CHICAGO —The Browns are almost out of chances to earn their first win of the season.
Cleveland has one more opportunity to fend off a winless season after a 20-3 loss to the Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field. The Browns, who dropped to 0-15, play at Pittsburgh next week.
As has been the case this season, Cleveland fell behind early and saw self-inflicted wounds dim bright spots. The Browns, who committed three turnovers and eight penalties, trailed by a field goal at halftime before the Bears promptly marched down the field on their first second-half possession.
DeShone Kizer passed for 182 yards and two interceptions, continuing what's been a season-long struggle with turnovers. The rookie quarterback has now thrown nine touchdowns against 21 interceptions in a roller coaster campaign of highs and lows.
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His counterpart, Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, passed for 192 yards and ran for another 44. Trubisky, the Mentor native and second-overall pick in the NFL Draft, ran for a 4-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
In what was billed a matchup of strengths, the Browns' run defense kept Jordan Howard in check but couldn't slow him down near the goal line. Howard ran 22 times for just 44 yards but scored twice in the red zone. His longest run was a 16-yard touchdown.
Cleveland's defense sacked Trubisky five times, but couldn't snap a long turnover drought they hoped to end in Chicago. The Browns haven't recorded a takeaway since Week 11.
The Browns' offense finished with less than 300 yards of total offense (253) for the ninth time this season and was 4-of-12 on third down.
Perhaps the team's lone bright spot on offense Sunday was running back Duke Johnson Jr., who led Cleveland in receiving with seven catches for 81 yards. In the process, Johnson set a franchise record for the most receptions by a running back in a season.
The Browns, who fell to 1-30 over the past two seasons, recorded their lone win exactly a year ago when they defeated the Chargers on Christmas Eve in dramatic fashion. Cleveland has lost 16 straight games since.
The Bears took the game's first lead late in the first quarter when Howard scored on a 2-yard run up the middle. The drive — powered in part by Trubisky's legs — was set up by a 28-yard punt return by dynamic rookie Tarik Cohen.
Cleveland scored its first points of the afternoon when kicker Zane Gonzalez knocked down a 48-yard field goal with one second in the first half.
In a wild turn of events, the Browns looked like they might turn the tide on the first play of the second half when rookie defensive end and first-overall pick Myle Garrett intercepted Trubisky and nearly ran the ball back for a touchdown.
Garrett's heroism, however, was wiped out by an offsides penalty. Chicago scored three plays later and never looked back.
Cleveland finishes the regular season at Pittsburgh on New Year's Eve.
The Browns play the Chicago Bears in Week 16.
QB DeShone Kizer hands the ball off to RB Isaiah Crowell.
QB DeShone Kizer looks to pass.
QB DeShone Kizer drops back to pass.
DL Nate Orchard runs with the ball.
The Browns offense huddles.
DL Myles Garrett (right) and DL Carl Nassib (left) tackle Bears RB Jordan Howard.
QB DeShone Kizer watches the game from the sideline.
DB Jabrill Peppers (22) tackles Bears RB Tarik Cohen.
DL Carl Nassib chases Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky.
K Zane Gonzalez makes a field goal in the first half.
DL Myles Garrett celebrates after sacking Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky.
QB DeShone Kizer throws under pressure.
QB DeShone Kizer watches from the sideline.
QB DeShone Kizer hands the ball off to RB Isaiah Crowell.
DB Jabrill Peppers runs against Bears LB John Timu.
LB James Burgess tackles Bears RB Jordan Howard.
RB Duke Johnson is tackled by Bears CB Bryce Callahan (37) and ILB Nick Kwiatkoski (44).
WR Ricardo Louis runs with the ball.
