter Week 15 in a suffocating state of pressure and urgency. A heartbreaking loss to the Packers knocked them out of the NFC’s upper tier, and the atmosphere inside Halas Hall immediately shifted into “no more mistakes” mode. But just as everything seemed to be tightening around them, only 48 hours before their must-win matchup against the Cleveland Browns, the NFL delivered news powerful enough to shake the entire NFC.
Cornerback Josh Blackwell has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his stunning 92-yard punt return touchdown in the Bears’ most recent game — a moment of pure explosiveness that reignited hope for a team fighting to regain its footing.

The return wasn’t just a score. It was a statement that the Bears — criticized, doubted, and pushed to the edge — still possess players capable of flipping a game’s momentum in a single instant.
For head coach Ben Johnson, the NFL’s announcement was like a bolt of clarity cutting through the darkness.
“When the NFL made this announcement, I immediately knew it was more than just an award,” Johnson said. “It was a signal to the entire team that we still control our destiny. In moments where the season hangs in the balance, you need an explosive play that changes everything — and Blackwell delivered it at the exact moment we needed most.”
Blackwell’s honor also carries significant strategic implications. A 92-yard return forces opponents to completely rethink how they kick to the Bears: directional kicks, shorter kicks, or ultra-conservative placements — all of which mean better field position for Chicago’s offense. And in December, every yard can determine a playoff fate.
The Bears sit at 9–4 and cannot afford another misstep. The Browns, with one of the most physically punishing defenses in the AFC, will be the toughest test Chicago has faced since midseason.
But one thing is clear:
After the NFL’s “season-shifting” announcement, the entire NFC has been forced to take a second look at the Bears — a team that refuses to go quietly, even when pushed to the brink.













