David Fales Shines as Chicago Bears Trounce Browns 24-0
It is always important to take little stock into the fourth and final preseason game, but hey, a win is a win. Battling for the third string quarterback job, David Fales put on a clinic as he led the Chicago Bears to a 24-0 preseason finale victory over the Cleveland Browns.
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With Jay Cutler getting the night off, and back-up Jimmy Clausen sitting with a concussion, Fales made the most of his opportunity, as he completed 14-of-18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Fales got the start for the Bears, and played a majority of the game before the recently acquired Zac Dysert took over late in the third quarter. Dysert attempted four passes, completing only one for nine yards.
Both teams failed to score in the first quarter, but Fales got the Bears on the board mid-way through the second quarter when he found wide receiver Marc Mariani for a 19-yard touchdown. The first points of the game capped off an impressive 12-play, 86-yard drive highlighted by a 34-yard run by rookie running back Jeremy Langford.
Sep 3, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford (36) rushes the ball against Cleveland Browns defensive end Billy Winn (90) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears scored in the third quarter when Fales found WR Ify Umodu in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown with pressure in his face. A few drives after that, the Bears scored again, as Sherrod Martin picked off a Thaddeus Lewis pass and raced 25-yards into the endzone.
On top of Fales’ impressive play, the Bears had a nice running game going on Thursday night. Ka’Deem Carey led the way with 68 yards on 12 carries (5.7 YPC average), with Langford finishing with 55 yards on nine carries (6-1 YPC average).
The Bears’ defense also had a nice night, especially in the pass rush department. Jonathan Anderson (2), Kyle Woestmann (2), Mason Foster, John Timu and Willie Young combined to sack Browns’ quarterbacks seven times in the game. The also forced three turnovers in the game including two fumbles, and the Martin interception.
While we should certainly take this victory as a grain of salt, it was great to see the Bears go out and compete as well as they did. These guys are not all going to make the final roster, but they played their hearts out in their final audition.
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