Happy Holidays Browns Fans and welcome to week 15 of the season. Sunday the 3-10 Browns travel to Soldier Field to battle with the 9-4 Chicago Bears. Game time is 12:00 noon CST and as usual the ChicagoLand Browns Backers/Northside Dawg Pound will gather at Burke’s Public House 5401 N. Broadway to cheer the Browns on to victory. So come on out, even though the game will be on local TV isn’t it more fun to cheer for our Browns with other Browns fans. The weather forecast for the game calls for near zero temperatures. The Bears come into the game in second place in the NFL North after losing last week to the Green Bay Packers. Despite this game looking like a mismatch, a look beyond the records reveals that the Browns have a chance to come away with a victory. Seven of the Bears’ nine wins have been by 7 points or less including two 1 point wins over the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders and 3-10 Washington Commanders and in 3 of their 9 victories the Bears had come from behind with less than 2 minutes to go in the game for the win. The Browns will be without several offensive and defensive starters with center Ethan Pocic out for the season with a torn Achilles and RG Wyatt Teller, RB Dylan Sampson, RB Jerome Ford, TE David Njoku, DT Mason Graham and CB Denzel Ward all listed as out for the game. The Bears lead the league in takeaways with 27 and turnover margin at +17. Shedeur Sanders and the Browns offense will have to avoid turning the ball over if they have any chance to steal a road win against a Chicago defense that is 25th in scoring defense giving up almost 26 points per game and 27th in total defense. Sunday, Sanders will get one more opportunity to show the Browns how much he’s grown as a starter in his quest to convince the coaching and front office staff that he’s ready to be the team’s long term starting QB. Over his first 3 starts Sanders has improved from 209 passing yards with 1 TD and 1 interception to 364 passing yards with 4 TD’s and 1 interception. The Bears’ opportunistic ball hawking defense, which comes into the game with a league leading 18 interceptions, will further test Sanders’ growth in decision making, maturity and chemistry with his receivers. The Bears defense led by Pro Bowl DE Montez Sweat’s team leading 9 sacks, 39 QB pressures and 3 forced fumbles consistently pressures opposing QB’s into making mistakes. And the backend of the defense led by S Kevin Byard’s 6 interceptions and 3 TD returns uses disguised zone coverages on over 65% of their snaps to limit big plays. Their cornerbacks and linebackers are very good at undercutting crossing routes and quick out routes for interceptions while their safeties pickoff any overthrows. The Browns depleted offensive line will need to give Sanders enough time to recognize coverages and drop passes over the front 7 and in front of safeties in deep coverage. The O-line will also need to figure out how to open running lanes for RB Quinshon Judkins against the Bears 27th ranked rushing defense. With the weather forecast predicting possible sub-zero temps the running game will be vital for both teams. The Browns defense will need to regain their form after giving up 184 yards on the ground last week against the Titans if they hope to contain the Bears 2nd ranked rushing offense. The Browns 2nd ranked pass defense will look to take advantage of Bears QB Caleb Williams’ accuracy issues. His 58% completion rate is currently 37th among NFL QB’s and his 87.2 QB rating is 24th. He’s thrown for 19 TD’s against 6 interceptions and been sacked 20 times while averaging 6.7 yards per pass. Williams is especially dangerous when he escapes the pocket and uses his legs to extend plays or run for first downs. He is most effective when he moves to his right which allows him to better set his feet and throw along the sidelines without having to throw across his body. Chicago has 5 receivers with at least 30 receptions and 2 TD’s led by WR Rome Odunze’s 39 receptions with 6 TD’s and TE Colston Loveland’s 35 catches with 4 TD’s. They are joined by TE Cole Kmet’s 22 receptions with 2 TD’s and rookie WR Luther Burden III’s 30 receptions. The Browns defense will have their hands full with Chicago’s running back duo of D’Andre Swift who’s 837 rushing yards are 14th in the NFL and rookie RB Kyle Monangai who has 648 yards on 135 carries. Both RB’s average 4.8 yards per carry and over 2.8 yards after contact. Gang tackling these 2 will be crucial as the Bears offensive line loves to help their 2 RB’s move the pile after initial contact. The Bears will no doubt scheme to give help to their rookie LT Ozzy Trapilo as he faces Myles Garrett and his quest for 3 more sacks to break the NFL single season record for sacks which could free up others to pressure Caleb Williams into making some mistakes. When pressured Williams completion rate drops to 36% and he’s fumbled 6 times. GO BROWNS……GO CAVS