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CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – A pair of 1-1 teams will meet Sunday afternoon in Cleveland when the Browns host the bears after both teams bounced back from Week 1 defeats with wins last week.
The Browns, who are celebrating their 75th anniversary and will wear commemorative uniforms Sunday, first met the Bears in 1951, when Hall of Fame coaches George Halas and Paul Brown led the respective teams.
Chicago has won the last three meetings between the teams with the Browns’ last win coming in 2005.
What to watch for – Odell Beckham Jr. returns less than 11 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. Beckham was a full participant in practice all week for the first time since the offseason program began. The Browns will be counting on him following the loss of dependable Jarvis Landry for at least three weeks due to a sprained MCL.
Baker Mayfield practiced all week but is dealing with a sore left shoulder that “popped in and out” according to the quarterback while making a tackle following an interception last week against the Texans, but he did not miss a snap. Mayfield completed 19 of 21 passes last week raising his league-leading completion percentage to 81.6 — the highest in league history after two games. No doubt head coach Kevin Stefanski will look to get the ball out of Mayfield’s hands quickly to help protect his QB.
Nick Chubb has rushed for a touchdown in eight straight games dating to last season and looks to extend the streak Sunday. The Browns lead the NFL with seven TDs on the ground through two games. When Chubb or Kareem Hunt score a TD, the Browns are 12-4 dating back to 2018.
Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and Browns right tackle Jack Conklin will square off in a key matchup of the day. The Browns will need Conklin to keep the explosive Mack at bay and way from Mayfield. The Bears defense sacked Joe Burrow four times last week and took the ball away on four consecutive possessions, including coming away with three straight interceptions, one of which was returned by linebacker Roquan Smith 53 yards for his first career TD.
Myles Garrett expressed a little frustration over the attention he got from the Texans with double and triple teams and chipping, but his teammates were unable to take advantage and make big plays. Cleveland’s rebuilt defense, although ranked moderately in most statistical categories, has been largely underwhelming in the first two games allowing opponents to convert 61.5% on third down and opposing QBs to complete 69.2% of their passes. Another lackluster performance could start to ring alarm bells on that side of the ball.
Justin Fields makes his first NFL start for the Bears with starter Andy Dalton out with a bruised knee. The former Ohio State Buckeye and No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft played in the second half against Cincinnati and went 6 of 13 for 60 yards with a late interception that led to a touchdown. He added 31 yards rushing in the victory over the Bengals.
Last Week – Bears beat the Bengals 20-17; Browns beat the Texans 31-21.
The last time – Dec. 24, 2017: Bears beat the Browns 20-3.
Series history – Browns lead 9-4.
Rankings – Points per game: Bears 28 (17.0), Browns 6 (30.0)
Total yards per game: Bears 30 (264.0), Browns 8 (406.0)
Rushing yards per game: Bears 8 (128.5), Browns 3 (154.5)
Passing yards per game: Bears 31 (135.3), Browns 14 (251.5)
Points allowed per game: Bears T-18 (25.5), Browns T-21 (27.0)
Total defensive yards allowed per game: Bears 8 (317.0), Browns 14 (349.5)
Rushing yards allowed per game: Bears 5 (71.5), Browns 9 (77.5)
Passing yards allowed per game: Bears 15 (245.5), Browns 23 (272.0)
Turnover ratio: Bears 9 (+1), Browns 26 (-2)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Odell Beckham Jr., LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Austin Hooper, WR Anthony Schwartz, QB Baker Mayfield, RB Nick Chubb, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Malik Jackson, DT Malik McDowell, DE Jadeveon Clowney, WILL Mack Wilson, MIKE Malcolm Smith, SAM Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, SS Ronnie Harrison Jr., FS John Johnson III
Injury report – OUT: OT Chris Hubbard (triceps), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: C J.C. Tretter (knee), LT Jedrick Wills (ankle); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), WR Anthony Schwartz (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (knee), LG Joel Bitonio (back), DE Jadeveon Clowney (knee), RT Jack Conklin (knee), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee), RB Demetric Felton (hip), LB Tony Fields II (illness)
Uniforms – 75th anniversary mashup: white 1946 jersey, white pants, helmet with white center stripe and brown player numbers on the sides.
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO TV-19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:05 p.m., FirstEnergy Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio.
Our prediction – Browns 31, Bears 24
Our prediction record – 2-0
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