3 matchups the Cleveland Browns must exploit against Chicago

The 2023 Cleveland Browns overcome adversity for breakfast. The Browns sit at 8-5 despite having started four different quarterbacks and placing 14 players on injured reserve. That number could very well be at 15 by the time this article gets published. Yet, they're in the driver’s seat in the AFC wildcard race.

With four games left in the regular season, the Browns only have two games remaining against teams with winning records. However, their next opponent, the Chicago Bears, comes into Sunday’s game in Cleveland with a record of 5-8. But the Bears are coming off a win against the NFC North leading Detroit Lions.

The phrase ‘any given Sunday’ definitely applies to Cleveland's next contest. Even with all the injuries the Browns have sustained, they still hold a significant talent advantage over the Bears. However, that does not mean that the Browns can just roll their helmets out on Sunday and expect to get their ninth victory of the season.

Here are three matchups the Browns must win to get to 9-5

Matchup No. 3: Geron Christian vs Montez Sweat

It's impossible to argue that the Chicago Bears defense has not been a better unit over the last month. The most noticeable difference has been the Bears ability to get after opposing quarterbacks. And it is the newly acquired Montez Sweat leading that charge.

The addition of Sweat gave them someone to pair with edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Unfortunately for Chicago, Ngakoue broke his ankle in their win over the Detroit Lions and is now out for the remainder of the season. However, Sweat is still a problem that must be accounted for.

While the Bears will most likely move Sweat around with Ngakoue out, the majority of his reps to this point have come on the right side of Chicago’s defense. For the Browns that means that left tackle Geron Christian will draw the assignment of slowing down Chicago’s one man pass rushing band on Sunday. The mission is clear, keep Joe Flacco standing and attack the Bears secondary, but to do that Christian must neutralize Montez Sweat.

Matchup No. 2: David Njoku vs T.J. Edwards

The Browns passing game awoke from its month-long slumber last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Joe Flacco effect on the Browns offense has been undeniable. The biggest benefactor from Flacco’s quarterback play last week was David Njoku.

The ultra-athletic tight end was targeted eight times and pulled in six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Last Sunday was the first time Njoku scored multiple touchdowns in a game and his 91 yards was the second most receiving yards the tight end has ever had in a contest. There was an emphasis placed on getting the ball in Njoku’s hands and let him do what he does best, gain yards after the catch.

Currently, Njoku leads all tight ends in yards after the catch. Njoku has 600 receiving yards through the first 13 games of the season, and 394 of those receiving yards have come after the catch. If the Browns want to continue to feed Njoku against the Bears that will mean going after linebacker T.J. Edwards.

The Bears run a cover two scheme on defense which requires linebackers that can run and cover. Edwards, a free agent addition, fits that bill to a t. The fifth-year linebacker has both tremendous range as well as coverage skills. Over the past three games, Edwards has three passes defensed and two interceptions. Flacco and the Browns will have to straddle the line of not putting the ball in danger and getting the ball in the hands of their most physical receiving threat.

Matchup No. 1: Myles Garrett vs Braxton Jones

The Browns defense goes as Myles Garrett goes. Full Stop. While Cleveland’s defense has plenty of talent, Garrett is the engine that drives their ability to be truly dominant. When Myles is unable to generate pressure and be his normal game-wrecking self the Browns struggle to get off the field consistently.

After suffering a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos, Garrett struggled the following week against the Los Angeles Rams, as did the Browns defense. However, last week against Jacksonville Garrett looked like his normal self, bullying offensive tackles and running through would-be chip blockers. While Garrett did not record any sacks against the Jaguars, we won’t get into why stats do not count on two-point conversions, the All-Pro edge rusher was once again his normal disruptive self.

This Sunday, Garrett gets to harass Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The last time these two teams met in week three of 2021, Garrett sacked Fields 4.5 times and set a single-game franchise record. While a repeat of that super-human performance is unlikely, it would not be unrealistic to believe that Garrett could get home on Fields multiple times this week.

Standing in Garrett’s way is Chicago left tackle Braxton Jones. The Bears fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft has turned into a solid starter for Chicago. ESPN has Jones as the third best offensive tackle in terms of pass win block rate, winning an impressive 95% of his pass third-best reps.

If Jones wins 75% of his pass-blocking attempts against Garrett, the Bears will have to consider that a win. The problem is, even if Jones wins three-fourths of his reps against Garrett, because of his explosivity and agility, Garrett could still turn in a multiple-sack performance. Then there is the bad news for Justin Fields and the Bears, Myles Garrett is due.