The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a huge showdown against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, where they’re looking to extend their winning streak to three games.
But Chicago’s offense will be tested by a dominant Cleveland defense led by defensive end Myles Garrett, who is a true game-wrecker and already has 13.0 sacks and 26 QB hits this season. The Bears will also have to contend with Za’Darius Smith, who has 3.5 sacks and 14 QB hits.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is determined to not let those Browns edge defenders wreck the game.
“They give us a report each week and I think they were like No. 1 in like every defensive statistic in the league, so I was like, ‘This is gonna be fun, right?’” Getsy said, via The Athletic. “Then you go out there and you have 95 (Garrett) and 99 (Smith) staring down at you at the same time.
“It’s fun. I think this is why you do what you do. You want to play against the best. Yes, those two you have to account for at all times. There’s no question about it that when you’re going up against guys like that, your game plan has to be centered around those two guys.”
Expect a game plan that includes quick passes and screens, along with finding ways to get Fields on the move. A heavy dose of the run game with Fields and D’Onta Foreman would also help.
The last time Fields faced the Browns (in the regular season), he was sacked nine times — 4.5 of which belonged to Garrett — in his first NFL start. A lot has changed since that game, including an improved offensive line, Matt Nagy’s departure and an improved Fields.
But it’s still going to take a strong effort from this offensive line — notably left tackle Braxton Jones, who will have to contend with Garrett for most of the game.