SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 15, 2013
Bears 38, Browns 31: Jay Cutler returned from an ankle injury to throw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as visiting Chicago rallied to maintain at least a share of first place in the NFC North.
Alshon Jeffery and Earl Bennett hauled in the fourth-quarter scoring tosses and Brandon Marshall had a TD reception in the second for the Bears (8-6), who would move a full game ahead of Detroit should the Lions lose to Baltimore on Monday night. Matt Forte gained 127 yards on 24 carries and Michael Bush ran for a key late touchdown as Chicago snapped a four-game slide at Cleveland.
Jason Campbell was 23-of-39 for 273 yards with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions for the Browns (4-10), who have lost five in a row. Josh Gordon made three catches for 67 yards and a TD while Edwin Baker ran for a score as Cleveland completed the home portion of its schedule with a 3-5 record.
Cutler completed 22-of-31 passes for 265 yards but was picked off twice in his return from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for four games. The veteran, who also missed a contest earlier in the season due to a groin injury, threw a 45-yard scoring pass to Jeffery four minutes into the fourth quarter to forge a 24-24 tie and connected with Bennett for a 4-yard TD with 5:41 remaining to put the Bears in front.
Bush added some much-needed insurance when he rambled for a 40-yard touchdown with 2:17 to play, as Campbell hit Gordon for a 43-yard score 1:14 later. Cleveland scored a pair of defensive TDs as Tashaun Gipson had a 44-yard interception return and T.J. Ward recovered a fumble and took it in from 51 yards out, while Chicago's Zack Bowman picked off Campbell and raced 43 yards for a score.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Bush gained 44 yards on three carries, giving Chicago two players with more rushing yards than Baker, who led Cleveland with 38. ... Gordon had his streak of four straight games with at least 125 yards receiving snapped. ... Gipson and Bowman each made two interceptions, with the former doubling his season total and the latter increasing his to three.