12/24/17
(Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press/Bleacher Report)
Jordan Howard scores his fifth and sixth touchdowns against AFC North opponents on the season in the Bears (5-10) 20-3 victory over the still win less Browns (0-15).
The score was 6-3 at the half, in the Bears favor. Costly penalties hurt the Browns on the opening drive of the second half as Jordan Howard went left guard for a 16 yard scamper for his second touchdown of the day. Howard ran 22 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a stellar day for Chicago as well. The rookie out of North Carolina finished 14/23 for 193 yards. Not only did the #2 overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft beat the Browns defense through the air, he also did it with his feet; and Trubisky is not even considered a "mobile quarterback". He ran seven times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Benny Cunningham led the Bears receiving with 2 catches for 62 yards, including a 40 yard catch and run.
As for the Browns, it was the same story, different Sunday for them as they turned the ball over three times today in Chicago, two of which were interceptions by DeShone Kizer. The rookie now leads the NFL in interceptions with 21 on the season. For Kizer, he finished 18/36 for 182 yards with two interceptions. Missing receivers, terrible decision making, etc. continues to follow the #52 overall pick into what was his 14th start today against Chicago.
Speculation of Isaiah Crowell being frustrated with his touches from the Browns 27-10 home loss against the Ravens a week ago came out this week and was touched on by Hue Jackson in one of his press conferences this week. Crowell busted out for a 59 yard run and Jackson stated "anyone could have ran through that hole." which really fired up both Crowell and many Browns fans. The Browns gave Crowell the ball on the first four plays on the game where he totaled 19 yards on those four plays. "The Crow" finished with 44 yards on 12 carries. Crowell was targeted four times through the air, only catching only one of those passes for -1 yard. Kizer either over or under threw him, which really frustrated the four year pro. His backfield mate, Duke Johnson Jr. has really been the Browns only bright spot of the season on offense, well besides Joe Thomas of course but his season ended early on with a triceps injury. Johnson caught seven passes for 81 yards today to go along with four carries for 20 yards on the ground. Josh Gordon played today's game "under the weather" and his performance proved that. Two catches on eight targets for "Flash”, for only 19 yards.
The Browns now fall to 1-30 now under HC Hue Jackson. With today's loss, the Browns clinched the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and as the skidding Texans continue to struggle and lose ballgames as well, the Browns could very well get another top five pick.
On another note, Hue Jackson now falls to 2-1 as a head coach on Christmas Eve, 1-1 in Cleveland on Christmas Eve. Unlike last when the Browns beat the Chargers 20-17, the Browns were unable to bring any Christmas Miracle to Browns fans rather than coal and a 15th loss of the season or the 16th straight regular season defeat.
Next week is the final week of the regular season and both the Browns and Bears will be on the road. Chicago will travel to Minnesota to face the 13-3 and NFC North champions, the Minnesota Vikings while the Browns will travel to Pittsburgh to face the AFC North champions, the Steelers. Next week in “The Steel City” will be Cleveland’s final chance to stave off a possible 0-16 season.
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