The 5-8 Chicago Bears will play the 8-5 Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a Week 15 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, FOX).

5 things to watch — plus our predictions

The last time Bears quarterback Justin Fields played the Browns in the regular season was his first career start on Sept. 26, 2021. It’s an impossible one to forget.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett recorded 4 1/2 of the Browns’ nine sacks against Fields, who completed just 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards under then-coach Matt Nagy. Fields lost 67 yards to the sacks.

As the Bears return to Cleveland, Garrett, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, still is wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He ranks seventh in the NFL with 13 sacks and is tied for fourth with 26 quarterback hits. Read more here.

Bears Q&A: When would a potential Justin Fields trade take place? How realistic are their playoff chances?

‘Nothing was given to him. He had to earn everything’

When Ryan Poles signed T.J. Edwards to a three-year, $19.5 million contract in March, the Bears general manager called it an “awesome story.” The former Lakes High School quarterback, now 27, was the latest local guy to join the Bears, and he arrived following a rise to Eagles starter that many teams didn’t see coming.

Now, Edwards’ latest chapter has fueled a season in which he is a consistent cog in the Bears defensive turnaround.

The 6-foot-1, 242-pound weak-side linebacker set a Bears record for the most tackles through 10 games with 112. And through 13 heading into Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, he also has seven tackles for a loss, two interceptions, four passes defended, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and six quarterback hits. Read more here.

Yannick Ngakoue will miss the rest of the Bears season with a broken ankle, forcing a resurgent pass rush to adjust
Coach Matt Eberflus sees win as ‘proof’ the Bears are making progress. The defense showed it.

Stats package

Kyle Orton’s franchise record is not yet in jeopardy.

But Justin Fields’ 93 pass attempts since his last interception is a sign of progress for the quarterback, who returns to the site of his first career start. Read more here.

Bears Week 15 storylines: Justin Fields’ well-timed test, DJ Moore’s ‘Slim Shady’ magic and some ‘In the hunt’ perspective

NFL draft watch

Before “Maserati Marv” drives off to the NFL, he has some more hardware to pack.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the winner of the 2023 Chicago Tribune Silver Football, voted by the conference’s head coaches as the Big Ten’s best player. He is the 23rd Buckeye — tops among Big Ten schools — to win the Silver Football in the award’s 99-year history. An Ohio State or Michigan player has won in 12 of the last 15 years.

While Harrison left the door open last week to returning for his senior season, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison is widely expected to enter the NFL draft, in which he’s projected as a likely top-five pick. Read more here.

QB Drake Maye is entering the NFL draft and won’t play for North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
NFL evaluators praise J.J. McCarthy’s ‘unbelievable mind.’ Would the Bears target the Michigan QB and local product?
Caleb Williams’ clunker at Notre Dame doesn’t deter evaluators that the USC QB will be the No. 1 pick

Miss anything? Catch up before kickoff.

Column: What music motivates Chicago athletes? Here’s a sports mixtape of their favorite songs.
How Bears DJs set the ‘atmosphere’ for fans — and players — at Soldier Field
True or false: QB Justin Fields’ performance Sunday gives Bears GM Ryan Poles reason to stick with him in 2024
3 things we heard from the Bears, including Justin Fields on late hits and Cairo Santos on the NFL’s first Brazil game
What to know about the Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field — and which other suburbs are vying for the stadium
Bears honor Leyden District 212 teacher as a ‘Classroom Legend’ for his academic wins: ‘At the end of the day, he gives his best effort’

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