Four Bears players to watch vs Browns in Week 15
The Chicago Bears have won three of their last four games and will be looking to win three consecutive games for the first time since 2020 on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Week 15 interconference matchup will be a major game in terms of draft positioning and playoff implications for both sides. For the […]
The Chicago Bears have won three of their last four games and will be looking to win three consecutive games for the first time since 2020 on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
The Week 15 interconference matchup will be a major game in terms of draft positioning and playoff implications for both sides.
For the Bears, these four players will be the ones who could ultimately decide how the outcome of this game could pan out.
Cole Kmet
The Bears tight end has been consistently reliable for the passing game all season long but has been quiet in terms of scoring since his two touchdown game back in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.
Kmet has seen 6+ targets in five of his last six games and will be looking to keep things going on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, Kmet is the only tight end in the league with 70+ targets and one or fewer drops in 2023.
Kmet is fifth among all tight ends in receptions (61), tenth in receiving yards (548) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (5). If Kmet wants to keep building toward potentially having his first career Pro Bowl nod, he'll need to have a big game on Sunday.
The last time Kmet played in Cleveland he was held to one reception for 11 yards. However, that was over two years ago. In Week 14, the Browns gave up 11 receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns to Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram.
Kmet could be the Bears X-factor in the passing game on Sunday that could fuel the offense in hopes to stealing a road upset in Week 15.
Braxton Jones
The Bears starting left tackle will have a major role in Sunday's game by being responsible for limiting a top candidate in the Defensive Player of the Year race. Braxton Jones will be facing off against Myles Garrett for the first time in his career.
Garrett has been held in check the last few weeks but will be looking to get his season resume back on track against the Bears. The All-Pro defensive end hasn't recorded a sack in three games and has never had a four game streak during a single season of his career.
Garrett had a career-high 4.5 sacks against Bears quarterback Justin Fields the last time these two teams played in 2021. The Browns pass rush as a whole recorded 9 total sacks during that game. Garrett is 7th in the NFL with 13.0 sacks in 2023.
Jones will be the man responsible for protecting against the potential game-wrecker on Sunday. Garrett mainly rushes from the quarterback's left side but is used all over the defensive front for Cleveland. Jones had some solid reps against the Lions top pass rushers in Week 14 and allowed only three total pressures.
Gervon Dexter Sr.
The Bears second-round rookie will be in line for a higher snap count as the team will look to rotate their pass rushers more in Week 15 after losing defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Dexter has played 40+ percent of the team's defensive snaps in three of the Bears last four games.
Dexter had five QB hits in that span and had his first career sack in Week 14 against the Lions.
According to Pro Football Focus, Dexter has a 12.5 pass rush win rate this season which ranks second among rookie defensive tackles, trailing only Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Jalen Carter. Dexter is deserving of the higher snap counts and Sunday could finally be the coming out party for the rookie.
Eddie Jackson
The Bears could potentially be without starting safety Jaquan Brisker for Sunday's game against the Browns. His absence puts a lot of responsibility on veteran defensive back Eddie Jackson to man the deep areas of the field on defense.
In Week 14 against the Jaguars, Browns quarterback Joe Flacco threw three touchdowns of 30+ yards downfield. Jackson will also be tasked with helping guard Browns tight end David Njoku who's coming off a 91 yard, two touchdown performance.
Jackson has allowed just one reception over his last two games on three targets. However, that one reception went for a 17 yard touchdown against Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Although he's been more of a veteran leader in the secondary for the younger guys, the Bears will be asking more out of Jackson if Brisker can't play. If that's the case, Jackson can't afford to allow any big plays in coverage against the Browns on Sunday if the Bears want to come away with a third straight win in Week 15.
Bears pass rush plans to take advantage of banged up Browns offensive line
Bears will enter into the game with a major advantage
