The Browns dropped their 11th game of the season in the 31-3 loss to the Bears in Week 15, facing struggles on offense and defense.
"Obviously credit to the Bears. Didn't play well enough, didn't coach well enough today," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Got off to a bad start and never were able to get out of that. So, credit to them, but we have to learn from these and as players, we got to learn from some of these moments and we will."
Here are three key takeaways from the Week 15 loss to against the Bears.
Browns total three giveaways against the Bears
Entering Week 15, the Browns knew the defense they were facing and their ability to create takeaways, as the Bears led the league with 27 takeaways – including 18 interceptions.
However, Cleveland had three key giveaways in the second half of the game in the form of three interceptions. The Bears capitalized on all three interceptions to add points to their lead with two touchdowns and one field goal, totaling a season-best 17 points for Chicago.
"We know that team is good at taking the ball away, particularly in intercepting the ball, so we'll learn from those," Stefanski said.
In the third quarter, QB Shedeur Sanders threw a short pass intended for TE Harold Fannin Jr. However, the ball was tipped by LB D'Marco Jackson, who then came down with the ball for the interception. On the Bears' first offensive play following the interception, QB Caleb Williams connected with WR DJ Moore for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
On the Browns' next offensive possession, the Browns moved down the field with a big gain on a deep pass from Sanders to WR Isaiah Bond for 47 yards. However, three plays later, Sanders through a deep pass intended for WR Jerry Jeudy in the end zone, but CB Jaylon Johnson picked off the pass as the ball fell through Jeudy's arms. Chicago then moved down the field with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was finished by a 17-yard touchdown run by RB D'Andre Swift.
"Obviously we're trying to make a play there in that moment, trying to get on the board," Stefanski said. "Their guy made a good play."
The third interception came in the fourth quarter, as Sanders looked deep for Fannin, his pass was picked off by DB Gardner-Johnson, who returned the ball for 32 yards. The Bears then kicked a 41-yard field goal on the ensuing offensive possession to seal the game at 31-3.
"I would like to have a majority of plays back for sure," Sanders said. "They had a great defensive scheme. I enjoyed playing against them. I enjoyed playing in that. It was definitely a little challenge, so I look forward to learning from that and look forward to understanding exactly how things were on film and just be able to learn from it."
The three giveaways tie the most the Browns have had in a game this season, as the Browns also totaled three turnovers in Week 5 against the Lions.
Browse action photos from the Browns' 2025 Week 15 game against the Chicago Bears, featuring top plays and moments.
Cornerback Sam Webb (27) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
The offense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) and Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Offensive tackle Cam Robinson (68) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) and Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94), Defensive end Myles Garrett (95), and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) and Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears on December 14, 2025 at Soldier Field.
Defense struggles to contain Bears' run and pass game
The Browns' defense gave up two early touchdowns in the first quarter, allowing the Bears to build an early 14-point lead.
On their second offensive drive of the game, the Bears used seven plays to find their way into the end zone, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by RB D'Andre Swift. Their next offensive possession was another seven-play drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to WR DJ Moore in the end zone to put the Bears up 14-0.
The Bears continued their offensive success in the third quarter, adding another 14 points to extend their lead. Williams connected with Moore on a 22-yard touchdown pass, capitalizing on field position following an interception. Then, Swift added a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter.
The league's second-best rushing attack finished the game with 142 net rushing yards. Swift led the Bears with 98 rushing yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, while RB Kyle Monangai added 33 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The Bears utilized play action to create opportunities on offense and move the ball down the field into scoring position. Williams finished the game completing 17 of 28 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also used his legs, rushing for 13 yards on three carries.
"I think we rushed pretty well for the most part, but I mean he's elusive. He got out of a couple," DE Myles Garrett said. "They also have some really good guys on that O-line and rolling the pocket definitely helps. He's able to use his feet and still be quite accurate, and now they use that to their advantage on I believe a couple of scoring plays where he was on the move, and he found someone just with time. You give a guy like that time and receivers the option to kind of like freestyle back there and they're going to eventually get open. So, we have to continue to try and pull him up and keep him contained and we did that for the most part, but he definitely made plays and he's a playmaker."
Specialists provide lift
As the Browns worked to create rhythm offensively and contain the Bears' offense, K Andre Szmyt and P Corey Bojorquez executed their roles at a high level. Szmyt scored the only points for the Browns on a 50-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.
Heading into Week 15, Szmyt had made 17 of 20 field goal attempts, including three of four from 50-plus yards. He tacked another on in Week 15.
The Browns were forced to punt on the first six offensive possessions of the game before Szmyt's field goal. Bojorquez ended the game with seven total punts for 339 yards. He totaled one punt inside the 20-yard line, and his longest punt of the day was a 61-yard punt that resulted in a touchback. Bojorquez averaged 48.4 yards on his punts.
