STWF Sports | Dec. 10, 2025 – Shedeur Sanders has faced big moments, hostile crowds, and fierce NFL pass rushes—but Sunday’s matchup in Chicago may bring his toughest opponent yet: the weather. When the Cleveland Browns take the field at Soldier Field to face the Bears, they’ll be greeted by temperatures barely reaching 10 degrees, with wind chills plunging to -10 and possibly as low as -20 degrees. It’s the kind of cold that turns football into survival and makes every throw, every catch, and every hit feel twice as punishing.

For Sanders, fresh off a historic performance last week, Sunday will offer a new test—one that doesn’t show up on film or scouting reports.

And he isn’t the only Sanders preparing for battle.

His brother, Deion Sanders Jr., who has chronicled Shedeur’s journey from Boulder to the NFL with behind-the-scenes content, joked on X that the conditions may be too harsh even for his equipment:
“I don’t think my camera can function in these conditions …. At all.”

If the cold doesn’t challenge the Browns offense, it may very well challenge the camera crews.

Bright Skies, Brutal Air

The good news? Sunshine is expected, unlike the heavy snow and overcast skies the Browns endured in Buffalo last week. But sunshine doesn’t soften a freezing Midwest wind. It’s unlikely either side will gain an edge from the brutal conditions, as both teams are accustomed to outdoor winter football.

Chicago and Cleveland are built for this. Their fans are built for this. Their stadiums are built for this.

But are their quarterbacks?

A Rookie With Something to Prove

For Sanders, the Browns’ 3–10 record does little to diminish what this game represents. Every snap is a chance to strengthen his case as a long-term franchise quarterback. Last week showed glimpses of the talent that made him one of the most talked-about rookies of the 2025 class.

Sunday will show whether he can adapt when everything—velocity, timing, ball security—changes the moment cold air smacks the football.

There’s more at stake than just quarterback development. Myles Garrett, one of the premier defensive players of this era, is chasing history. The All-Pro pass rusher needs just three more sacks to break the NFL’s single-season record. With the Bears’ offensive line struggling in recent weeks, the opportunity is there.

Bears Fighting for Their Playoff Lives

If Sanders and the Browns are playing for pride and progress, the Bears are playing for their season.

Last Sunday’s loss to Green Bay knocked Chicago from the No. 1 seed in the NFC all the way to No. 7, a sharp reminder of how tight the playoff race is in December. A win over Cleveland keeps the Bears in control of their postseason trajectory.

A loss could push them out of the playoff picture entirely.

And if Chicago gets the victory they need—and the Packers fall to the Broncos—it will set the stage for an electrifying Week 16 showdown: Bears vs. Packers for first place in the NFC North. Few rivalries carry such weight.

Few weather forecasts are as ominous, either.

Bundle Up—it Won’t Be Pretty

Sunday’s game likely won’t be a track meet. It won’t resemble the modern passing league banners the NFL often waves. It may come down to grit, field position, and which team handles the cold without turning the ball over.

For Shedeur Sanders, it’s another chance to grow.
For Myles Garrett, another chance at history.
For Chicago, another chance to keep its playoff hopes alive.

And for everyone watching?

Another reminder that December football in the Midwest is not for the faint of heart.