These Bears players deserve praise despite embarrassing loss to Browns

Once again, the Chicago Bears leave the city of Cleveland in a state of disarray.

Last time, it was in September of 2021, and then-rookie Justin Fields just got sacked nine times in his NFL debut en route to a 26-6 loss. This time, in Sunday’s Week 15 showdown, Fields fared somewhat better, but the result was a 20-17 loss that shone a light on some glaring holes on this team.

Outside of DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, there seem to be no reliable playmakers. What happened to the Darnell Mooney of 2021, who racked up more than 1,000 yards? He and Fields have lost all the chemistry they’d built up over the years.

The offensive line has been much improved, but the Cleveland Browns’ league-leading defense largely overwhelmed them.

Luke Getsy’s gameplan was forgettable, and head coach Matt Eberflus made several questionable calls, including not kicking what would have been a long yet makeable field goal at the end of the first half.

And yes, the quarterback position is a blatant need. Fields had a few nice throws and displayed his magical ability to evade the pass rush, but the negatives can’t be ignored anymore. A top-two pick in the 2024 NFL draft is virtually a guarantee at this point, thanks to the Carolina Panthers, and it seems inconceivable that GM Ryan Poles, who did not draft Fields, would pass on a quarterback once again. Especially not after watching rookie quarterback CJ Stroud immediately turn the three-win Texans into contenders in their division.

The Chicago Bears almost drew me back in. I predicted them to win this game after weeks of picking them to lose, and I thought that if they pulled off a convincing win in Cleveland, that I’d be all the way back into the playoff chase.

But they didn’t. And as Bears Talk’s Bryan Perez noted in his takeaways, this loss has placed the coaches right back on the hot seat and only made the case for drafting a new quarterback stronger.

But not all is doom and gloom. There was plenty for Bears fans to be excited about, and it all has to do with the defense. So, let’s hand out some game balls.

Montez Sweat

As if the talking heads who dumped on the decision to trade for and extend Montez Sweat weren’t already pretty sick of eating crow, Sweat delivered them another hearty helping with a three-sack performance on Sunday.

He was constantly in the backfield terrorizing Joe Flacco. He now has 13 sacks on the season, a career-high for him and by far the highest mark for anyone on the Bears or his former team, the Washington Commanders.

This isn’t quite the Khalil Mack trade in 2018, but it feels good to have a monster on this defensive line again.

Tyrique Stevenson

The rookie cornerback has had an up-and-down season, but his interception in Week 15 was one of the best interceptions we’ve seen all year.

One play after Trent Taylor muffed a Bears punt return, setting up the Browns nicely at Chicago’s own 20-yard line, Joe Flacco threw a dart to an open receiver heading into the endzone. Stevenson laid out for the ball, diving in front of the intended target, and snatched it out of midair.

Tyrique Stevenson | #ItsAllAboutTheU® pic.twitter.com/MM6lZR2sEy

— GO ‘CANES! (@83_87_89_91_01) December 17, 2023

Stevenson had to have a promising rookie year once Poles traded up for him in the second round of the 2023 draft, and so far, he appears to be developing nicely. If the Bears can get an extension done with Jaylon Johnson, this secondary could be elite for years.

Tremaine Edmunds/TJ Edwards

The linebackers will have to share this one for their tip-drill pick-six.

A HUGE HIT LEADS TO A TREMAINE EDMUNDS PICK-SIX

: FOX pic.twitter.com/s9L7YBfSZl

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 17, 2023

Early in the third quarter, Flacco targeted a Browns receiver for a short gain at their 40-yard line. But TJ Edwards was right there for a big hit to blow up the pass, knocking the ball up and into the waiting arms of Tremaine Edmunds, who broke a couple of tackles and showed some shiftiness as he carried the ball into the endzone.

Edmunds may have started the season slowly, drawing the ire of fans, but there’s no denying the improvement he’s shown over the last few weeks. He’s a stud and is proving to be worth every penny of his contract.

As for Edwards, he’s a dark horse candidate for an All-Pro award.

Honorable Mentions: Eddie Jackson, who hauled in another interception and returned it to Cleveland’s one-yard line, Andrew Billings, who blew up a pivotal 3rd and short run attempt early in the game, and DeMarcus Walker, who made several nice plays.