The Chicago Bears (5-8) will look to increase their profitable streak to 3 video games for the primary time since December 2020 after they play the Browns (8-5) on Sunday in Cleveland.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot take a look at the sport.
Player within the highlight
Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett
The final time Bears quarterback Justin Fields performed the Browns within the common season was his first profession begin on Sept. 26, 2021. It’s an inconceivable one to neglect.
“Just being back in Ohio, first start, everybody excited, and then of course getting sacked too,” Fields mentioned. “Hopefully we can change that going back this weekend.”
Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett recorded 4 1/2 of the Browns’ 9 sacks in opposition to Fields, who accomplished simply 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards underneath then-coach Matt Nagy. Fields misplaced 67 yards to the sacks.
As the Bears return to Cleveland, Garrett, a four-time Pro Bowl choice, nonetheless is wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He ranks seventh within the NFL with 13 sacks and is tied for fourth with 26 quarterback hits.
Bears left guard Teven Jenkins known as Garrett “a freak” and mentioned he would be the finest move rusher he has gone in opposition to.
“His explosiveness, quickness and just overall play strength is other-wordly, really,” Jenkins mentioned.
Garrett is a part of a Browns protection that has the very best sack charge within the NFL at 10.2%. Former Green Bay Packers/Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith has 3 1/2 sacks and 14 quarterback hits. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who has 4 1/2 sacks, will miss the sport with a pectoral harm.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy mentioned he obtained a stats sheet with the Browns ranked first in a number of defensive classes — together with permitting simply 263 yards and 159.7 passing yards per sport — and thought, “This is going to be fun.”
“You have 95 (Garrett) and 99 (Smith) staring down at you at the same time, it’s fun,” Getsy mentioned. “This is why you do what you do. You want to play against the best. Yes, those two you have to account for at all times. There’s no question about it that when you’re going up against guys like that your game plan has to be centered around those two guys.”
Pressing query
Can the Bears protection proceed its late-season surge?
Over the final 5 video games — and coinciding with the arrival of move rusher Montez Sweat — the Bears protection has 10 takeaways and 11 sacks whereas permitting a median of 272.2 yards and 18.2 factors per sport. Contributions are coming from a number of gamers throughout all three ranges, and the arrogance swell inside the complete unit has been plain.
“Most of it is really about the energy and the passion that you see,” coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Friday. “When guys know what to do and how to do it, they play with speed and physicality and you can start to feel that.”
Sweat’s presence up entrance has made a distinction. Linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds are hitting stride too. On the again finish, Jaylon Johnson is having fun with the most well liked stretch of his four-year profession. Key contributions are additionally coming from Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Eddie Jackson, Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter.
Count linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi amongst those that have felt the momentum and the ensuing pleasure with the protection. “It’s a lot of fun,” Borgonzi mentioned. “It is. When you’re enjoying nicely, it creates loads of power and juice. And proper now we’re enjoying nicely. Now you’ve obtained to keep up that.
“You don’t have to do anything extra or special. You’ve just got to do your job. … I think we’re all excited about where we’re going, we just have to have the singular focus of playing good ball on Sunday.”
Keep an eye fixed on …
Joe Flacco
In the 12 months of the backup QB within the NFL, Flacco’s couch-to-starter journey is one other compelling story.
The Super Bowl MVP within the 2012 season with the Baltimore Ravens informed Cleveland reporters he was spending his Sunday afternoons watching soccer on TV earlier than becoming a member of the Browns observe squad Nov. 20 after which beginning their final two video games. Flacco, who made 9 begins over the earlier three seasons for the New York Jets, has thrown for 565 yards, 5 touchdowns and two interceptions in two video games, together with a 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, who’s only a few years older than Flacco, known as the 38-year-old quarterback’s return ”spectacular.”
“The thing that stands out is his ability to make every throw,” Borgonzi mentioned. “He’s got a strong arm, really comfortable in the pocket. It’s impressive to see a guy that just got there have such good command of the offense.”
The Browns have put up some explosive performs within the two video games with Flacco on the helm. He has had 9 passes go for 20 or extra yards and is averaging 5.8 air yards per completion, in response to NextGen Stats. Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Flacco makes a group defend the whole discipline.
Against the Jaguars, Flacco focused extensive receiver Amari Cooper 14 occasions, and Cooper had seven catches for 77 yards. For the season, Cooper has 57 catches for 876 yards — 15.4 yards per catch.
“(Flacco) definitely likes showing off his arm and stepping into it and trying to deliver a deep ball,” security Jaquan Brisker mentioned. “Obviously they’ve got some receivers that can go deep, and he gives them shots to do that.”
Unconventional knowledge
When the Bears gained the coin toss earlier than Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Lions, they made the unconventional option to obtain the opening kickoff. Eight performs later, DJ Moore scored on a 16-yard run to place the Bears up 7-0 lower than 5 minutes in.
It wasn’t the primary time the Bears have opted to obtain the opening kickoff.
In 13 coin tosses this season, the Bears have gained six occasions. The final 4 occasions they gained — in opposition to the Lions, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders — the Bears elected to obtain. The first two occasions they gained it, they elected to defer their option to the second half.
Three of the 4 occasions the Bears elected to obtain — two have been underneath Fields and two underneath backup quarterback Tyson Bagent — they scored on the opening drive.
Eberflus mentioned he visits with director of analysis and evaluation Harrison Freid to make the choice every week, weighing an opponent’s strengths on offense and protection, their efficiency on opening drives and the wind. He then tells his gamers what their selection will probably be on the Friday earlier than a sport.
“We’ll just look at the opponent and then look at ourselves and how we match up well against a certain group,” Eberflus mentioned.
Teams most frequently defer, probably permitting the chance to attain again to again if it has the ball on the finish of the second quarter after which in the beginning of the third. Every group that has gained the coin toss in opposition to the Bears this 12 months has deferred.
“There’s really no analytics to that that suggest that you get a double-dip in that situation, taking the ball or deferring,” Eberflus mentioned. “But you look at it and it’s still about execution. It’s still about creating the opportunity for yourself to get the double-dip — stopping them and using your timeouts and all that.”
Injury report
It has been a difficult week in Cleveland. The Browns positioned beginning security Grant Delpit (groin) and offensive tackles Jedrick Wills (knee) and Dawand Jones (knee) on injured reserve. In addition, defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral), security Juan Thornhill and middle Ethan Pocic (stinger) have been dominated out for Sunday’s sport.
The Browns already had entered this week with 4 Week 1 starters on IR in operating again Nick Chubb, quarterback Deshaun Watson, offensive sort out Jack Conklin and security Rodney McLeod. Standout cornerback Denzel Ward has missed the final three video games with a shoulder concern however is pushing to return Sunday and is listed as questionable.
That leaves coach Kevin Stefanski and his employees to reshuffle on each side of the ball.
For the Bears, the story is decidedly extra optimistic. Safety Jaquan Brisker returned to observe Friday after lacking yesterday’s on-field work with a groin concern. Brisker is listed as questionable for Sunday’s sport. Receiver DJ Moore shares the identical standing as he works by way of an ankle harm.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (9-4)
This is an attention-grabbing matchup as a result of the Bears have created some momentum and cling to hope they will run the desk to shut the season and have a shot on the playoffs. The Browns (8-5) stay two video games behind the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC North and have confronted the second-toughest schedule within the NFL whereas managing a slew of season-ending accidents to key gamers. Joe Flacco is the fourth beginning quarterback coach Kevin Stefanski has been compelled to make use of, and whereas he’s a sitting duck within the pocket, he can get the ball out rapidly with the Browns lacking their high three offensive tackles. Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett is likely to be the very best defensive participant the Bears face all season. Edge to the Browns with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz able to creating a wide range of seems for Justin Fields to cope with.
Browns 23, Bears 16
Colleen Kane (8-5)
The Bears are a a lot more healthy group than the Browns and are enjoying with rising confidence whereas on a two-game profitable streak. That might assist maintain this one shut. But even with the accidents, this Browns protection behind Myles Garrett has the potential to significantly take a look at Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ poise in a hostile setting. Meanwhile, Joe Flacco jumped off the sofa and some weeks later was throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to the Jaguars. If the Bears can sustain their takeaway parade in opposition to him, perhaps they’ll have an opportunity at pulling off a second straight big-time win. But even after the Bears’ enhancements during the last month, I’m nonetheless in prove-it-to-us mode.
Browns 24, Bears 20
Dan Wiederer (9-4)
First to 17 factors wins? It might be that sort of day. The Browns protection presents a serious take a look at for Justin Fields and Co. And on the highway, the Bears offense will to have to remain poised, restrict errors and capitalize on big-play alternatives after they come up. Still, the Bears protection is rolling proper now. And generally in December, the more healthy group has the benefit. The hunt for a wild-card berth continues.
Bears 17, Browns 16
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Source: www.bostonherald.com