Bears Pass Rush
Opinion

Bear Downs: Pass Rush Leads 4 Things to Watch vs Browns in Week 15

The Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns will face off in Week 15. And, whereas the latter will have one of its key pieces in the lineup this weekend after some uncertainty, the former lost one of theirs on the other side of the ball.

Chicago lost edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue for the season to a broken ankle. They will look to replace him with a committee approach.

But Bears head coach Matt Eberflus did name several players specifically when asked.

Bears Other Pass Rushers Share Spotlight in Week 15

1) DeMarcus Walker and Dominique Robinson Must Step Up for Bears Pass Rush

The Bears lose a few advantages without Ngakoue opposite Montez Sweat. First is the ability of each to go from speed to power as needed. While Dominique Robinson and DeMarcus Walker each provide something, neither offers either skill to the level that Ngakoue did.

This season has been a roller coaster for Walker, who was one of the more highly-touted free agent signings by the organization this past offseason.

He and Rasheem Green were supposed to juice up the pass rush.

That didn’t happen and Bears general manager Ryan Poles signed Ngakoue during training camp.

Things were even tougher for Robinson, a former converted wide receiver whom the team drafted in the fifth round of the draft last year (see: a project). Robinson was kept on the roster over some other players who were more productive pass rushers.

Scheme fit – and perhaps the front office’s investment – kept Robinson on the roster. But he found himself inactive over the last six games.

The Bears could also choose to elevate Khalid Kareem in the future if they aren’t satisfied with what they get from the outside now. His being on the practice squad now probably speaks volumes about what they feel they would get from him in that situation.

Chicago also loses Walker’s versatility on the interior, though, which could be even more of a detriment than Ngakoue on the outside.

Pressure is a quarterback’s biggest nightmare, especially when it’s right up the middle.

2) Amari Cooper is Healthy and Dangerous

Cleveland will have standout wide receiver Amari Cooper available despite his dealing with a rib injury. The 29-year-old former Dallas Cowboys star is a threat no matter where he lines up in the offense.

The Browns can and will line him up anywhere, including the backfield.

Cooper has 876 yards on 57 receptions this season despite a revolving door at quarterback for much of the season.

He caught seven of 14 targets for 77 tards in the Browns’ 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14. It was his second game with quarterback Joe Flacco, a combination Eberflus addressed after Friday’s practice.

“I mean he’s got talent … and he can take the top off, and he’s a really good route runner, very disciplined,” Eberflus said. “And he’s got the quarterback that can get him the ball. The quarterback’s very accurate. They do a really good job on the back shoulders, getting the ball over the top.”

3) Joe Flacco & the Fountain of Youth

Flacco came off the couch to throw from 254 yards versus the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13 for the Browns. He followed that up with a 311-yard performance in Week 14 versus the Jaguars.

He has thrown five touchdowns to just two interceptions and has only taken three sacks in that span.

That said, the 38-year-old quarterback has never been a real threat to run.

There might not be a better spot for the Bears’ defense to figure out what works without Ngakoue than facing a Browns team that has an immobile quarterback and will be without both starting offensive tackles and its starting center, per the official injury report on December 15.

The Bears’ secondary – now fully healthy – has been stingy of late. They could have to cover a little longer than in recent weeks.

But, against Flacco at least, perhaps not too much longer.

4) Bears Offense vs Myles Garrett, Browns Defense

If the Bears’ defense is at an advantage over this version of the Browns offense, the inverse may also be true for their respective counterparts.

Chicago’s offense has played better since Justin Fields returned.

They did struggle to put up points against an aggressive Vikings defense in Week 13, though they did still come away with a win.

This will be an even bigger test against the NFL’s No. 1 passing defense and No. 11 rush defense in the Browns. Myles Garrett is a game-wrecker off the edge Bears coaches admitted they wouldn’t mind if cornerback Denzel Ward (questionable, shoulder) had to miss the game.

Justin Fields and the offense are still looking to prove themselves and erase the feeling of the last time these two teams met from memory.

A win and a strong showing from the offense would certainly do that.