Flacco, Browns Favored to Tame Monsters of The Midway
Bears-Browns Odds Favors Host Cleveland To Improve to 7-1 At Home
Cleveland Looks To Continue Playoff Push Behind Veteran QB Flacco
The Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears typically meet every four years but this is the second matchup in the last three seasons with the host Browns listed as the favorite according to the Bears-Browns odds.
This is the 18th career meeting between the NFL teams with the Browns leading 10-7. When looking at past NFL games between the teams, Cleveland is 8-2 all-time at home against the Bears.
Chicago has won its last two games but at 5-8, the Bears are still a game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC. The 8-5 Browns would be the No. 1 wild card in the AFC if the playoffs started today.
The NFL betting lines have Cleveland listed as a three-point favorite. The line was at five points just three weeks ago but has seen minimal movement more recently.
Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker, who is third on the team with 80 tackles, and receiver Equanimeous St. Brown are both questionable.
When looking at the Browns injury report, running back Jerome Ford and cornerback Denzel Ward are both questionable for a Cleveland team that continues to play without Watson, running back Nick Chubb – as well as offensive tackles Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills.
Cleveland came into the season ninth at +1800 in the odds of winning the AFC title. Those odds have moved to +2200.
Chicago (+2500) was 10th in the NFC championship odds when the season began. The Bears are now 12th at +25000.
Bears at Browns 
Day/Time:
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
Stream: FOX
Line: Cleveland -3
Total: 37.5
Fields of Dreams
It is uncertain how much longer Justin Fields will be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Due to the trade that sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers,
Fields has completed 65.7% of his passes over the last two games as he passed for 210 yards in a win over Minnesota and 223 against Detroit. Those numbers are even more impressive considering that Chicago is 26th in the NFL in passing yards per game this season.
Fields is better known for his running ability than his passing prowess. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Bears-Browns odds.
He also rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown in those two wins.
Receiver DJ Moore, acquired in the Carolina Panthers trade, has 17 catches in those two wins.
Chicago has covered against the NFL odds in four of its last five games.
It Is Flacco Time in Cleveland
Joe Flacco must feel right at home. The veteran quarterback enjoyed success in Baltimore thanks as much to an overpowering defense than anything the offense did. He was recently signed by Cleveland after a season-ending injury to Deshaun Watson and a lack of success by the other quarterbacks.
In two games, Flacco has thrown for 565 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. His completion percentage is not overly impressive but he made the plays he needed to during a Week 14 win over Jacksonville.
It doesn’t hurt that Cleveland has allowed the fewest yards in the NFL as well as the fewest passing yards. The Browns are in the top 10 in interceptions and sacks this season. That could come into play when analyzing the Bears-Browns odds.
Cleveland has covered against the NFL odds in four of its last five games and in six of its last seven home games.
Last Meeting
Cleveland outscored the Bears 13-0 in the fourth quarter en route to a 26-6 home win as the Bears managed just two field goals. Cleveland covered as 7.5-point favorites while the game fell well under the 45-point total.
It was the fourth time in the last five matchups between the Bears and the Browns that fewer than 40 points were scored.
Nine of the last 10 games between the teams have been won by the home team.
Bears vs Browns Betting Preview
Cleveland has won its last five games when listed as the favorite. The Browns have covered in four of the six games this season as the favorite and are 4-0 ATS when favored at home.
Cleveland is 6-1 outright at home this NFL season, while Chicago is just 2-5 on the road.
Chicago is 6-4-1 against the Las Vegas odds as the underdog and has covered in four of the seven matchups as the road underdog.
Eight of Cleveland’s games have finished over the total this season, one off of Indianapolis’ NFL lead. Seven Chicago games landed over the total.
Weather is a big deal in December games played in Cleveland. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s at the time of the opening kickoff with cloudy but mostly dry conditions.
The Bears have lost nine of their last 11 road games.
Chicago has won five of the last seven games against Cleveland. However, most of the NFL players for both teams haven’t been a part of a majority of those NFL matchups.
The total has gone under in four of the last five games between the Bears and Browns. The total of 37.5 is tied for the third-lowest among the Week 15 games.
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