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Week 8 Game Recap: Cleveland Browns 6, Chicago Bears 30
Cleveland Browns
| QB Derek Anderson, Pass: 6 - 17 - 76 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 1 - 1 |
Anderson continued to struggle in his fifth start. He finished with only 76 yards passing, and had just two yards passing in the first half. Inaccuracy remains a problem, as Anderson rarely hits receivers when pressured and still has difficulty with touch on shorter routes. Anderson stared down Mohammed Massaquoi on a post route early and was intercepted on a diving catch by a Chicago defender. His second interception was a ball that should have been thrown away deep in his own territory and wasn't. Brady Quinn replaced him late in the fourth quarter.
| QB Brady Quinn, Pass: 1 - 3 - 9 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Quinn came in late in the fourth quarter and completed one pass to Mohammed Massaquoi.
| RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 16 - 69 - 0 |
Lewis got the bulk of the rushing attempts. For the first time in weeks, the offensive line was able to give him running room. When a hole was there, Lewis showed a burst to get through it. He was unable to break tackles when stopped behind the line and failed to get the corner on multiple occasions when trying to bounce it outside.
| RB Jerome Harrison, Rush: 5 - 19 - 0 |
Harrison spelled Lewis for only a couple of series. He was able to gain yardage on one quick hitter, but was generally ineffective on his other four carries.
| RB Lawrence Vickers, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets) |
Vickers was rarely used as an outlet receiver and caught one pass for a short gain, while dropping a pass on his other target.
| WR Josh Cribbs, Rush: 6 - 28 - 0, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (1 targets) |
Cribbs was again effective out of the Wildcat package, particularly on the power sweep. Like Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison, Cribbs rarely had running room up the middle. Cribbs got open in the flat after a play action end around play and took a short pass up the sideline for his only catch of the day.
| WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Rec: 2 - 28 - 0 (6 targets) |
Massaquoi was again the Browns' most targeted wide receiver. However, he and Derek Anderson weren't on the same page on routes at times and he managed only one catch from Anderson and lost a fumble at the end of the play. Massaquoi caught Brady Quinn's only pass on a quick out late in the game for his other reception.
| WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets) |
Furrey lined up at wide receiver rarely, with most of his playing time coming as a nickel safety on defense. He caught only one pass on the day.
| WR Chansi Stuckey, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stuckey only played a handful of snaps in multiple receiver sets. His lone catch came along the sideline in the second half.
| WR Brian Robiskie (3 targets) |
Robiskie was targeted three times by Derek Anderson, but pressure and inaccurate throws prevented any completions.
| TE Steve Heiden, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (4 targets) |
Heiden returned to the lineup and was again Derek Anderson's preferred check-down option. His four targets were the second most on the team. Most of Anderson's passes weren't close enough to haul in and Heiden fumbled after his lone reception.
Chicago Bears
| QB Jay Cutler, Pass: 17 - 30 - 225 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 5 - 32 - 0 |
Cutler was efficient and accurate downfield, completing 20 of 25 targets to his top four pass catchers. He showed a strong arm, often fitting the ball into tight windows down the sideline and over the middle. At times, he held onto the ball a little long and his eyes went to the pass rush too often, missing open hot receivers while taking a sack. Other times, he stood tall in the pocket and took a hit while delivering an accurate ball. He was also effective scrambling out of the pocket.
| RB Matt Forte, Rush: 26 - 90 - 2, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (3 targets) |
The interior offensive line had trouble with Shaun Rogers and Forte didn't have many holes between the tackles. When he did, he was usually decisive and gained good yardage. Despite the two scores, Forte had trouble gaining ground inside the ten yard line, needing multiple carries to punch the ball over the goal line. He also failed to convert on another drive in which the Bears turned the ball over on downs on the one yard line. Forte also looked good catching the ball out of the backfield, turning a screen into a long gainer on one play.
| RB Garrett Wolfe, Rush: 5 - 53 - 0 (1 targets) |
Wolfe rarely spelled Forte in the base offense, but got multiple carries in the game's final drive. He ripped off 51 yards on four carries in that drive against a worn down and disinterested Cleveland defense, including a 36 yarder to end the game.
| WR Devin Hester, Rush: 1 - -5 - 0, Rec: 7 - 81 - 0 (8 targets) |
Hester and Jay Cutler were on the same page all day. Deep in routes, bubble screens, slants were all effective. Hester showed strong hands on an in route, grabbing a pass just off the turf for a first down. Hester was also difficult to tackle in space, often adding multiple yards after the catch. He was again Cutler's most targeted receiver.
| WR Johnny Knox, Rec: 3 - 44 - 0 (5 targets) |
Knox wasn't a major factor, with Devin Hester and Greg Olsen getting the bulk of the high leverage targets. Knox flashed his all-around skill on a deep sideline route in the second half, however, winning separation after a hand fight with the corner, staying inbounds and snatching a laser from Jay Cutler in-between two defenders.
| WR Earl Bennett, Rec: 2 - 29 - 0 (3 targets) |
Bennett was targeted only three times, but made two strong catches. Both pass plays were short and Bennett fought for a few extra yards.
| TE Greg Olsen, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (4 targets) |
Olsen provided a big target over the middle for Jay Cutler, often finding soft spots between the Cleveland linebackers and safeties. Cutler wasn't afraid to put the ball into double coverage and Olsen made sure-handed catches.
| TE Desmond Clark (4 targets) |
Clark was targeted all over the field, but most of his targets were rushed or were one of the few inaccurate throws from Jay Cutler.