Cleveland Browns vs. Bears: 4 takeaways from another long Sunday

The Cleveland Browns did what that always seem to do on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Here are four takeaways from another loss.

The Cleveland Browns could not overcome the Chicago Bears, mistakes and head coach Hue Jackson on Sunday at Solider Field.

The Brwons dropped the game, 20-3, to fall to 0-15 on the season and 1-30 under Jackson, who failed in his quest to win his third consecutive Christmas Eve game.

With only a trip to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers left on the schedule, an 0-16 season seems as big of a lock as anyone could imagine.

Here are four quick takeaways from another disappointing Sunday.

Too many mistakes

The Browns have a hard enough time making something happen even when things are going well. (Which is not the same as having to play a “perfect game.”) So when they repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot, the results are fairly predictable.

Such was the case on Sunday against the Bears as the Browns:

• Had a 42-yard touchdown return by defensive Myles Garrett on a turnover overturned because defensive end Carl Nassib lined up offsides
• Saw wide receiver Rashard Higgins fumble the ball at the Chicago three-yard line while fighting for extra yards, with the Bears Prince Amukamara recovering in the end zone for a touchback.
• Had quarterback DeShone Kizer throw two more interceptions – including one in the end zone that was nowhere near wide receiver Josh Gordon – giving him a league-leading 21 on the season. Kizer has only had two game this season where he did not throw an interception and has posted multiple-interception games seven times.
• Had eight more penalties.

This team simply cannot get out of its own way, which helps explain, in part, why they are sitting at 0-15.

Duke Johnson continues to shine

Third-year running back Duke Johnson continues to be a bright spot on offense as he had a game-high seven receptions and 81 yards on the day.

Johnson now has 68 receptions this season, breaking Greg Pruitt’s team record for running backs, which he set in 1981.

Hue Jackson was not inspired again this week

The Browns trailed 6-3 at halftime.

The snow was blowing through Solider Field, DeShone Kizer was still the quarterback, Josh Gordon was again a non-factor, so of course head coach Hue Jackson only gave running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson a combined two carries in the second half.

You simply can’t make this stuff up.

The No. 1 pick is secured

With today’s loss the Browns locked up the No. 1 overall selection for the second consecutive season.

That adds another dubious record in a season full of them as the Browns are the first team in NFL history to earn the top pick in consecutive seasons.

Cleveland had the No. 1 selection in 1999 and 2000, but the 1999 pick was a gift from the NFL for the Browns being an expansion team and a way to say “sorry” about letting Art Modell move the team to Baltimore.

The Cincinnati Bengals, in 1994 and 1995, are the only other team to have the top pick in consecutive years,  but they only had the top pick in 1995 after acquiring it in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

Next: Browns look terrible in Chicago

So along with having the worst record in NFL history to start his tenure with a team, head coach Hue Jackson can add being the first coach to lead his team to the top spot in the draft two years in a row.

It is quite a time to be a Browns fan.