The Chicago Bears looked like a relative offensive juggernaut over their first several possessions versus the Cleveland Browns in Week 15.
After halftime, it was a different story, and there might be a simple explanation.
Bears stud left guard Teven Jenkins recorded the second-highest offensive grade from Pro Football Focus on the team in Week 15. He finished behind Trent Taylor, who took all of five snaps on offense. That is not only significant because Jenkins left just before halftime with a concussion.
Impact of Teven Jenkins? Absence Underscored by Bears? PFF Grades
Bears Missed Teven Jenkins vs. Browns
It?s also important because rookie Darnell Wright was the only other Bears? offensive lineman to record even an average grade. It was especially disappointing since the group entered the contest the healthiest it had been all season.
Jenkins is the second-highest-graded Bear on offense this season, ranking behind only wide receiver DJ Moore. Three defenders ? T.J. Edwards, Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat, and Noah Sewell who has 25 total snaps ? rank ahead of Jenkins on the team.
The Bears gained eight fewer yards and averaged 0.8 fewer yards per play in the second half compared to the first. So, perhaps the loss of Jenkins had minimal impact.
It was enough of a difference on a day when the Bears? defense made numerous plays.
All four of the other three starters plus Jenkins? replacement, Cody Whitehair, received 57 grades or worse. As a unit, the Bears offensive line posted its second-lowest grade of the season in Week 15.
It’s not as though the Browns made life much easier before Jenkins went down, though.
What a dime from @justnfields to @ColeKmet for 6 ???
?: #CHIvsCLE on FOX | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/SFdgKcJ9gu
? Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 17, 2023
Andrew Billings is the Bears? Best Pass Rusher
Nose tackle Andrew Billings has not recorded a single sack this season. Not even a half of one. And he shouldn?t be expected to, his job is to take up space and blockers to free up linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds.
But a cursory glance at the tape will show the 6-foot-1, 311-pound ?Juggernaut? routinely getting penetration into the backfield.
That burst has gained Billings the top pass-rushing grade of any Bears lineman this season.
Coupled with Montez Sweat on the outside (and sometimes the inside), Billings will surely have more chances to bring the quarterback down if he keeps the effort up. Both players are signed through at least the 2025 season.
Let. Tez. Cook. ???#ProBowlVote + @_sweat9 pic.twitter.com/2geFJjvN7X
? Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 17, 2023
Browns Outplay Bears in Critical Moments
The overarching storyline from this game was that 38-year-old Browns quarterback Joe Flacco outplayed 24-year-old Bears (possible) franchise cornerstone Justin Fields.
That is indeed what their respective grades show.
But, in addition to Jenkins? injury letting an already lethal Browns pass rush run free in the backfield, the Bears had several key drops. And, according to several players, lacked the same explosives they went for in the first half.
Again, Jenkins? injury likely limited their ability to set up for some of those longer-developing plays.
At the same time, Flacco benefitted from tight end David Njoku coming up with a touchdown pass with safety Jaquan Brisker standing right in front of him. Njoku also found himself matched up with defensive tackle Justin Jones in coverage on a critical third-and-15.
You read that correctly.
Browns star wide receiver Amari Cooper, who finished with 109 yards on four receptions, caught what was roughly a 20-pass in the air and took it 51 yards to paydirt, tight-roping the sideline in the process.
? Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 18, 2023
In the end, it?s another one-score loss for a Bears team that is 3-12 in such games over the last season-plus. Everyone surely has their opinions about where the blame lies in that, especially when a good chunk of those losses have come after holding a second-half lead. What is clear, though, is that it?s still an issue.
