The Bears opened the preseason with a 34-10 win over the Browns, and the biggest takeaway was impossible to miss: Chicago’s offense kept finding ways to hit big plays, while the defense smothered Cleveland’s run game from the start.
Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum helped keep the passing game humming, and the Bears finished with 348 yards on 25-of-40 passing. That air attack, paired with two touchdown catches from the running backs, made the offense look fast and dangerous in a way that stood out all night. Ben Johnson also leaned into the passing game more than fans saw last year, and it paid off.
A few players jumped off the screen. Kaden Davis and Maurice Alexander were central to the action, with Davis hauling in four catches for 88 yards and connecting with Bagent on a 41-yard play that set up the Bears’ first touchdown.
Alexander added a 25-yard touchdown grab from Bagent and handled return duties with Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas sidelined. Even with one tough drop, Bagent clearly trusted Davis.
Salvon Ahmed made his presence felt too, ripping off a 49-yard touchdown catch to open the second half. That kind of burst only adds more pressure to the backfield picture, where Roschon Johnson also made a strong case for himself. Johnson ran for 34 yards on eight carries, showed something as a receiver, and looked like a player trying to lock down the RB3 job.
On the defensive side, the front kept showing its teeth. Jordan van den Berg looked every bit like the player the Bears expected from him in camp, consistently winning inside and adding a quarterback hit.
James Lynch also flashed with penetration, a quarterback hit, and a pass deflection on a batted ball. Malik Muhammad showed promise in coverage and brought the kind of aggressiveness that makes him interesting as a versatile piece.
D’Marco Jackson also looked sharper in pass coverage than he did a year ago, staying tight and finding the right zones to take away throws. And Beanie Bishop made his mark with two second-half interceptions and three pass deflections, even if both picks came on overthrown balls that landed right in his hands.
Not everyone helped their case. Josh Blackwell struggled on the outside early, giving too much cushion to Cleveland’s top receivers and looking more comfortable as a special teams player than an outside corner. Jedrick Wills Jr. also had a rough night, getting beaten by Julian Okwara before the two-minute warning and then losing again on the very next play when Bagent was intercepted.
There was plenty of good to take from the opener, and plenty of players who made themselves worth watching as the preseason rolls on. Jamree Kromah was another name who showed off in his first game with the Bears, adding to a long list of players who left a strong first impression.
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