SUNDAY SNAPSHOT
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. Central
Surface: Grass
Television: CBS – Kevin Harlan, Soloman Wilcots
Series: 14th regular-season meeting. Browns lead series 9-4. Cleveland will be playing in Soldier Field for the first time since 2001. The Browns and Bears met six times from 1951-69. Cleveland won five of those games, two of them by shutouts. Since the Browns' rebirth in 1999, the teams have split two games.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Bears QB Jay Cutler has thrown 10 interceptions, but far too much of the offensive load has been thrust onto his right arm with RB Matt Forte (3.5 yards per carry) struggling behind a poor run-blocking line. Cleveland scores just 10.3 points per game, so Chicago's main objective must be to protect the ball and force the Browns' offense to produce. For Cleveland, it's about keeping the game close and, therefore, keeping RB Jamal Lewis involved. QB Derek Anderson is struggling mightily, in large part due to a very young receiving corps that lacks a proven playmaker.
FAST FACTS
The Browns have been held without a touchdown in three of four road games. ... Cutler has a 65.4 passer rating with three interceptions in the red zone this season.
DE Adewale Ogunleye
Getty Images: Jonathan Daniel |
PERSONNEL NEWS
Bears: DT Tommie Harris (knee) on Thursday made it back-to-back full practices for the first time this season, and he is expected to be in better shape on game day than he has since the season opener. ... RB Adrian Peterson (knee) practiced in full Thursday and is expected to be back on the field Sunday. ... LB Hunter Hillenmeyer is expected to moved from the strong side to the middle, so he can make the defensive calls, changes and get everyone aligned. ... LB Nick Roach will move from middle linebacker to the strong side. ... DE Adewale Ogunleye (ankle) was limited at practice but is expected to start Sunday.
Browns: TE Steve Heiden (knee) had hoped he'd be able to play against the Bears, but that was diminished Thursday. After being limited Wednesday, he did not practice Thursday. Heiden has missed the last two games. ... TE Greg Estandia missed practice Thursday with a knee injury. He was not on the injury report Wednesday. ... TE Robert Royal practiced on a limited basis Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. A hamstring injury kept him out of the game against Green Bay. ... Anderson practiced fully again but remains on the injury report with a sore hip. ... K Phil Dawson was limited in practice with a calf injury that has bothered him for six weeks.
PREDICTION
Bears 24, Browns 14.
Agree? Disagree? Let your voice be heard on our message board
RIGHT HERE.
Bear Report: The only publication exclusively dedicated to your Chicago Bears.