Keep up to the minute with today's home finale for the Browns with our exclusive in-game Megablog.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the finale to the home season, with the Browns playing spoiler to the Chicago Bears.
Welcome to today's Megablog for the Browns-Bears, otherwise known as "is there one more really good day left in this season, or do we have to just believe we're seeing an improved team?" As always, we'll have minute-by-minute updates from our cleveland.com and Plain Dealer reporters and columnists, along with observations from around the league.
Of course, you're welcome to open a second tab and chat along with others in our pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.
1:47 p.m.: Cutler's first incompletion is a 20-yard pass to Marshall broken up by T.J. Ward. Bears flagged for a false start. On second-and-15, Cutler isn't within five yards of Marshall on the left side against Haden.
Third down pass is deflected by Jabaal Sheard for the Browns' best defensive series of the half. Adam Podlesh's punt is fair caught by Poyer at the Browns 23.
1:42 p.m.: Browns have just six plays compared to the Bears' 20, so the defense would appreciate a little ball control. Campbell's first-down rollout gets four yards on a flip to Ogbonnaya. Ogbonnaya a little slow to get through a hole on the left side, and loses a yard. On third-and-7, Bears blitz a safety and Jordan Cameron is held by Isaiah Frey for five yards and a first down at the 28.
Ogbonnaya tests the Bears run defense and gets five yards on first down. Campbell's play-action pass to Cameron on the left sideline is way overthrown and an easy interception by Zack Bowman at the Bears 40.
1:37 p.m.: With just three drives so far in this game, Fox is well behind on its commercial breaks, so there's another stop in the action after Gould's touchback.
Browns 3, Bears 3; 12:55 left in second quarter
1:34 p.m.: Cutler had 100 yards passing in the first quarter, and didn't have a ball hit the ground -- 7-for-8 with the Gipson interception.
First down at the 11, Forte gets three yards on an inside handoff. Bears go back to the six-lineman formation, but the Browns get great penetration from Gipson and Ward on a sweep left and Forte loses a yard. Browns haven't stopped a third-down play on this series, and on third-and-8, Cutler's slip screen to Jeffery gets just four.
Robbie Gould's 23-yard field goal is good.
Browns 3, Bears 0; end of first quarter
1:28 p.m.: After marching down the field only to have Cutler's interception deny early points, how aggressive will the Bears be with the passing game? They add Eben Britton for a sixth offensive lineman, but Jackson and Ward stuff Forte for no gain. Gipson read a running play on second down and was blitzing into the backfield to stop Forte for a yard loss. On third-and-11, Cutler patiently waits for Bennett to open up over the middle for 22 yards against Jordan Poyer.
Reverse to Jeffery loses three yards on good recognition by Craig Robertson. Cutler to Marshall on a short slant gains nine yards. On third-and-4 at the 47, Cutler finds Jeffery for a first down against Joe Haden at the Browns 45.
Back to the run to Forte, who gets four yards up the middle. Cutler, in the pistol with Michael Bush, hands to Bush, who loses two yards with Billy Winn and Phil Taylor getting penetration. On third-and-8 at the 43, Bears bunch three receivers left, hits Marshall over the middle for a first down at the 25. Browns just not able to get to Cutler on these big third-down plays.
Forte for eight up the middle on first down. Bush gets a first down on an isolation handoff up the middle to the 11. Quarter ends.
1:19 p.m.: Bears start at 20 after Cundiff touchback.
Browns 3, Bears 0; 7:26 left in first quarter
1:16 p.m.: After pressure forces a first-down incompletion by Jason Campbell, Edwin Baker debuts with 10 yards over right tackle for a first down at the 37. Bears blitz but Browns have perfect call, and alley screen to Greg Little, who has Alex Mack leading a convoy to the Bears 19 for 44 yards.
Baker for a yard on a cutback over the middle. Fozzy Whitaker gets two more on a delay over the middle. On third-and-7 at the 16, Davone Bess drops a potential first-down pass at the 7 against a Bears blitz. Some things just don't change.
Billy Cundiff's 35-yard field goal splits the uprights.
1:11 p.m.: It's fan appreciation day for the Browns, but some fans aren't feeling it.
1:09 p.m.: Matt Forte gets 15 yards on his first two carries, giving Cutler an easy start to the game. His first throw to Forte gets five yards when Buster Skrine whiffs on a shoulder tackle in the backfield. On third-and-2, Bears flagged for delay of game as Cutler was late in pointing out blocking assignments on the Browns' linebackers.
On third-and-7, Marcellus Bennett beats D'Qwell Jackson on a short crossing route and gets 22 yards. First-down curl pass to Brandon Marshall against Craig Robertson gets 16 yards to the 14. Browns defense struggling to find assignments -- right until T.J. Ward deflects a Cutler pass intended for Marshall at the goal line and Tashaun Gipson intercepts and returns to the Browns 27.
1:03 p.m.: Devin Hester back for the opening kickoff, takes the ball nine yards deep and still gets the ball to the 32. He's still stunning ... and we're off.
1:01 p.m.: Bears call heads, lose the coin toss, Browns defer to second half and the Bears will take the ball to start today's game.
Meanwhile, Fox had a sideline report from Laura Okmin before a commercial break as the National Anthem was audibly being performed. Wonder if Fox News will report that as a crime against America.
12:53 p.m.: Fox's experts -- except for Terry Bradshaw, who's very skeptical of Jay Cutler's return -- believe in the Bears today. At the same time, Jimmy Johnson is predicting a big day for Chris Ogbonnaya.
Unfortunately, Bradshaw has the worst prediction record on the show. Oh well.
12:51 p.m.: Some last-minute news from Mary Kay Cabot on Josh Gordon (who was getting a fair amount of national love in today's pre-game shows).
12:47 p.m.: Brandon Marshall, in a Fox interview, on teammate Alshon Jeffery ... "He's the best in the league at tracking the deep ball." Jeffery on Jay Cutler ... "We don't expect a clean game ... we'll just deal with it."
If you're keeping score, that's one big compliment, and one that's not so much.
12:37 p.m.: Here's how Bud Shaw sees today's game.
"Today’s broken record goes like this: If the Browns’ defense is ever going to establish its reputation beyond a good statistical ranking, this is really the last chance to do it. Chicago's high-powered offense features Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Matt Forte.
"The Browns blew the same chance in New England last week. Cutler isn’t Tom Brady, but overall this is a more balanced offense."
Meanwhile, Terry Pluto is getting a little surly as the season winds down.
"I just know that a year from now, I better not be writing sentences like: 'The Bears have the worst defense against the run in the NFL. But the Browns have a terrible running game. So I'm not sure that matters.' THIS HAS TO CHANGE."
12:30 p.m.: OK, the Bears are fighting for a playoff spot, but that won't really be the reason today's game will be a favorite for highlights on the networks. Of course, it's the weather.
Today's inactives provide a short list for the Bears.
Bears: LB Lance Briggs
Browns: RB Willis McGahee, G John Greco, TE Andre Smith, QB Alex Tanney, OL Martin Wallace, OL Reid Fragel, TE Keavon Milton