Tag: Browns vs. Bears

Browns vs. Bears preview: Who has the advantage in Week 3?

Matchups can make games and the Browns defense might make the Bears offense look better than they have. Bears Wire and Browns Wire come together to look at five key categories for Week 3:

As the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears are set to square off in Week 3 of the NFL season, we are reminded that matchups can make games interesting even if there is a talent disparity. With Browns Vs. Bears, there is a talent disparity as the home team clearly has better talent than the visitors.

The matchup, however, could create a more interesting game. The Bears offense has used short passes and a consistent run game as their staple. The Browns defense has allowed their first two opponents to complete a lot of short passes and often seems to invite run plays.

That combination could keep the game much closer than many think. Then again, the Browns lost in Week 1 and struggled in the first half of Week 2. Perhaps they are motivated to put on a show in Week 3.

In our weekly preview series, Alyssa Barbieri from Bears Wire joins Jared Mueller from Browns Wire went deep into the matchup to determine who has the advantage at the five key factors for winning football games in the NFL.

Browns Vs. Bears: Final injury report

A few big names out, a few big names questionable as we take a look at the final injury report before Sunday’s kickoff between the Browns and the Bears:

Sunday’s game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears could be more interesting than many think. The matchup between the two teams could set up the Bears to stay in the game while the Browns defense struggles to get stops at the most important times.

In the final injury report, the home team listed a couple of players as out already along with starters Jarvis Landry and Anthony Walker, both on the injured reserve:

  • OL Chris Hubbard
  • LB Sione Takitaki

The team has two starting offensive linemen listed as questionable as well:

  • C J.C. Tretter
  • LT Jedrick Wills

If either or both are out, the Cleveland offense could struggle in both phases.

The visiting team from Chicago lists their starting quarterback out for Sunday and one of their starting safeties as doubtful:

  • QB Andy Dalton
  • S Tashaun Gipson

The Bears also listed seven players as questionable in Friday’s final report:

  • DL Eddie Goldman
  • DL Akiem Hicks
  • S Eddie Jackson
  • WR Darnell Mooney
  • LB Jeremiah Attaochu
  • WR Marquise Goodwin
  • DL Bilal Nichols

Since the final report, the Bears have listed Goldman as out for the game. Goldman didn’t travel with the team.

Browns Vs. Bears: The one thing that matters

While there will be a lot of details to breakdown following the game, only one thing matters and it is the same for the Browns and Bears in Week 3:

The Cleveland Browns face off with the Chicago Bears in Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season. A matchup of two teams with a 1 – 1 record is not expected to be a close game. In Week 2, the Browns didn’t play well and still defeated the Houston Texans by double digits.

The Bears, on the other hand, struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals but were able to take advantage of a Joe Burrow interception for a defensive score. Chicago’s offense has been very limited especially with the lack of explosive plays.

In Week 1, the Bears were run out of the building by the Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles Rams.

For Week 3, for both the Browns and the Bears, the one thing that matters is the success of rookie quarterback Justin Fields. After being chewed up by Patrick Mahomes and Tyrod Taylor, can the Cleveland defense limit Fields or will his movement skills and deep passing create conflict?

While the move Fields provides a shot of hope for Chicago’s fan base, he has already played in 47 plays this season with limited success. The former Ohio State Buckeye has completed just 53% of his passes with only 70 yards on 15 attempts.

During his 42 snaps in Week 2, Fields completed 46% of his passes on 6 for 13 passing, 60 yards and an interception. He did run the ball 10 times for 31 yards during the game, fumbling once.

Last week, the Browns defense allowed Taylor to complete 10 of his 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Taylor also rushed for a 15-yard touchdown in the first half. Had Taylor been able to finish the game, the outcome may have been in question. His injury created an easy victory with rookie Davis Mills inserted into the lineup.

While the team’s success against a fellow rookie (Mills was 8 for 18 with a TD and INT) could boost Cleveland’s confidence, Fields and Mills were not comparable coming out of college. Fields was thought by many as the second-best quarterback in the entire NFL draft while Davis’ 10 college games had many wondering if he would be drafted in the second or third day of the draft.

At the end of Week 3, for both the Browns and Bears the one thing that will matter is Fields’ performance. Cleveland can win despite a big day from the rookie but will have continued questions about their defense. Chicago could win with a big Fields game but, more importantly, would have confidence in their future at quarterback. A poor game from Fields can buoy the Browns belief in their defense while popping Chicago’s early hope of Fields to step in right away as a hero.

Browns Vs Bears Week 3: How to watch, listen and stream

Browns Vs. Bears: All the media info you need as well as who is the referee for the game:

Week 1 didn’t go the Cleveland Browns way against the Kansas City Chiefs but the team showed they belonged with the two-time defending AFC champions. Week 2 didn’t go the way that the Browns wanted but they still beat the Houston Texans by 10 points.

Week 3 is a chance to have a game go the way the team wants from start to finish. With the Chicago Bears coming to town, Cleveland has a chance to control the game and put their foot on the necks of their opponent. They had the same chance in Week 2 but allowed Tyrod Taylor to have his way with the defense.

With rookie Justin Fields starting for the Bears, will the Browns learn from their mistakes or do just enough to win? Could they actually lose to Chicago? If so, the discussion around the team could turn negative very quickly.

In what Cleveland hopes is a turnaround game, Browns Vs Bears could be very interesting. Below are important game details about this Week 3 matchup. If you have questions about the game, reach out to us on Twitter @TheBrownsWire.

Game information:

Who: Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears

When: Sunday, Sep. 15th, 1 p.m. ET.

Where: First Energy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Streaming:

In-market live stream: fuboTV (try it for free) and Yahoo! Sports through Browns app

Broadcasts:

TV: Fox

Radio: ESPN 850 WKNR, 92.3 The Fan WKRK & 98.5 WNCX

Broadcasters:

TV: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver

Radio: Jim Donovan, Doug Dieken and Nathan Zegura

Referee:

Ron Torbert

Opponent wire site:

Bears Wire

Browns Vs. Bears: How Chicago has scored so far in 2021

In preparation for Week 3’s Browns Vs. Bears action, we take a look back at how Chicago has scored points so far this season. Interesting notes on their offense and a long special teams play to be cautious of:

As the Cleveland Browns get ready to face off with the Chicago Bears in Week 3 of the NFL season, the talk all week will be about the visiting team’s quarterback situation. As we shared yesterday, it looks like rookie Justin Fields will start at quarterback in his return to the state of Ohio.

Bears fans, and many nationally, have been calling for this move but head coach Matt Nagy isn’t making the move permanent. Instead, only Dalton’s injury has forced his hand to go with the rookie.

With both teams sitting at 1 – 1 on the young season and both coming off victories, a Week 3 victory could go a long way toward setting the direction of the first part of the season.

In preparation, we took a look back at Chicago’s first two games and how they scored their points:

Bears QB Justin Fields likely Week 3 starter?

Putting the pieces together, it looks like the rookie will get his first start in his return to the great state of Ohio:

It was an interesting day for the Chicago Bears as they look to turn the page from their Week 2 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and on toward another AFC North opponent, the Cleveland Browns, in Week 3. Prior to starting quarterback Andy Dalton getting hurt against the Bengals, Bears head coach Matt Nagy had been putting rookie Justin Fields in to take snaps in both games to start the season.

For most (all?) outside observers, Fields is already a better quarterback than Dalton but Nagy seems committed to the veteran. According to Dalton, the Bears promised him he was their starter before he signed with the team in the offseason. In the ensuing NFL Draft, the team traded up to take Fields.

Nagy was asked about whether Dalton or Fields would be his starter going forward during Monday’s press conference. Nagy retorted that it was a scheme-related question and he wouldn’t answer it. The reporter pressed but Nagy reiterated that it was scheme-related.

Shortly after that interaction, the Bears’ PR department came in to correct Nagy, from Nagy according to the PR person:

 

Is Dalton healthy enough to start against the Browns in Week 3?

 

According to Dr. David J. Chao, who provides a lot of injury-related information, this means it is Fields’ time starting in Week 3 and likely for more than that:

 

Fields has shown flashes throughout the preseason and during the first two weeks but is far from looking capable of leading a successful offense. Cleveland’s defense, however, was picked apart by Tyrod Taylor in the first half of Week 2’s victory. Fields’ mobility and strong arm could cause similar issues for the Browns but, without Taylor’s veteran savvy, also come with more mistakes.

It looks like Fields’ first start will come in Cleveland and the rookies return to the state where he played his last college ball.