Bears vs Browns preseason Week 4: Complete game preview
The Chicago Bears will take on the Cleveland Browns in the fourth and final week of the NFL preseason. Here is everything you need to know about this game.
The Chicago Bears will finish off the 2017 preseason on Thursday night at Soldier Field against the Cleveland Browns. While this game, for the most part, has little to no meaning to it, there still are many intriguing position battles for both teams that will be decided after Thursday night’s contest. It’s not as much about the final score as it is about the stat sheet and individual player performance.
Although both the Bears and the Browns aren’t exactly playoff caliber teams, both teams will look to drastically improve following a rough 2016 season, in which the two went a combined 4-28. Despite the fact that starters will not be playing, this game is not short of young talent, as both teams have young players fighting for playing time come regular season. Combined with potential surprise cuts, there is still plenty to watch in this game.
The performance of players on the roster bubble is the main focus of the game. For the Bears, players like Victor Cruz and Bryce Callahan will need to have big games to make up for a mostly rough preseason and to save their jobs. While the Browns don’t feature as many veterans as the Bears do, the play of young players fighting for starting spots will be the main focus for Cleveland Thursday night.
What to watch for the Browns
Somewhat surprisingly, the Browns named second-round rookie Deshone Kizer their starting quarterback for the 2017 season. Kizer beat out veteran Brock Osweiler in a situation very similar to the one we have watched in Chicago. Neither Osweiler or Kizer are expected to play on Thursday, but quarterback depth has proved crucial for the Browns in recent memory, making the quarterback a position to watch.
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With Osweiler a potential cut, second-year players Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan will face off for the backup spot. Kessler is a likely lock given that he was picked in the third round in 2016, but if Hogan performs well enough, he can take a roster spot away from Osweiler.
The Browns made a surprising move on Wednesday, when they released two-time pro bowl cornerback Joe Haden, showing that they are not afraid to move on from veterans to make room for young talent. Defensive backs Ibraheim Campbell and Calvin Pryor have big shoes to fill, and need to take a big first step with good games on Thursday. With the Bears wide receivers likely getting a load of targets, the Browns cornerbacks will be put to the test.
Like the Bears, the Browns wide receivers will need to make a final impact. With most of the Browns picks used for defensive talent, undrafted wide receivers will have a bigger role than usual for the Browns. The roster is thin behind starters Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt, making depth even more crucial. Second-year receivers Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis are two names to watch, with highlight play making ability and large upside going forward.
What to watch for the Bears
The first half will be the most defining part of the game for Chicago, as Bears rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky is expected to start and play the entire first half. Although Mike Glennon is still the likely starter, Trubisky will have one last chance to prove that he is ready, even if he’ll be facing off against a lot of end of the roster players.
Trubisky has had a spectacular preseason and will look to top it off with a strong closing on Thursday night.
The biggest thing to watch for the Bears is the wide receivers. With Cameron Meredith lost for the season with a torn ACL, players such as Kevin White and Josh Bellamy will need to show that they can contribute. White showed promise with three receptions for 30 yards last week but will need to show that he can produce on a weekly basis in a bigger role. Victor Cruz will need to rebound in a big way following back-to-back bad games, as Cruz is a potential cut even with the Meredith injury.
Next: Bears' players to watch vs. Browns
Finally, the Bears secondary features a key position competition, as cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Cre’von LeBlanc will compete for a roster spot as the nickel corner. LeBlanc has had an up and down preseason but has shown impact play making ability. Callahan is the more experienced option but has had a rough preseason, and needs a solid game to lock down a starting spot.