CHICAGO — Chicago stretched its lead to 24-10 over Cleveland late in the third quarter when Case Keenum connected with running back Brittain Brown on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining in the period. The score capped a rough stretch for the Browns' backup-heavy defense and gave the Bears firm control of the 2026 NFL preseason opener at Soldier Field.
The Bears had already taken the lead earlier in the third on a 49-yard swing pass to running back Salvon Ahmed, who broke a tackle and cut across the field to outrun the Cleveland defense. That play made it 17-10 Chicago and set the tone for a quarter the Browns could not recover from.
Keenum took over under center for Chicago after Tyson Bagent handled the first half. Bagent finished his stint 13-of-22 for 169 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Carlos Santos kicked a 51-yard field goal for the Bears just before halftime to tie the game, and Chicago received the second-half kickoff with momentum.
On the Cleveland side, Deshaun Watson played the entire first half at quarterback. Shedeur Sanders, as expected, took over to start the third quarter. Sanders showed flashes — he was 2-of-3 for 59 yards on one drive, including a 24-yard deep out to Gage Larvadain and a strike to Luke Floriea while Sanders was being hit by three Bears defenders. That drive pushed the Browns to the Chicago 6-yard line, but Ahmani Marshall was stopped on fourth-and-1 to end the possession without points.
Sanders entered the game with the Browns trailing. Head coach Todd Monken, making his debut as an NFL head coach — a role he had never held before — said Watson would play the first half before handing off to Sanders. That plan held.
Cleveland's defensive issues compounded throughout the game. Cornerback Michael Coats Jr. suffered an ankle injury and was ruled out after recording a first-half interception. The Browns were already thin at defensive tackle and cornerback heading into the fourth quarter. Players such as Carson Schwesinger and Jared Verse played only one series or less.
The offensive line shuffled throughout the contest. Austin Barber returned at right tackle in the third quarter. The Browns' line at that point, left to right, was Dawand Jones, Jeremiah Byers, Kingsley Eguakun, Tyre Phillips and Barber. KT Leveston later replaced Phillips at right guard, with Phillips sliding out to right tackle in place of Barber.
The Browns defense did generate a late-half highlight when Khordae Syndor recorded a sack to close out the second quarter.
With the score at 24-10 and the fourth quarter underway, the Browns faced a third-and-5 at their own 35 to open the period. The game is being broadcast on NFL Network with streaming available on NFL+.
