After surrendering a lead late in the fourth quarter, the Chicago Bears would lose to the Cleveland Browns 20-17, on Sunday, December 17, on the road.
The Bears had a chance to win the game in the final seconds of regulation but a pass by quarterback Justin Fields was dropped by wide receiver Darnell Mooney in the end zone as time expired.
On the first play of the game, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds recorded the 650th tackle of his career. Early in the third quarter, he picked off a broken up pass and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown, according to the Bears. The pick by Edmunds’ was his fourth interception of the season (fifth takeaway), ninth career interception and first-career defensive touchdown. He finished the game with nine tackles (five solo), one interception and one pass defensed. This season, Edmunds ranks second on the team in tackles (92).
Early in the second quarter, quarterback Justin Fields found Kmet for a short five-yard touchdown pass to capitalize off an early turnover. The touchdown marked Fields’ 14th touchdown pass of the season and 38th of his career. Tight end Cole Kmet recorded his 200th career-reception on the Bears opening drive. In the second quarter, he caught his 15th career touchdown pass and fifth of the season.
With the touchdown, he took sole possession of fourth on the Bears’ all-time touchdown list for tight ends and passed Emery Moorehead for fourth on the Bears’ all-time receptions list for tight ends. He finished the game with five catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. All-time, among Bears tight ends, Kmet ranks fourth in catches (204), sixth in yards (1,970) and fourth in touchdowns (15).
Wide receiver DJ Moore led the Bears offense in receiving yards with 52 on four receptions. Moore leads all Bears pass-catchers this season with 107 receptions, 1,123 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. In the third quarter, rookie wide receiver Tyler Scott eclipsed 100 receiving yards. Scott hit season highs in both receptions (3) and receiving yards (49).
Defensively, the Bears held the Browns to 14 total first down conversions, their second fewest this season (Week 4 vs. Baltimore- 13). Defensive back Eddie Jackson logged his first interception of the season early in the second quarter and returned it for 27 yards, setting up a Bears touchdown.
This marked Jackson’s 15th career interception. He finished the game with three tackles (all solo), one interception and one pass defensed. With the loss, the Bears are now 5-9 on the season. They will play their next game on Christmas Eve versus the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, December 24, at home. Game time 3:25 p.m.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
