Browns-Bears Preview

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Browns-Bears

SCOUTING REPORT

Browns-Bears: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Browns-Bears matchup. 1. Cleveland needs to start toting the rock: The Browns have been poor at establishing an effective ground attack over the past few weeks and need to pound the rock against this inconsistent Bears' defense. Look for head coach Eric Mangini to force Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and the Wildcat formation to move the chains and control the clock.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CLE	1-9	115	263	0-4	1-5	0-4	1-5
CHI	4-6	206	225	3-2	1-4	1-1	2-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 56.7 812 5 5 Anders... 42.9 681 2 9

Chicago Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cutler 61.7 2524 15 18 Hanie 50.0 3 0 0

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Lewis 132 460 3.5 0 Harris... 69 254 3.7 0

Chicago Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Forte 157 516 3.3 3 Cutler 26 122 4.7 1

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 25 473 18.9 1 Furrey 22 161 7.3 0

Chicago Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Hester 52 614 11.8 3 Bennet... 40 511 12.8 0

Full Player Stats: Cleveland | Chicago

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CLE	237.0
	CHI	329.0
Yards Passing	CLE	135.4
	CHI	240.0
Yards Rushing	CLE	101.4
	CHI	89.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CLE	402.0
	CHI	320.1
Pass Yds Allowed	CLE	247.1
	CHI	197.8
Rush Yds Allowed	CLE	154.9
	CHI	122.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Chicago leads 2-1
Oct 9, 2005	CLE 20, @CHI 10
Nov 4, 2001	CLE 21, CHI 27

A visit from the Cleveland Browns might be what the Chicago Bears need to bounce back from their worst defeat in six years.

The Bears look to avoid a third straight loss while trying to hand the lowly Browns a third consecutive defeat Sunday at Soldier Field.

As the franchise plans to honor Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton on the 10th anniversary of his death, Chicago (3-3) needs to put forth a better effort than it did in a shocking 45-10 loss at Cincinnati last Sunday.

The Bears allowed a season-high 448 yards, while former Chicago running back Cedric Benson rushed for a career-high 198 yards and the Bengals scored on their first four possessions in the team's worst defeat since a 49-7 loss to San Francisco in 2003.

"That was pretty embarrassing," defensive end Alex Brown said of the Bears, who were coming off a 21-14 loss at Atlanta on Oct. 18.

In the past two contests, quarterback Jay Cutler has thrown five interceptions, Matt Forte has rushed for 47 total yards and the defense has failed to produce a sack. Though he wouldn't go into detail, coach Lovie Smith would not rule out any lineup changes for Sunday.

The Bears rank 29th in the NFL in rushing (80.7 yards per game) and allow 220.3 passing yards per contest.

"I don't think you try to send a message," Smith said. "You look to see what gives you the best chance to win this week.

"We consider personnel changes each week, we look at everything that we did this past game. What we did last week didn't work, so of course we need to change some things up."

One move Smith will likely make is getting Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris on the field after he was benched last Sunday because he didn't practice enough during the week due to knee soreness.

"By giving him off last week, he was able to get a little more work in this week so that's got to be good for him," Smith said of Harris, who has just nine tackles.

Despite the team's struggles of late, the Bears -- 2-0 at home -- have a chance to get back on track against the Browns (1-6), who rank 31st in total offense (225.4 ypg), 30th in scoring (10.3 ppg) and 27th in points allowed (25.6).

Cutler, who has thrown 11 touchdowns and been intercepted 10 times this year, passed for a career-high 447 yards during a 34-30 win over Cleveland last season with Denver. It was the second-highest passing total versus the Browns after Minnesota's Tommy Kramer threw for 456 yards in 1980.

While Cutler looks for another big day, Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson hopes to show some improvement after throwing for only 99 yards in a 31-3 loss to Green Bay last Sunday.

Anderson, who replaced starter Brady Quinn after 10 quarters, has thrown for 244 yards while posting a 30.9 passer rating in his last three games.

A Pro Bowler in 2007, Anderson has the lowest passer rating in the NFL at 40.6 -- the third-worst rating through seven weeks this decade. Only Ryan Leaf (34.5 in 2000) and Kerry Collins (37.5 in 2006) have started a season as poorly.

"Honestly, they are garbage," Anderson said of his statistics. "I haven't looked at them since I started playing."

Still, coach Eric Mangini will stick with Anderson to guide an offense that's scored four touchdowns this season. In Anderson's defense, Cleveland receivers have dropped a league-high 22 catchable passes.

"I think he gives us the best chance right now to move the ball," said Mangini, who's team put up 139 yards of offense against Green Bay -- its third straight game under 200.

The Browns defense, without star linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to a season-ending shoulder injury, has given up an average of 501.5 yards and 29.0 points while losing two straight.

This is the first meeting between the teams since Cleveland won 20-10 at home on Oct. 9, 2005. The Browns lead 9-4 in the all-time series, but have dropped their last two contests in Chicago since winning 28-24 on Nov. 30, 1969.

Isaacson: Is Cutler who we thought he was?

Is Jay Cutler who we thought he was? Take a look at the unvarnished truth.

Lions' Stafford, Johnson likely out vs. Packers

Lions quarterback Matt Stafford had a record-setting day in Sunday's 38-37 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Mangini questions timing of many Lions injuries

Browns coach Eric Mangini is questioning whether the Detroit Lions faked injuries to slow down Cleveland's no-huddle offense.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Browns Insider: Mangini sees errors, but also progress, as Quinn, Anderson learn new offense

Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

Witnesses for the defense: Ex-Jets spreading the word to help Browns learn Mangini's ways

The Browns haven't made a tackle yet this year, of course -- or missed one -- but certain characteristics of their defense are emerging in their off-season workouts.

Dumb move by Mangenius

By essentially forcing the rookies to take a 10-hour bus trip to work a camp at his old high school in Connecticut this weekend, head coach Eric Mangini only succeeded in adding to the Browns' reputation as an NFL laughingstock.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Mangini Not Making Friends In Cleveland

Eric Mangini irked Browns rookies by "asking" that they help out at a football camp in Hartford, Conn.

Former coach sings praises of new Bears LB

Former St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator and Northwestern head coach Rick Venturi never questioned Pisa Tinoisamoa's toughness, but Venturi may have doubted the linebacker's sanity at one point.

Bear facts

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Bears coach Lovie Smith answers email questions from fans: I was so happy to see you thinking out of the box and taking over play-calling duties on defense.

Tinoisamoa signs deal; Bears look at punters

The latest addition in Jerry Angelo's busy offseason arrived Monday at Halas Hall.

Call it signings of the times

In a frenetic day of wheeling and dealing at Halas Hall, the Bears signed a likely starter for their defense, locked up a versatile lineman for two seasons and secured almost all of their draft picks.

Bears hoping Cutler can help get running game in gear

Fact or fiction? Jay Cutler had no running game last season in Denver. Reading through comments left here over the last few days, it looks like the widely held opinion is that the Broncos were running in the slow lane in 2008, you know, when Cutler wasn't chucking it.