The GameDay Opening Drive 8/15: Preseason in the Windy City
Browns open their tune-up schedule against the Bears in a game holding some real importance.
It’s finally gameday folks, and the Cleveland Browns head to Chicago for their first preseason matchup since 2017. The Browns used to have frequent matchups with the Bears each year to close out the preseason before the NFL changed preseason structure and today they rekindle the flame. The two side got together last year late in the regular season when Chicago was well under freezing and the Bears won 31-3.
As for today, we want to see what Deshaun Watson, and eventually Shedeur Sanders, can string together today on the road in this first preseason game and we get the chance to see what the rookies can do on the NFL stage. Mix that with a defense debuting their new style and approach under Mike Rutenberg and you have plenty of reason to tune in.
It’s a rare 1PM game on the Saturday slate of the preseason so it will feel a little out of the ordinary but the Browns Film Breakdown team have all the analysis and context you need to get the most out of the Browns return to the field for the first time in what feels like forever.
Game Day Preview Podcast: Preseason Week 1, Browns vs. Bears
We’re so back! Welcome to 2026's first GAMEDAY edition of the Browns Film Breakdown Podcast. Jake and Brad open the show is filled with all the pertinent information available for the matchup between the Browns and the Bears to kick off the preseason at 1PM local. You get viewing information, stadium weather, gambling notes, and much more.
Per the usual, if you are new here, inside the weekly GameDay Opening Drive you will get all the pieces of information paired with your GameDay Podcast to enhance your Sundays with this team.
So, sit back, pour some coffee, turn on the best pre-game Browns song known to man, and enjoy a fresh delivery of all your weekly crucial information from yours truly.
We might see some rain in this one but otherwise the weather looks like a delightful late summer day in Chicago. This isn’t the game last year where the teams battled through negative double digit weather. If the rain holds off it’ll be just right with a lovely breeze to keep everyone cool.
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.