The Chicago Bears could use a bounce-back win following their 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. Fortunately, the schedule has worked out in their favor as Caleb Williams and the Bears will return to the friendly confines of Soldier Field to square off against one of the worst teams in the league, the Cleveland Browns.
While Cleveland's 3-10 record would not indicate that they're doing anything particularly well this season, the Browns do own one of the stronger defenses in the NFL. With Shedeur Sanders being the third player to take the reins as QB1 this season, though, the offense in Cleveland is noticeably lagging behind its defense. This could be an area where Chicago's defense could add to its already high total of forced turnovers on the season, especially with the secondary only getting healthier.
As much of an advantage as this provides the Bears on paper, the Browns' latest injury report may as well have been served up on a silver platter. Six key players have been ruled out of Sunday's contest, including three-time Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward.
Browns Won't Have Several Key Players Available In Week 15
Beyond Ward, Cleveland will also be missing starting OT Jack Conklin, veteran TE David Njoku, starting OG Wyatt Teller, rookie RB Dylan Sampson, and depth DT Adin Huntington. For an offense that was already struggling, losing the entire right side of your starting offensive line, as well as your primary backups at the running back and tight end positions, respectively, does not paint a hopeful picture of what is to come for the Browns this Sunday.
While Chicago will still have to contend with slowing down All-Pro DE Myles Garrett, who is rapidly chasing down the single-season sack record, these absences on both sides of the ball put the Bears in a great position to right the ship and continue gaining ground in the NFC playoff picture.
After falling to the Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday, the Bears slipped to the No. 7 seed in the NFC. The San Francisco 49ers own the tiebreaker over Chicago entering Week 15, due to having a better record against fellow NFC teams, but laying claim to the division title should be the Bears' focus at this point.
With the second, and final, matchup of the regular season between Chicago and Green Bay scheduled for Week 16, it would behoove the Bears to make quick work of the Browns this Sunday so that their regulars can not be forced to play any more snaps than necessary to secure the victory and reach the 10-win plateau for the first time since the 2018 season where Chicago finished 12-4.
Take care of business against a vastly shorthanded Cleveland roster this weekend, along with defending Soldier Field in Week 16, and the Bears will be sitting pretty entering the final two weeks of the regular season.