Dustin Hopkins made a 34-yard discipline objective with 32 seconds to play to carry the Cleveland Browns to a 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Bears protection disrupted Browns quarterback Joe Flacco all day, together with interceptions by Eddie Jackson, Tremaine Edmunds and Tyrique Stevenson.
But Flacco got here by when it mattered most.
His 51-yard landing move to Amari Cooper tied the sport at 17-17 with 3 minutes, 18 seconds to play. Flacco threw an ideal move between three Bears defenders to Cooper, who ran 25 yards down the best sideline to attain.
After the Bears offense needed to punt on the next drive, Flacco threw two massive passes to tight finish David Njoku, the primary a 31-yarder to get to the Bears 48-yard line. Then on third-and-15, Flacco hit Njoku with a 34-yard move to the Bears 19.
When Hopkins’ discipline objective sailed by the uprights, it stopped the Bears (5-9) from nabbing their first three-game profitable streak since December 2020.
Flacco accomplished 28 of 44 passes for 374 yards with two touchdowns and the three interceptions.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields accomplished 19 of 40 passes for 166 yards with a landing and two interceptions, each on Hail Marys to finish a half.
Fields accomplished a 30-yard move to Tyler Scott to get the Bears to the Browns 45 with 20 seconds to play after which threw two incompletions. On a Hail Mary move to finish the sport, huge receiver Darnell Mooney had the ball in his fingers in the long run zone, nevertheless it popped out and D’Anthony Bell grabbed it out of the air to seal the victory for the Browns (9-5).
The Bears took a 10-point lead within the third quarter.
After a 7-7 halftime tie, Edmunds’ first profession pick-six got here after T.J. Edwards hit huge receiver Cedric Tillman because the ball was coming at him. Edmunds grabbed it out of the air and ran 45 yards for the landing and a 14-7 Bears lead. Edmunds has 4 interceptions this 12 months, together with three within the final 4 video games.
Cairo Santos made a 41-yard discipline objective to present the Bears a 17-7 lead with 7:07 to play within the third quarter.
Late within the third quarter, the Bears got here up with a defensive cease, however returner Trent Taylor muffed the punt. The Browns recovered on the Bears 20.
On the following play, Stevenson intercepted Flacco on the 1-yard line and returned it 34 yards. But the Bears couldn’t capitalize on the takeaway. Fields was stopped for no achieve on fourth-and-1 on the Browns 33 when he was tripped up simply in need of the primary down.
Hopkins made a 33-yard discipline objective early within the fourth quarter to chop the Bears result in 17-10. Former Bears huge receiver Marquise Goodwin obtained behind the protection to catch a 57-yard Flacco move that arrange Hopkins’ kick.
Here’s how the sport unfolded.
Inactives introduced
Bears huge receiver DJ Moore and security Jaquan Brisker are energetic Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Moore was listed as questionable after he handled an ankle harm all week, however he practiced in full Friday and can play in opposition to the Browns.
Brisker handled groin tightness in apply Wednesday, didn’t apply Thursday and was restricted Friday. He additionally was listed as questionable.
The Bears beforehand declared out linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) and huge receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral). They elevated linebacker DeMarquis Gates on Saturday to take Sewell’s spot.
Safety Quindell Johnson and offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter are additionally inactive. Nathan Peterman is inactive however will function the emergency third quarterback.
With Yannick Ngakoue occurring injured reserve with a damaged ankle this week, defensive finish Dominique Robinson is energetic for the primary time since Oct. 22.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, who missed the final three video games with a shoulder harm, is energetic.
The Browns beforehand declared out defensive finish Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral), middle Ethan Pocic (stinger) and security Juan Thornhill (calf). Linebackers Anthony Walker and Jordan Kunaszyk, cornerback Kahlef Hailassie and defensive finish Sam Kamara are additionally inactive.
Halftime: Big performs arduous to return by in 7-7 tie
The Bears’ solely landing drive of the primary half Sunday in opposition to the Browns was a wild four-play, 1-yard possession that took 2 minutes, 23 seconds off the clock.
On a wet afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium, massive offensive performs have been at that type of premium because the Bears and Browns went into halftime tied 7-7.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields hit tight finish Cole Kmet for a 5-yard landing move to cap their unusual scoring drive. It got here after security Eddie Jackson got here up along with his first interception of the season off Browns quarterback Joe Flacco and returned it 27 yards to the Cleveland 1.
After D’Onta Foreman misplaced 3 yards on a first-down carry, the Browns dedicated three straight penalties — two for too many males on the sector and move interference on Martin Emerson whereas defending DJ Moore.
After one other Foreman carry was stopped for no achieve, Kmet was known as for a false begin. But two performs later, Kmet hauled within the landing for a 7-0 Bears lead.
The Browns responded with a 12-play, 84-yard drive capped by Flacco’s 2-yard landing move to David Njoku to tie it. Njoku jumped to seize the ball over Jaquan Brisker behind the top zone.
Flacco sparked the drive with a 42-yard move to Amari Cooper with Tyrique Stevenson masking. The drive additionally included Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s 5-yard move to Jerome Ford on fourth-and-2 on the Bears 19.
Fields accomplished 12 of 21 passes for 101 yards with the landing and an interception on a Hail Mary on the final move of the half. The Bears obtained to the Browns 37-yard line on the final drive however couldn’t put factors on the board.
Flacco accomplished 14 of 23 passes for 140 yards with the landing and the interception.
The groups mixed for 40 yards on the bottom.
Bears left guard Teven Jenkins left the sideline on a cart after getting shaken up on a late second-quarter play. The Bears dominated him out for the remainder of the sport with a concussion.
Catch up on the remainder of our protection.
5 issues to look at — plus our predictions
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 unimaginable one to neglect.
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 below 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. Read extra right here.
‘Nothing was given to him. He had to earn everything’
When Ryan Poles signed T.J. Edwards to a three-year, $19.5 million contract in March, the Bears common supervisor known as it an “awesome story.” The former Lakes High School quarterback, now 27, was the newest native man to hitch the Bears, and he arrived following an increase to Eagles starter that many groups didn’t see coming.
Now, Edwards’ newest chapter has fueled a season during which he’s a constant cog within the Bears defensive turnaround.
The 6-foot-1, 242-pound weak-side linebacker set a Bears document for essentially the most tackles by 10 video games with 112. And by 13 heading into Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, he additionally has seven tackles for a loss, two interceptions, 4 passes defended, a pressured fumble, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and 6 quarterback hits. Read extra right here.
Stats package deal
Kyle Orton’s franchise document is just not but in jeopardy.
But Justin Fields’ 93 move makes an attempt since his final interception is an indication of progress for the quarterback, who returns to the location of his first profession begin. Read extra right here.
NFL draft watch
Before “Maserati Marv” drives off to the NFL, he has some extra {hardware} to pack.
Ohio State huge receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the winner of the 2023 Chicago Tribune Silver Football, voted by the convention’s head coaches because the Big Ten’s finest participant. He is the twenty third Buckeye — tops amongst Big Ten faculties — to win the Silver Football within the award’s 99-year historical past. An Ohio State or Michigan participant has gained in 12 of the final 15 years.
While Harrison left the door open final week to returning for his senior season, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison is broadly anticipated to enter the NFL draft, during which he’s projected as a probable top-five decide. Read extra right here.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com