Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns: Live updates from Cleveland Browns Stadium

CLEVELAND – The Bears take on the Browns on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Both teams have playoff implications on the line.

For Matt Eberflus’ club, every game is a must-win from here on out. The Bears are holding onto slim playoff hopes, and they likely need to win each of their last four games to keep those postseason hopes alive. Quarterback Justin Fields returns to the site of his first NFL start. He allowed nine sacks during that game in 2021 and the Bears totaled only one passing yard as a team.

Shaw Local Bears beat writer Sean Hammond is in Cleveland for Sunday’s game. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @sean_hammond, on Instagram at @bears_reporter and on Threads at @bears_reporter. Shaw Local Bears analyst Marc Silverman will provide his thoughts on X at @WaddleandSilvy.

Below is everything Bears fans need to know ahead of the game. Stay here all game long for live updates.

Bears narrowly miss Hail Mary; Browns win, 20-17

The Bears took over possession with 32 seconds remaining in the game. Justin Fields connected with rookie receiver Tyler Scott, who ran up the sideline for a 30-yard gain to pull the Bears past midfield.

With the Bears out of field goal range, they kept the offense on the field for a third-and-10 play with five seconds remaining from the 45-yard line. Fields geared up for a Hail Mary toss. The ball bounced off several hands, then fell to Darnell Mooney as he was falling to the grass.

Mooney, however, couldn’t hold on. The ball slipped through his grasp, bounced off his foot and landed in the arms of a Cleveland Browns defender for an interception.

The Browns won the game, 20-17.

Browns score go-ahead field goal

After the Amari Cooper touchdown, the Bears offense went three-and-out and was forced to punt it back to the Browns with 2:00 remaining in regulation. Bears punter Trenton Gill had a good punt and the Browns took over at their own 21-yard line.

Joe Flacco connected with tight end David Njoku twice on big plays to push the Browns into field goal range. With the Browns in the red zone, Bears coach Matt Eberflus used his timeouts to try to save some clock and give the offense a chance to answer a Browns score.

Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made a 34-yard field goal. The Browns took the lead, 20-17, with 32 seconds remaining.

Joe Flacco finds Amari Cooper for game-tying touchdown

With the clock ticking under four minutes, Browns quarterback Joe Flacco threaded the needle and connected with receiver Amari Cooper in between three defenders. Cooper shed a block and beat everybody to the end zone for a touchdown.

With the extra point, the Browns tied up the game, 17-17, with 3:08 remaining. The Browns drove 80 yards on just six plays.

Browns add field goal, make it 1-possession game

Joe Flacco connected with receiver Marquise Goodwin for a 57-yard completion on a deep ball up the middle. The play came on first-and-15 and flipped the field position for the Browns.

The Browns’ drive stalled out in the red zone, but the Browns added three points on a field goal from kicker Dustin Hopkins. The score cut it to a seven-point game. The Bears lead, 17-10, with 12:27 to go in the fourth quarter.

Both teams trade turnovers

The Bears and Browns traded takeaways late in the third quarter.

First, Bears defensive end DeMarcus Walker recorded a sack on third down to set up a Browns punt. On the punt, Bears return man Trent Taylor muffed the return. The Browns landed on the fumble and took over at the Bears’ 20-yard line.

On the very next play, Joe Flacco targeted a wide open tight end, but Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson came out of nowhere to intercept the pass. Stevenson ran the ball back 34 yards after making the catch.

Bears add field goal, go up 10

The Bears drove 47 yards on nine plays to set up a 41-yard field goal for kicker Cairo Santos. Justin Fields took a shot at the end zone on third down, targeting DJ Moore, who was one-on-one with Browns star cornerback Denzel Ward. The pass fell incomplete and the Bears sent out Santos for the kick.

The Bears lead, 17-7, with 7:07 to go in the third quarter.

Tremaine Edmunds returns interception for touchdown

On the Browns’ first possession after halftime, Bears linebacker TJ Edwards hit Browns receiver Cedric Tillman at the moment the ball arrived from quarterback Joe Flacco. The ball escaped Tillman’s hands and landed in Tremaine Edmunds’ waiting arms. Edmunds returned the interception 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Bears took the lead, 14-7, with 13:50 to go in the third quarter. Both Bears touchdowns were aided by defensive interceptions. Earlier, Eddie Jackson returned one to the 1-yard line to set up the offense. This time, the Bears’ defense didn’t even need the offense.

Bears, Browns tied at halftime

The Bears drove down to the Cleveland 37-yard line just before halftime, where Justin Fields lofted a Hail Mary toward the end zone. Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah came down with an interception to end the first half. The Bears were apparently just outside of field goal range for kicker Cairo Santos.

At the break, the Bears and Browns are tied, 7-7. Fields was 12-for-21 passing for 101 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the first half.

Bears guard Teven Jenkins exits game with injury

Late in the second quarter, Bears guard Teven Jenkins suffered an apparent injury. Jenkins was slow to get up after a third-down play for the Bears’ offense. He tried to push himself up off the ground but then collapsed back to the grass.

Jenkins walked off the field very gingerly with the help of the training staff. He was later carted away from the Bears’ bench and taken back to the locker room.

Update: The Bears later ruled Jenkins out with a concussion. Cody Whitehair entered the game at left guard in Jenkins’ place.

Browns answer with a touchdown

After the Bears scored the game’s first points, the Browns answered with a touchdown drive of their own. Joe Flacco led the Browns 84 yards down field on 12 plays. Cleveland scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to tight end David Njoku.

Bears safety Jaquan Brisker was right in Njoku’s face, but Njoku made a tough catch in traffic and got both his feet down in bounds.

The Browns tied the game, 7-7, with 3:48 to go in the second quarter.

Bears struggle to score from 1-yard line before finally punching it in

Thanks to Eddie Jackson’s interception return, the Bears started a possession at Cleveland’s 1-yard line. It took them eight – yes, eight – tries to score. Penalties were called on both teams. Technically, according to the stat book, it went down as a four-play, 1-yard touchdown drive. But in reality, the Bears had eight chances.

The Browns were twice flagged for having 12 men on the field. The Bears lined up for a tush push play from the 1-yard line and were flagged for a false start on tight end Cole Kmet.

Finally, on third-and-goal from the 5, Fields evaded a Myles Garrett pressure, scrambled to his left and connected with Kmet for a touchdown in the corner of the end zone.

It was the game’s first score. The Bears lead, 7-0, early in the second quarter.

Eddie Jackson picks off Joe Flacco

With the Browns backed up deep in their own end, Bears safety Eddie Jackson picked off quarterback Joe Flacco early in the second quarter. Defensive tackle Justin Jones had good penetration up the middle on the play and hit Flacco, forcing an errant throw.

Jackson caught the ball and saw a lane to the end zone. Jackson returned the ball 27 yards and was stuffed at the 1-yard line.

Montez Sweat forces fumble

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat continued his hot streak Sunday. He had a strip sack against Joe Flacco late in the first quarter. Sweat now has 4.5 sacks in six games as a member of the Bears.

The fumble bounced toward the sideline where several Bears had a chance to pick it up, but the ball scooted out of bounds before the Bears could grab it.

Punt, punt, punt

The game’s first six possessions thus far have ended in punts. The Browns won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff, but it didn’t do them much good. Joe Flacco threw an incompletion on third down and the Browns punted it away.

The punts just kept coming, too. The Browns and Bears both punted on their first three possessions.

On the Bears’ third drive, receiver DJ Moore made a ridiculous catch along the sideline, dragging his toes. It was a 27-yard gain that gave the Bears a first down near midfield. So far, it has been the longest play of the game. The Browns challenged the catch, but the play stood. The possession still ended in a punt for the Bears.

Latest injury news

The Bears entered Sunday with two players listed as questionable: receiver DJ Moore (ankle) and safety Jaquan Brisker (groin). Moore tweaked his ankle last week against Detroit, but was a full participant in practice on Friday. Brisker suffered a groin injury in practice this week. He was a limited participant in practice on Friday.

The Bears designated Moore and Brisker as active, so both are expected to suit up for the game.

Inactive for the Bears are quarterback Nathan Peterman, safety Quindell Johnson, guard Ja’Tyre Carter, receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and linebacker Noah Sewell. Peterman will be the emergency quarterback if both Fields and backup Tyson Bagent suffer injuries.

The Bears had already ruled out receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral) and linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) on Friday. The team placed defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on injured reserve earlier this week. Ngakoue broke his ankle last week and needs season-ending surgery.

With Ngakoue going on injured reserve, the Bears signed linebacker DeMarquis Gates to the active roster from the practice squad.

[ Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker wants the football in his hands. That’s why he’s always carrying one ]

What to expect from the Browns

Quarterback Joe Flacco will make his third start for the Browns. The Bears defense might be the toughest test he has faced yet.

On the other side, Myles Garrett and the Browns’ defense will be a similarly tough test for Fields and the Bears. The Browns rank No. 1 in total yards against and No. 1 in passing yards against. They also boast the No. 1 sack rate. Here are the five biggest storylines to watch during Sunday’s game.

Silvy is excited that the Bears are giving fans a reason to dream of the playoffs. Read his full column here.

For your pregame listening needs, check out the Shaw Local Bears Insider podcast.

What else did I miss this week?

Here’s what else was happening at Halas Hall this week.

[ Bear Down, Nerd Up: A dominant Chicago Bears defense and the Montez Sweat effect ]

[ 3 things Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday after win over Detroit Lions ]

[ Inside the ‘free play’ touchdown pass from Justin Fields to DJ Moore that propelled Chicago Bears to victory ]