Browns Have Exciting Flashes, but Depth Falls Short Against Bears, 34-10: Game Notes
Strong start to the day for the frontline but the depth unraveled in the second half.
The Browns’ preseason opener turned into a rout Saturday, as Cleveland fell 34-10 to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, with a game that started as a defensive stalemate unraveling badly in the second half.
Cleveland actually controlled the opening stretch. The Browns out-gained Chicago 120 yards to 14 through the first quarter, forcing the Bears into consecutive three-and-outs before Andre Szmyt connected from 50 yards to make it 3-0. Deshaun Watson, working with the ones as he continues his summer-long competition with Shedeur Sanders, moved the offense efficiently early, including a 15-yard completion to rookie Denzel Boston that pushed Cleveland into Chicago territory, and Dylan Sampson broke a 43-yard catch-and-run that showed the explosiveness the Browns’ backfield has flashed all camp. KC Concepcion nearly housed a punt return, popping a 31-yarder that had Soldier Field holding its breath.
The tide turned in the second quarter. Backup Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent, playing without a single Chicago offensive starter, shook off a slow start to author two scoring drives. The first came after Jamree Kromah strip-sacked Watson on fourth-and-two, and four plays later Bagent found Maurice Alexander for a 25-yard touchdown. Bagent then closed the half by marching Chicago 53 yards in five plays, setting up a 50-yard Cairo Santos field goal as time expired — a sequence that pulled the Bears level at 10-10 heading into the break, effectively erasing the Browns’ first-quarter dominance in the box score if not on paper.
The Bears won the battle further down the 90-man roster en route to 430 yards of total offense while creating two second half turnovers. Bears depth played far more consistently over the final thirty minutes which turned a tied game into a 24-point defeat, which is the more instructive story than the final score itself. A preseason opener this lopsided in the second half — after the starters and top backups had largely given way to the back of the roster — says less about the top of Cleveland’s depth chart than about the level of competition further down it — particularly on a defensive front and secondary that couldn’t get off the field against Chicago’s third and fourth stringers.
Here are your Preseason Week 1 Game Notes.
Deshaun Watson had some moments. He still has an overall jittery feel in the pocket — as this was his first NFL action in 22 months — that hinders his ability to cycle through reads, but he delivered some downfield throws that should give some encouragement.
Watson had four throws that stood out: his 14 yard completion on a glance to Jerry Jeudy looking to his left in a zone window, his stop route to Denzel Boston for 15 yards, and his 11 yard 3rd and 3 completion to Concepcion before the touchdown run.
The key mark of his issues remaining stem from pocket movement and recognition issues. He ran forward off a play-action concept for just a 1-yard gain when he had multiple downfield options open and then another issue on 4th and 3 where he failed to step vertically in the pocket after missing his first read and was strip-sacked because of it. These seem like issues he will have for the foreseeable future.
Shedeur Sanders had a few moments of meaning in the game but it felt like more of his 2025. Deliberate pacing that hinders the offenses’s process at times, downfield throws that make you believe more is there, but too many consistency issues. His best throw of the day was a 35-yard middle-of-the-field post to Luke Floriea.
He also had to batted down passes as he lingers with his eyes on the same place and a rough interception he sailed over the middle. I don’t think Sanders did himself many favors in this game. He has to be nearly perfect the rest of the way to begin the season as the starter.
Dillon Gabriel came into the game late into the 4th quarter and it was rough. His first drive he panicked into an ugly 2nd down sack and then his next drive he also sailed an awful throw on an in-breaker deep middle. There is no doubt he’s out of the equation at this point.
The running game was non-existent despite effort. Quinshon Judkins ran for just nine yards on four carries and Dylan Sampson just six yards on four carries. We need to see the All-22 but it is worrisome that the Bears controlled the front that easily. Ahmani Marshall and Raheim Sanders only produced 13 yards on eight carries as well. Too many snaps where it appeared to be congested and poor attempts to get to the second level. Davon Booth popped a couple meaningless runs on the final drive to boost stats but it was ugly overall.
Sampson’s 43 yard screen reception was the highlight for the position group. When he opens it up full throttle he can really go. Monken has to keep finding ways to get him into space this season.
The two young rookies handled themselves very well. Boston only had one target but you can see how easily he will win in the boundary and give them a weapon they haven’t had in some time in the role. Concepcion is just such a weapon. His first punt return gave us a flash and then when they gave him the proper targets later in the 1st quarter you can see the skill-set. He can win at all levels, and is dangerous in space. He was dynamic and you should be excited about his upside.
Floriea did the most to help his case among the receiver depth. Gage Larvadain will keep doing what he does — perform solidly — as he caught four balls for 37 yards to lead the group. It likely comes down to one of those two for the final role in the room.
Not much from the tight ends overall. Harold Fannin Jr. only played two possessions and dropped a key 3rd down throw that would have kept a drive going. Otherwise Blake Whiteheart and Carsen Ryan both had one reception for six yards each.
The offensive line was inconsistent and the interior depth concerns me. We didn’t get a ton of snaps from the Week 1 projected group together. It felt like Spencer Fano played well in his longer look at the left tackle role. The depth really struggled across the board and unfortunately Austin Barber had his ankle rolled up on as well. Not strong overall.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Browns Film Breakdown to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.