The Browns defense did everything right in last Sunday's win over the Jaguars. After forcing four turnovers and four sacks against one of the best offenses in the NFL, the defense will look to repeat the performance against the Bears in Week 15.
The Bears will come into Cleveland on Sunday with an offense that has had its ups and downs all season. They are 25th in passing yards with 2,669 and are eighth in the league with 12 interceptions. They also struggle in protecting their quarterbacks, as they have allowed 38 sacks this season, the sixth worst in the league.
They will be going against a Browns defense that is hungry to sack the quarterback and has 38 sacks this year.
"Sacks are big every week," LB Sione Takitaki said. " The more sacks we get, the more successful our team. We rely on our front four to pressure the opposing quarterback. The more sacks, the better for us."
While the Bears passing game could be better, their run game this season ranks towards the top of the league. They are fourth in rushing yards with 1,794, and average 4.4 yards per carry, which is seventh. They have rushed for a first down 105 times, which is fifth.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for the Chicago Bears
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Cornerback A.J. Green III (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Offensive tackle Geron Christian (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Cornerback A.J. Green III (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Safety Duron Harmon (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Senior Offensive Assistant Bill Musgrave during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Safety Vincent Gray (31) and Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Defensive tackle Joey Fisher (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Long snapper Charley Hughlett (47) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Tight end Jordan Akins (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 13, 2023.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 15, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Jordan Thomas during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Safety Tanner McCalister (48) and Cornerback A.J. Green III (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 14, 2023.
Their rushing attack is led by QB Justin Fields, who leads the team in rushing yards with 458 yards. He averages 5.1 yards per carry and has scored two rushing touchdowns in nine games this season.
"Defensive coordinators don't like those quarterbacks that can run and pass," HC Kevin Stefanski said. "It's a challenge. I mean, every play he can affect. Their run game can go through him. Their pass game, he can make every throw and if it's not there, he can pull it down and he's a threat to make a lot of yards."
RB D'Onta Foreman leads the team in rushing attempts with 103 and has rushed for 431 yards this season in eight games. Foreman has rushed for four touchdowns and averages 4.2 yards per carry.
"Foreman is a downhill back that is very physical," Takitaki said. "You got to make sure you bring your A-game while tackling him because he can definitely break tackles."
Even though the Bears rushing attack is dangerous, Fields has fumbled the ball seven times this season, but has only lost four. Fields' fumbling problem can be very beneficial for the Browns defense. The Browns defense has forced 10 fumbles and recovered eight.
"We have to watch the run with their quarterback, who is good on his feet," Takitaki added. "He's always looking to extend plays. They are a really good running team who are in the top five in rushing. We have to make sure our fundamentals and techniques are clean."
Turning the ball over in general has been a problem for the Bears this season. Even though Fields has thrown six interceptions, as a team, the Bears have thrown 12, which is seventh most in the league. The Browns excelled in Week 14 against the Jaguars in intercepting the ball, as they had three interceptions. Those takeaways helped the Browns gain good field position.
All season, the defense's mantra has been to go 1-0 on the week. They want to carry the momentum from last week into this week but remain focused.
"We're never complacent and the thing is, we expect to make those plays and things like that," CB Greg Newsome II said. "Games that we're playing very well, we expect to do that. So, it's easy to move on to the next game when you're expected and we're forced to make those plays and play well. So, it's easy to just move on to the next one and try to go 1-0 the next week."
