Stock Up, Stock Down: Breaking down the Bears’ complete win over the Browns |
Ariana Pensy
· · 2 hours ago
CHICAGO - While Chicago has won many one-score games this season, their win against the Cleveland Browns showed the Bears can win in dominant fashion. The defense generated three turnovers and kept the Browns out of the end zone, while the offense scored 17 points off those turnovers and performed well in the red zone.
After the way the Green Bay Packers game ended, this was a great bounce-back game for Williams and the rest of the Bears. He finished with 60.7 percent completion percentage, his highest in a Bears win since week three, as well as having his second straight multi-touchdown game. Williams is showing the ability to make the superhuman plays everyone expected from him coming out of college, minimizing the mistakes and inaccurate throws. This game was a significant step in the right direction for Williams, especially with his top receiver being out, and that will have to continue in the rematch against the Packers on Sat. Dec. 20 (7:20 p.m. / FOX).
Devin Duvernay instantly sent a message to the Cleveland Browns that the Bears were going to come out swinging with a 52-yard kick return. His other kick return was 30 yards. Furthermore, although it did not count, he had an incredible reception on third down. Great players step up when their team needs them, and Duvernay did just that against Cleveland. The Bears will be looking for him to have more kick returns like that against Green Bay on Saturday.
Chicago’s run game had been a two-headed monster with running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Swift had another amazing performance with 98 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. However, Monangai had only 33 yards on his 11 rushing attempts and failed to find the end zone for the second straight game. His three yards per carry is the second-lowest he has had in a game with at least 10 attempts. In addition, he has not been too involved in the passing game and dropped a potential first down on the opening drive against Cleveland. Monangai is a rookie, so he has a lot of time to grow, but Chicago will need to see more out of him against the Packers.
The weather may not have been ideal for kickers, but missing a 35-yard field goal is quite bad. Furthermore, he stated before the game that the wind would take several yards off what he was comfortable kicking, meaning he would not feel comfortable with any field goals over 50 yards. In an era where numerous kickers can make field goals over 60 yards and a new record for the longest field goal in NFL history was set at 68 yards, the Bears need a kicker with a bigger leg. Chicago may want to look into the possibility of acquiring a new kicker in the offseason.
With linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on injured reserve, Jackson has continued to be a starting linebacker for the Bears, which is quite remarkable given he had not started in an NFL game before this season. His interception against Cleveland turned the momentum in Chicago’s favor, which started the Bears’ 17-0 run to end the game and earned him a game ball. He is one of many players on the Chicago roster who have been a surprise for the Bears this season.Caleb Williams - Stock Up
Devin Duvernay - Stock Up
Kyle Monangai - Stock Down
Cairo Santos - Stock Down
D’Marco Jackson - Stock Up
