Chicago @ Cleveland preview
Cleveland Browns Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2022 ) Chicago 21, Cleveland 20
The Cleveland Browns may be banged up and placing their faith in Joe Flacco for the rest of the season, but their record speaks for itself.
Flacco will guide the Browns against the visiting Chicago Bears on Sunday with a playoff berth in their sights.
Cleveland (8-5) stopped a two-game losing streak last week when Flacco powered the Browns to a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco completed 26 of 45 passes for 311 yards with three touchdowns (two to tight end David Njoku) and an interception.
After that game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Flacco -- who was signed off his couch last month while the team dealt with injuries to Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson -- would be the team's starter the rest of the way. Reflecting that, the Browns signed Flacco, who had a practice squad deal, to a one-year contract and a spot on the permanent roster, his agent said Thursday.
"Joe's been in big games," Stefanski said of the former Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens. "So (we) feel comfortable with him leading the football team."
Flacco, 38, has been told he is a calming presence to his younger Browns teammates.
"I don't think it's actively what I'm trying to do out there at this point, but I hope that my personality and my playing style can definitely bring that along with it," he said. "That's what a quarterback's job is, that's what a leader's job is. ... I definitely want to be that guy."
The Browns are two games behind the Ravens in the AFC North, yet Cleveland could lock up at least a wild-card berth with a few more wins -- even as the casualties pile up.
Cleveland placed safety Grant Delpit, the team's leading tackler, on injured reserve Wednesday due to a groin injury. Ogbo Okoronkwo (4.5 sacks) was also ruled out after the defensive end tore a pectoral muscle, as well as center Ethan Pocic (stinger), linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf).
There were also concerns at running back, where Nick Chubb has been out since tearing knee ligaments in Week 2. But Kareem Hunt (groin) and Jerome Ford (wrist), both limited in practice Thursday, returned in full on Friday and are expected to play.
The Bears (5-8) lost a key defender of their own when edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue was ruled out for the rest of the year with a broken ankle. His four sacks this season are a team high.
Asked how the Bears would compensate for that loss on defense, coach Matt Eberflus jokingly suggested, "Blitz on every down."
The Bears have figured some things out in order to win three of their past four games, including a 28-13 victory over the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions last week. Chicago intercepted Jared Goff twice while Justin Fields provided one touchdown with his arm and another with his legs, finishing with 281 total yards.
However, a tall task awaits, as Cleveland leads the NFL in total defense (263 yards allowed per game).
"Just see what he does well, which is pretty much everything," Fields said of Garrett, who has 13 sacks. "Just have a plan for him going into the game."
Chicago's leading receiver, DJ Moore, is up to 76 receptions for 1,071 yards and seven touchdowns, but he is questionable due to an ankle injury. Fellow wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral) was ruled out along with linebacker Noah Sewell (knee). Defensive back Jaquan Brisker (groin) is questionable.
--Field Level Media