Browns vs. Bears: Week 15 Need to Know

The Cleveland Browns are on the road Sunday to take on the Chicago Bears in what is expected to be a freezing Soldier Field.

Both teams enter the game off of frustrating losses. In the case of the Browns, it was a defeat to the one-win Tennessee Titans despite a four-touchdown day from rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. For the Bears, it was a loss to a divisional rival in the Green Bay Packers that put an end to Chicago’s brief stay as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

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Cleveland is playing with an eye on 2026, while Chicago is hoping to avoid a trap game with the Packers coming to town the following week, and will be looking to win their fifth consecutive home game against the Browns.

It is the Browns vs. the Bears in one of the NFL’s rarely played series, and here is everything you need to know about the game.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 3-10. Chicago is 9-4.

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Stadium: Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: Fox

Announcers: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston, and Allison Williams (sideline reporter)

Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 98.5 WNCX, 1300 AM La Mega (Español)

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Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura, and Jerod Cherry (sidelines)

Last meeting: The Browns won the last meeting, 20-17, in Week 15 of the 2023 season.

First meeting: The Browns won the first meeting, 42-21, on November 25, 1951.

All-time series: Cleveland leads the all-time series, 11-7. The Browns have only won twice in Chicago, with the last win coming in 1969.

Weather: 12 degrees and sunny. Wind from the West/Northwest at 10 mph will make it feel like minus-2 degrees. (weather.com)

Uniform: The Browns will be embracing the chill with their all-white uniform combo.

Injury report: Browns – Out: Right tackle Jack Conklin (concussion), defensive tackle Adin Huntington (quad), tight end David Njoku (knee), running back Dylan Sampson (calf, hand), right guard Wyatt Teller (calf), cornerback Denzel Ward (calf), and quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles). Questionable: left guard Joel Bitonio (knee, back), wide receiver Malachi Corley (concussion), defensive tackle Mason Graham (ribs), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion, ribs), and guard Zak Zinter (back). Bears – Out: Defensive back Kyler Gordon (groin) and running back Travis Homer (ankle). Questionable: Wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot).

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The line: Browns +7.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

News and Notes

Chicago is ranked No. 2 in the league in rushing at 152.6 yards per game and fourth in the league at 4.89 rushing yards per game.

Since their bye in Week 5, the Bears have been No. 1 in rushing yards at 175.2 yards per game.

Chicago defensive back Kevin Byard III leads the league in interceptions with six, and the Bears are No. 1 in interceptions with 18.

Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had an average time to pass of 3.39 seconds, tops in the NFL, according to ESPN.

Sanders has held the ball on a pass for more than four seconds on a league-high 22.3 percent of his attempts. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams is No. 2 at 16.7 percent, according to ESPN.

Williams has led the Bears to five comeback wins in the fourth quarter this season, tied for the most in the NFL.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett is fifth in the league in total quarterback pressures (64), while Chicago offensive tackle Darnell Wright has allowed just two sacks and has the 13th-lowest pressure rate allowed (4.4 percent) among tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

In three career games against the Bears, Garrett has 5.5 sacks, his highest total against an NFC team.

The Browns have not scored a touchdown on their opening possession of a game since Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

Cleveland has not allowed a 300-yard passer in 41 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

Cleveland tight end Harold Fannin Jr. leads the team in receptions (59) and receiving yards (619). He is just eight receptions away from breaking Kevin Johnson’s franchise record of 66 receptions by a rookie, set in 1999.

Chicago tight end Colston Loveland is tied with Fannin for the most touchdown receptions by a rookie tight end with four.

In Case You Missed ItA Final Quote

Head coach Kevin Stefanski on preparing for a Chicago team that leads the NFL in interceptions:

“So as a quarterback, you have to understand all those things and then you have to play your position. You got to trust your eyes, you have to trust what you see, and you have to make accurate throws. We have to do a great job with those throws when we’re receivers and tight ends and running backs and securing the catch in those types of situations.

“(The Bears) do a really good job, so it just means that we have to be on top of what we see, and then great in the pass game. But you have to also go into this game understanding that you’re going to have to do your job really, regardless of what’s going on the other side.”

What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Bears?