|
The Browns fought past a strong defensive
effort by Chicago (5-9), which got 2.5 sacks from Montez Sweat
and an interception return for a touchdown by Terrel Edmunds.
The Bears were eliminated from playoff contention.
Down 17-10, the Browns stayed alive when Flacco threw between
defenders to Cooper, who sprinted down the right sideline for a
51-yard touchdown with 3:08 left in regulation.
Cleveland forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 1:50
to go. Flacco found Njoku on third-and-15, and the tight end
barreled ahead for 34 yards to get the Browns into range for the
game-winning kick with 32 seconds left.
Chicago's Justin Fields chucked a Hail Mary on the last play of
the game, and Bears receiver Darnell Mooney nearly corralled it
on the ground but lost control and watched it land in the hands
of Browns defensive back D'Anthony Bell.
The Browns outgained the Bears 377-236 despite netting just 29
rushing yards. Fields had 166 yards on 19-of-40 passing for one
touchdown and two interceptions.
There was no score until the second quarter. Flacco's throw
landed in the bread basket of defender Eddie Jackson, who
returned it from the Browns' 28-yard line to the 1.
The Bears got pushed back to the 5 before Fields escaped Myles
Garrett's would-be sack and hit Cole Kmet in the back-left
corner of the end zone.
Cleveland responded with a 12-play, 84-yard drive. Flacco
finished the job with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Njoku, tying it
7-7 with 3:48 before halftime.
Fields drove Chicago to the Cleveland 37, but the Bears turned
down a long field-goal attempt with 3 seconds left and had
Fields try a Hail Mary. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah came down with a
pick.
In just the second minute of the second half, Flacco's short
pass to Cedric Tillman was jarred loose and caught by Edmunds,
who ran 45 yards for his first career pick-6 to put Chicago back
in front.
Cairo Santos added a 41-yard field goal with 7:07 left in the
third quarter.
Chicago's Trent Taylor muffed a punt that Mohamoud Diabate
recovered for Cleveland in the red zone, but on the next play,
Flacco's throw toward the goal line was intercepted by rookie
Tyrique Stevenson.
Flacco tossed a deep pass to Marquise Goodwin for 57 yards,
setting up Hopkins for a 33-yard field goal with 12:27 left to
go.
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
