The Bears became the 15th team to beat the Browns this season, cruising to a 20-3 victory in their home finale Sunday at Soldier Field.
On a day that started with a snow-covered field, the Bears defense forced three turnovers and running back Jordan Howard rushed for two touchdowns to help avoid an embarrassing loss. The Browns have just one more chance to avoid an 0-16 season, when they face the Steelers on Dec. 31. The Bears improved to 5-10.
The Bears caught a big break early in the second quarter, when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett intercepted Mitch Trubisky. The play was called back because of an offside penalty on Browns defensive end Carl Nassib.
The Bears responded with a scoring drive capped by Howard’s 16-yard touchdown run for a 13-3 lead. Trubisky added a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make it 20-3.
The Browns were marching toward the end zone late in the third quarter when Rashard Higgins fumbled at the Bears’ 3-yard line, forced by Danny Trevathan and Eddie Goldman. Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara recovered the ball in the end zone.
Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan came up with the third takeaway when he intercepted Kizer late in the fourth quarter.
Howard’s 2-yard touchdown run put the Bears on the board first, but Nassib blocked kicker Mike Nugent’s extra-point attempt for a 6-0 Bears lead.
Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller recorded his second interception of the season when he easily caught DeShone Kizer’s pass in the end zone. But the Browns ended the first half with Zane Gonzalez’s 48-yard field goal to cut it to 6-3.
--Colleen Kane
Game updates, photos, tweets and more as the Bears host the Browns on Christmas Eve (noon, CBS).
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