NFL Preview – Cleveland Browns (1-6) at Chicago Bears (3-3)
By Michael Rushton, Sports Network
What began as a season of optimism is quickly turning to disappointment for the Chicago Bears. How could things get worse for the club?
Well, a loss to the Cleveland Browns this Sunday at Solider Field would certainly be a low point.
The Bears will be aiming to a avoid a third straight loss this Sunday. Chicago won three in a row heading into its Week 5 bye after a season-opening loss to Green Bay, but has lost both of its games since, to Atlanta (21-14) and Cincinnati (45-10).
Aiming to recover from a 35-point thrashing at the Bengals, the Bears return home to Solider Field, where they are 2-0. That includes a hard-fought 17-14 win over Pittsburgh in Week 2, its only other win versus an AFC North opponent this year.
Chicago figures to get on track this weekend against a Browns club that is ranked last in the NFL in total defense (414.9 yards allowed per game) and 31st in total offense (225.4 ypg).
Derek Anderson
Cleveland is just 1-6 on the season and is having trouble even staying competitive in its games. The Browns have been outscored 179-72 this year and last weekend’s 31-3 setback to the Packers marked the fourth time in six games that they were held to six points or less.
Billy Cundiff accounted for Cleveland’s points with a 22-yard-field goal, as he continues to play in the place of injured kicker Phil Dawson (right calf). Dawson has yet to appear since Week 2.
Despite throwing for just 99 yards and getting picked off once without a touchdown pass, quarterback Derek Anderson will start this contest. Yet, it wouldn’t be shocking to see either Brady Quinn make his return to the field, or even third-stringer Brett Ratliff take his first NFL snaps.
Cleveland has lost 12 of its last 13 games dating back to last season and will get its much-needed bye the weekend following this contest.
SERIES HISTORY
Cleveland has a 9-4 lead in its all-time series with Chicago, including a 20-10 home victory when the teams last met, in 2005. The Bears won the previous meeting, a 27-21 overtime affair at Soldier Field in 2001. The Browns are 0-2 in Chicago since last winning there in 1969.
Bears head coach Lovie Smith is 0-1 in his career against the Browns, but is 1-0 against Cleveland coach Eric Mangini thanks to a 10-0 Chicago win over Mangini’s Jets in 2006. Mangini is 0-1 against the Bears as a head coach.
The teams also met during the 2009 preseason, with the Bears earning a 26-23 win at Soldier Field on Sept. 3rd.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Bears draw the perfect bounce-back opponent as they aim to get their season back on track. Cutler has been inconsistent, but a matchup versus the Browns should cure what ails him. While Cleveland has been unable to play well against anyone this year, Chicago at least has lost to three playoff-caliber and showed it can compete with top-tier teams after its Week 2 win over Pittsburgh. Anything less than a victory for the Bears this weekend will go down as a large disappointment.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Bears 27, Browns 10
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