Cade York's field goals from 57 and 46 yards were the offensive highlights for the Browns in the first half against the Chicago Bears. (Cleveland Browns)
Jacoby Brissett's preseason debut produced 3 points in uninspiring loss to Chicago Bears
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns’ 21-20 loss to the Chicago Bears …
1. Work to do: The Jacoby Brissett preseason debut wasn’t as bad as Deshaun Watson’s. But it didn’t exactly quiet concerns about the state of the offense during Watson’s 11-game suspension. Without four starters on offense – receiver Amari Cooper, running back Nick Chubb, guard Joel Bitonio and tackle Jack Conklin – Brissett produced three points in six series. Brissett didn’t convert a first down until his third series. He was intercepted once when his intended receiver was waylaid to the ground. The only possession of note was a two-minute drive that advanced 37 yards in 10 plays and resulted in a 57-yard field goal by Cade York – the highlight of the half. Brissett was 13 of 23 for 109 yards and one interception.
2. Mr. Dobbs: Joshua Dobbs relieved Brissett after a defensive turnover and was the quarterback-of-record for a 46-yard York field goal. Dobbs opened the third quarter and engineered a 19-play drive resulting in a fourth-down touchdown pass from the 6 to tight end Miller Forristall, who made a good, outstretched catch tumbling to the ground. Dobbs also scored on the 2-point try as he escaped pressure and just got inside the near pylon with a leap. Dobbs was the only Browns’ quarterback to produce a touchdown in the preseason – until Josh Rosen converted a Chicago fumble with a 1-yard sneak for a touchdown with 2:31 to go. (Rosen’s 2-point try failed on a pass for Javon Wims.) For the record, Dobbs led nine scoring drives in 11 series in three preseason appearances, with five touchdowns. For the game, Dobbs was 11 of 20 for 86 yards, one touchdown, and a rating of 82.5.
3. FAO Schwartz: Tough night for second-year receiver Anthony Schwartz. First play of the game, he dropped a short, quick pass to the left sideline to get his feet wet. Instead, the drop was a harbinger. On his next target on a deep route, Schwartz made a one-handed try just beyond his reach. Later, Schwartz was pummeled to the ground by linebacker Joe Thomas and Brissett’s pass was intercepted by cornerback Greg Stroman. On another target, Brissett’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Schwartz was decked waiting for the ball. Finally, there was another drop on a Brissett pass just a tad behind him. That one elicited a disapproving round of boos by the irritated audience. Overall, Schwartz was 1 for 6 on targets for 8 yards.
4. York fever: In warmups, Cade York uncorked a field goal of 70 yards into the Dawg Pound end zone. By gametime, video of the kick went viral. So when York lined up for a 58-yard field goal, the crowd buzzed. Alas, the attempt drifted wide left. York, however, atoned with a 57-yard field goal into the closed end for the Browns’ first points of the night. It was the highlight of the first half for the Browns’ offense. After a Browns’ defensive turnover – a Shaun Jolly strip-sack of backup quarterback Trevor Siemian on a cornerback blitz and a Perrion Winfrey recovery – York got another try before the half. He chip-shotted it through from 46 yards.
5. That other kicker: Because the Browns’ offense was so inept, punter Corey Bojorquez showed off his bomber left leg. Bojorquez uncorked punts of 60, 60, 52 and 45 yards. His fifth punt was tipped at the line of scrimmage and was downed for a 20-yard effort.
6. Justin’s revenge: Bears quarterback Justin Fields made his NFL debut here a year ago, and it was a disaster for him with 9 sacks and 1 yard net passing. Well, Fields was much better after a coaching change and a new offense. In five series, Fields put up three touchdowns on scoring passes of 22 yards to tight end Ryan Griffin, 12 to receiver Dante Pettis, and 24 yards to tight end Cole Kmet. The tight ends were uncovered and Pettis put a move on Greedy Williams to get open. Fields was 14 of 16 for 156 yards and a 146.9 rating.
7. Ouch: Fields survived a high hit delivered by linebacker Jacob Phillips on Chicago’s second series. Fields was in the process of sliding after a scramble run. He was unhurt. Phillips was decked with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.
8. Wyatt’s out: Right guard Wyatt Teller left the game with 13:43 to play in the first half. Teller walked to the locker room under his own power but did not return. The injury was to a knee. Safety Grant Delpit also left the game with a hip injury. Also, defensive end Chris Odom was carted off with an injury to his left knee.
9. Enjoy the game: Among the Browns regular starter who got the night off: receiver Amari Cooper,running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, guard Joel Bitonio, right tackle Jack Conklin, defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome. Drew Forbes started at left guard and James Hudson at right tackle. The defensive ends were Isaac Rochell and Alex Wright. The cornerbacks were Greedy Williams and M.J. Emerson.
