Browns at Bears
Soldier Field
Chicago, Ill.
Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001
AT A GLANCE: After some rough seasons, two of the
NFL’s storied franchises appear to be back on top of their game. The Bears are alone
atop the NFC Central standings, while the Browns are in the thick of the AFC Central race.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Bears? The Browns? Game of the Week? You
betcha! Two of the league’s biggest surprises will face off in a game that few
people would have highlighted when the NFL schedule was announced last spring. But both
the Bears and Browns have played themselves right into the thick of things.
Chicago, which is off to its best start since 1990, has won five in a row. They battled
back from a 19-point deficit to beat the 49ers in overtime last week. The early-season
success has the Bears (5-1) believing they can win each and every game.
The Browns (4-2) find themselves with a similar mindset, as head coach Butch Davis has
instilled a new attitude in a team that had won only five games since returning to the NFL
in 1999. They won an emotional game over the defending champion Ravens in Week Six and
then rested last week with a bye.
When the Browns have the ball:
The Browns’ offensive attack isn’t going to scare anyone at this point in its
development. Cleveland is averaging only 254.2 yards per game, one of the lowest figures
in the league. But the Browns are taking fairly good care of the ball, with only eight
turnovers on the season.
QB Tim Couch has looked good, showing poise in pressure situations. He has thrown eight
touchdowns to four interceptions. But he will want to be especially careful against an
opportunistic Bears defense that has returned takeaways for touchdowns in three of their
last four games.
Chicago features an aggressive defense that is very stingy when it comes to giving up
points. While the Bears allowed 31 points last week, two touchdowns were scored by the
49ers’ defense. In their first five games of the year, the Bears allowed only 43
total points. |
|
|
| Soldier Field |
| Chicago, Ill. |
| Date: Sunday, November 4, 2001 |
| 3:15 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Cleveland |
4-2-0 |
| |
Chicago |
5-1-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Cleveland |
4-1-1 |
| |
Chicago |
4-1-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Cleveland (R) |
1-1-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
3-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Cleveland (R) |
1-1-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
2-0-1 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Cleveland |
4-2-0 |
| |
Chicago |
4-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Cleveland |
4-1-1 |
| |
Chicago |
3-1-1 |
|
| Couch’s top target is Kevin Johnson, who has more than twice the number of
catches and receiving yardage than any of his teammates. The talented Dennis Northcutt is
expected to start ahead of rookie Quincy Morgan at the other WR spot. The Bears mostly
employ a two-deep zone, which has helped them avoid giving up too many big plays.
Rookie RB James Jackson had a breakout game in Week Two, rushing for 124 yards.
However, he has averaged just 2.5 yards in the other five games. The Browns would be wise
to avoid running Jackson up the middle, where the strength of the Bears’ defense
lies. Up the gut, Chicago relies on big DTs Ted Washington and Keith Traylor to stuff the
run, as well as MLB Brian Urlacher, who has been making plays all over the field.
When the Bears have the ball:
The Bears are trying to get back to establishing the run after using the "Air
Crowton" attack for a couple of years. They seem to have found the right man in
rookie RB Anthony Thomas, who is more assertive to the hole than the former starter, James
Allen. Thomas has racked up 315 rushing yards in the past two weeks.
Thomas may be able to pile up the yards vs. a Browns defense that has had some trouble
stopping the run. However, the Cleveland "D" has done a fine job of keeping
opponents out of the endzone, allowing only six touchdowns in six games.
QB Jim Miller (check status) was knocked out of last week’s game with a hip
injury. The Bears love his strong arm, and most of the team’s offensive success this
year has come with Miller running the show. However, the team has confidence in backup
Shane Matthews, who came through last week, completing 25-of-31 passes. He led the Bears
to three scores in the final 20 minutes of play.
Whoever is under center will be challenged by an up-and-coming secondary. Starting CBs
Corey Fuller and Daylon McCutcheon are playing very well, as is rookie nickel back Anthony
Henry (four interceptions).
WR Marty Booker has emerged this season, and first-round pick David Terrell appears to
be on the verge of becoming a playmaker. However, as of Week Seven, Terrell was still
coming off the bench because Dez White took over the starting SE position vacated by
Marcus Robinson, who is done for the year because of a knee injury.
Don’t be surprised if the Bears continue to occasionally target seldom-used
weapons such as TE Fred Baxter and FB Daimon Shelton, both of whom contributed vs. the
49ers.
Browns DRE Courtney Brown is expected to return to action this week after missing the
first six games with a knee injury.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 28. |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
85 K. JOHNSON, 88 Dawson, 84 King* |
| OLT |
72 OBEN |
| OLG |
77 VERBA, 69 Mercier |
| C |
64 WOHLABAUGH, 60 O'Hara |
| ORG |
66 McKINNEY, 63 Bedell |
| ORT |
69 CHANOINE, 73 Myles |
| TE |
87 SANTIAGO, 48 Monroe, 80 Shea |
| WR |
86 NORTHCUTT, 81 Morgan*, 89 German |
| QB |
2 COUCH, 10 Holcomb, 12 Booty* |
| RB |
29 J. JACKSON*, 30 White, 34 Gay* |
| H-back |
44 SELLERS, 80 Shea |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 ROYE, 96 Spires |
| DLT |
94 WARREN*, 96 McKinley |
| DRT |
74 M. SMITH, 93 Colinet |
| DRE |
92 BROWN, 90 McKenzie, 78 Rogers |
| SLB |
95 J. MILLER, 54 Saleh |
| MLB |
58 RAINER, 55 Denman* |
| WLB |
57 RUDD, 52 Boyer |
| LCB |
24 FULLER, 37 Henry*, 26 Carter |
| RCB |
33 McCUTCHEON, 31 Jackson |
| SS |
20 LITTLE, 28 Bush, 21 M. Smith |
| FS |
43 ELLSWORTH, 47 Frost, 35 Phenix |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
17 GARDOCKI |
| PK |
4 DAWSON |
| H |
17 GARDOCKI, 10 Holcomb |
| PR |
85 JOHNSON, 84 King* |
| KR |
30 WHITE, 84 King* |
| KC |
97 KUEHL, 60 O'Hara |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 WHITE, 87 Bates |
| OLT |
78 BROCKERMEYER, 74 Herndon |
| OLG |
64 TUCKER, 73 Dogins |
| C |
57 KREUTZ, 73 Dogins |
| ORG |
58 VILLARRIAL, 69 Gandy* |
| ORT |
71 WILLIAMS, 60 Robertson*, 76 Cook* |
| TE |
84 BAXTER, 82 Davis, 89 Lyman |
| WR |
86 BOOKER, 83 Terrell* |
| QB |
15 MILLER, 9 Matthews, 17 Wuerffel |
| RB |
35 THOMAS*, 20 Allen, 25 Denson, 32 Johnson |
| FB |
31 SHELTON, 45 Dragos, 36 Pritchett |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
98 ROBINSON, 72 Powell, 99 Tafoya |
| DLT |
92 WASHINGTON, 70 Boone |
| DRT |
94 TRAYLOR, 62 Newkirk |
| DRE |
93 DANIELS, 95 Riley* |
| SLB |
59 COLVIN, 55 Jones |
| MLB |
54 URLACHER, 59 Colvin |
| WLB |
53 HOLDMAN, 52 Howard |
| LCB |
27 HARRIS, 23 Azumah |
| RCB |
21 McQUARTERS, 39 Austin |
| SS |
37 PARRISH, 33 Whigham, 22 Merrill* |
| FS |
30 BROWN, 43 Green |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
4 MAYNARD |
| PK |
2 EDINGER |
| H |
4 MAYNARD |
| PR |
21 McQUARTERS |
| KR |
23 AZUMAH, 25 Denson, 32 Johnson |
| LS |
65 MANNELLY, 58 Villarrial, 45 Dragos |
* Rookie |
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