Dawgs By Nature
All phases were ugly for the Cleveland Browns: offense, defense, and special teams. The Chicago Bears steamrolled the Browns by a score of 31-3, as the Browns never seemed to have a chance. But, how much closer did Myles Garrett get to the NFL sack record? And how did Shedeur Sanders look? Let’s get to the full game recap.
The Bears received the opening kickoff, and special teams woes already reared their ugly head, as WR Devin Duvernay returned it 52 yards to the Browns’ 47 yard line. The defense forced a three-and-out, but Chicago played the field position advantage game by having their return man down the punt at the one-yard line with a diving stop. Head coach Kevin Stefanski challenged the ruling, but the call on the field was upheld.
The Browns’ drive from the 1 yard line was then a comedy of errors. Before even running a snap, there was a false start. After a run by RB Quinshon Judkins for a yard, they were flagged for too many players in the huddle. They ran it two more times before punting on fourth down.
The Bears returned the punt 18 yards to the Browns’ 42 yard line, meaning they had even better starting field position than their first drive. This time, they utilized the ground game and some short passes to pick up several first downs. On 1st-and-goal at the 6 yard line, RB DeAndre Swift finished the drive with a touchdown run as he bounced to the outside, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead mid-way through the opening quarter.
WR Malachi Corley returned the ensuing kickoff to the 30 yard line, giving QB Shedeur Sanders some room to work with and hopefully a chance to try some passes. Adding to the issues, the Browns somehow had a delay of game penalty on offense after the kickoff due to communication issues. Sanders threw away his first pass attempt as his target was covered, and then on second down, got a short completion to TE Harold Fannin to put it back to 3rd-and-10. Sanders eluded a free rusher off his left side and took off over the middle for 9.5 yards, but his knee was down just before getting the first down. P Corey Bojorquez came on and punted, as the ball rolled to the end zone for a touchback.
QB Caleb Williams picked apart the Browns’ defense with ease. A pick play for TE Colston Loveland free for 24 yards on a catch-and-run, and then on the next play, Williams fired a bullet to a wide open WR Luther Burden over the middle, which went for 40 more yards.
That set up 1st-and-goal at the 8 yard line. Two run plays set up 3rd-and-goal at the 3 yard line. Williams faked it and found WR D.J. Moore streaking across the left side, beating CB Myles Harden immediately for a touchdown to give Chicago a 14-0 lead with 1:29 left in...
