What to watch for: presented by House of Blues

10.27.2009

The Browns travel to Chicago for the second time this season, as they played the Bears in the preseason finale on September 3rd. The Browns are 9-4-0 all-time against the Bears and 2-3 in Chicago. The Browns last won a regular season game in Chicago on November 30, 1969. They lost a 10-point decision in 1986 and a 6-point overtime game in 2001.

The Browns are 5-1 all-time against the Bears in November, including a 2-1 record in Chicago.

As the game unfolds, here are several things to keep an eye on:

Fifth-year wide receiver/return specialist Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs had 2 kickoff returns for 69 yards, including a 41-yarder and 1 punt return for 9 yards in Sunday's loss to the Packers. Cribbs passed former Jets returner Bruce Harper for 18th place on the NFL's all-time return yards list. Cribbs is 44 return yards away from passing Hall of Famer Rod Woodson for 17th all-time.

Cribbs enters Sunday's game against the Bears with 7,214 return yards and a franchise record 8 special teams touchdowns.

In Cribbs' 1 career game against the Bears, which came on October 9, 2005, he had 3 kick returns for 61 yards. The Browns won the game 20-10.

Wide receiver Mike Furrey. Furrey has played in 7 career games against the Bears. In those 7 games, he has 32 receptions for 371 yards and 1 touchdown. On December 24, 2006, Furrey caught 10 passes for 107 yards and 1 touchdown against the Bears.

Furrey also recorded his longest career reception against the Bears, a 49-yarder on September 30, 2007.

Defensive lineman Shaun Rogers. Over 12 career games against the Bears, Rogers has 4.5 quarterback sacks and 1 fumble recovery.

Defensive lineman Robaire Smith. The 10-year NFL veteran and third-year Brown registered a game-high 12 tackles against the Packers Sunday. He was 1 tackle shy of his career high of 13, which he set against the Jaguars on December 24, 2005, as a member of the Texans.

Inside linebackers Kaluka Maiava and Eric Barton. In his first career NFL start, Maiava tied for second on the team with 5 solo tackles. Maiava started at inside linebacker next to the veteran Barton.

Barton registered 7 total tackles and played in his 91st consecutive game Sunday, a streak that dates back to the 2003 season.

The tight end position. With Robert Royal and Steve Heiden both inactive for the game against the Packers, veteran offensive lineman Hank Fraley registered his first career start at tight end. Greg Estandia and new addition Michael Gaines also saw time at the tight end spot.

Estandia caught 2 passes for 10 yards, while Gaines hauled in 2 receptions for 30 yards. Gaines had a 21-yard catch down to the 1-yard line late in the third quarter.

Running back Jamal Lewis. With 47 yards against the Packers, Lewis is now 76 yards away from passing Eddie George for 22nd and 64 yards from moving ahead of Tiki Barber for 21st on the NFL's all-time career rushing list.

Punter Dave Zastudil. Zastudil lengthened his NFL lead with 4 punts downed inside the Packers' 20-yard line Sunday. Over the first 7 games of the season, Zastudil has had 25 punts downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Zastudil is fourth in the NFL in punt yardage with 1,916 yards on 43 punts, an average of 44.6 yards-per-punt. Opponents are averaging 6.83 yards-per-punt-return against Zastudil and the Browns.

The Browns placekickers. With 1 field goal, Phil Dawson will pass Don Cockroft for second place on the Browns' all-time field goals list. Dawson and Cockroft's 216 career field goals are 18 away from Lou Groza's team record of 234.

While Dawson has missed the last 5 games, Billy Cundiff has stepped in and played well for the Browns.

Cundiff is 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, including an 18-yarder to beat the Bills on October 11th. Cundiff has converted all 4 extra point attempts and has 2 touchbacks on kickoffs.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. The first-year Bear is 136-of-209 (65.1 percent) for 1,452 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, Cutler has thrown 10 interceptions and been sacked 11 times in 6 games.

The Bears offense on third and fourth down. Chicago has converted 31-of-77 (40.2 percent) of its third down chances. The Bears are 4-of-8 on fourth down.

The Bears defense. They have given up an average of 109.5 rushing and 220 passing yards-per-game. In last weekend's 45-10 loss to the Bengals, the Bears gave up 189 yards rushing to Cedric Benson.

Bears kicker Robbie Gould. Gould is 7-of-8 on field goal attempts this season and kicked a 52-yarder in a 48-24 victory over the Lions in Week Four. Gould is 1-of-2 from 50 yards or more and 14-for-14 on extra point attempts.

Gould kicked a 44-yard field goal against the Browns in the last meeting in 2005.

The Browns go into Sunday's game at 1-6 after a 31-3 home loss to the Packers. The Bears are 3-3 following a 45-10 road loss to the Bengals Sunday. Cutler threw 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in the loss.

CONNECTIONS

Browns safety Brodney Pool and Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris played together at the University of Oklahoma.

Browns offensive lineman Eric Steinbach is a native of Lockport, Illinois and went to Providence High School in New Lenox.

Browns offensive lineman John St. Clair and tight end Michael Gaines are former members of the Bears.

Bears tackle Kevin Shaffer was part of the Browns offensive line from 2006-08.

Browns tight ends coach Steve Hagen was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Illinois in 1984.

Browns defensive line coach Bryan Cox is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois. Cox played at Western Illinois and also spent 2 seasons with the Bears (1996-97).

MEDIA

Fans can watch Sunday's game at 1:00pm ET on local CBS affiliate WOIO-TV 19. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Solomon Wilcots (analyst) will be in the booth.

The game is also available along the Browns Radio Network with Jim Donovan, Doug Dieken and sideline reporter Andre Knott providing the call.