Browns scouting report: Chicago Bears
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Chicago Bears
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Cleveland Browns Stadium
Record: 5-8.
Last game: Beat Detroit Lions, 28-13, December 10, in Chicago.
Coach: Matt Eberflus, 8-22, second year.
Series record: Browns lead, 10-7.
Last meeting: Browns won, 26-6, September 26, 2021.
League rankings: Offense is 21st overall (fourth rushing, 26th passing), defense is 12th overall (second rushing, 23rd passing) and turnover differential is minus-1.
Things to watch
1. The Bears have won three of their last four games but have not killed their enviable draft position. At present, they would draft No. 1 overall (via trade with Carolina last year) and No. 5 (their own).
2. Ever since they traded the No. 1 overall pick last year to Carolina, the 2023 season has been about the futures of two men – quarterback Justin Fields and head coach Matt Eberflus. Although both have made a good run lately – Fields has won his last two starts, and Eberflus’ defense has become a force in the second half of the season – the feeling with four games to go is that neither may return in 2024.
Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields might be on the move if the Bears use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft on a quarterback.
3. The case against Fields is that despite wondrous physical abilities, he has not improved the speed of processing information during a play. He can throw the ball as well as any passer, but his biggest plays often are scrambles after missing his first reads and leaving the structure of the offense. Fields leads the Bears in rushing (458 yards, 5.1 average) and is third among quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson (644) and Jalen Hurts (460).
4. If the Bears use the No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback, it is expected they would replace Eberflus with an offensive-minded head coach.
5. Two things have transformed the Bears’ defense. The first was Eberflus taking over play-calling after defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned in September for personal reasons. The second was the deadline-beating trade for defensive end Montez Sweat. Since Sweat arrived in November, he has 3.5 sacks in five games and the other defensive linemen have responded with more pressure. Also, cornerback Jaylon Johnson has emerged as a play-maker with four interceptions, one for a touchdown. Eberflus’ defense, which was fortified in the middle by high-priced free agent linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, has risen to No. 2 against the run, yielding 84 yards a game and a 3.8 average.
Did you know … ?
1. If there is a new coach-quarterback era incoming, GM Ryan Poles’ job appears safe. Poles’ recent moves have been lauded, such as the trade with Carolina, which also brought No. 1 receiver D.J. Moore, the trade for Sweat, the signings of Edmunds and Edwards, and a 2023 draft that netted instant contributors starting right tackle Darnell Wright, backup QB Tyson Bagent, starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, and backup defensive tackle Gervon Dexter.
2. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is the people’s choice for next coach of the Bears. He was the Bears’ first-round draft pick in 1987 and had a 35-30 record as a starting QB in seven years in Chicago.
3. Moore ranks 14th with 76 receptions, seventh with 1,071 receiving yards, and is tied for sixth with seven receiving touchdowns.
4. Fields’ first NFL start was in Cleveland in Week 3 of 2021. He suffered nine sacks (4.5 by Myles Garrett) and had one net yard passing in a 20-6 loss. Since then, the Bears’ offensive line has been upgraded with five new starters.
5. Kicker Cairo Santos is 6 for 6 on field goals of 50+.
6. The Bears are last in punt coverage, allowing 14.2 yards per return and one touchdown.
Small world: Matt Eberflus was Browns linebackers coach in 2009-10 … Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower (2012-13), tight ends coach Jim Dray (2019), and offensive line coach Luke Steckel (2009-12) coached with the Browns … Dray played tight end for the Browns in 2014-15 … Defensive tackle Andrew Billings played for the Browns in 2021.
