CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco threw 212 of his 374 passing yards in the fourth quarter and Dustin Hopkins kicked the game-winning 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds left to help Cleveland complete a 20-17 comeback win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Flacco, making his third start since signing with Cleveland (9-5) last month, overcame three interceptions to go 11 of 13 in the final quarter — including several incredible throws — to rally the Browns from a 10-point deficit.
The Bears (5-8), who blew 17-7 lead, nearly pulled off a stunning finish despite blowing a 17-lead heading into the fourth quarter.
On the final play of the game, Chicago quarterback Justin Fields heaved a pass from the 45-yard line to the end zone into a cluster of players. Despite two Browns defenders managing to bat the ball down, it went directly to Bears receiver Darnell Mooney, who was lying on his back in front of the two defenders.
The ball bounced in and out of Mooney’s hands and he kicked it into the air, allowing Browns safety D’Anthony Bell to intercept it, aloowing Cleveland to avoid a catastrophic ending and secure the win.
“It’s tough and crazy,” Mooney said. “How many times do you see that Hail Mary work and actually be able to maybe catch it?”
Flacco tied the game up when he lasered a pass between three defenders to Amari Cooper, who turned up the field and tip-toed down the sidelines for a 51-yard score with 3:08 remaining.
Flacco later completed two passes to tight end David Njoku for 65 yards to set up Hopkins’ go-ahead kick.
Njoku finished the afternoon with a career-high 10 catches for 104 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Cooper had four receptions for 109 yards.
The win helped the Browns hold on to the No. 5 playoff spot in the AFC, as they continue their remarkable season after losing five regulars to season-ending injuries just this week. And that's on top of losing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb.
Cleveland visits Houston on Dec. 24.
Chicago 0 7 10 0 — 17
Cleveland 0 7 0 13 — 20
Second Quarter Chi–Kmet 5 pass from J.Fields (Santos kick), 10:54.
Cle–Njoku 2 pass from Flacco (Hopkins kick), 3:48.
Third Quarter
Chi–Edmunds 45 interception return (Santos kick), 13:50.
Chi–FG Santos 41, 7:07.
Fourth Quarter
Cle–FG Hopkins 33, 12:27.
Cle–Cooper 51 pass from Flacco (Hopkins kick), 3:08.
Cle–FG Hopkins 34, :32.
A–67,919.
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Chi Cle
First downs 12 14
Total Net Yards 236 377
Rushes-yards 27-88 18-29
Passing 148 348
Punt Returns 5-23 4-23
Kickoff Returns 0-0 1-15
Interceptions Ret. 3-106 2-6
Comp-Att-Int 19-40-2 29-45-3
Sacked-Yards Lost 3-18 4-31
Punts 10-44.8 9-43.333
Fumbles-Lost 4-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-19 9-48
Time of Possession 29:00 31:00
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Chicago, R.Johnson 5-36, Fields 7-30, V.Jones 2-23, Herbert 6-8, Scott 1-(minus 3), Foreman 6-(minus 6). Cleveland, J.Ford 8-20, Hunt 7-8, Strong 2-2, Flacco 1-(minus 1).
PASSING–Chicago, Fields 19-40-2-166. Cleveland, Flacco 28-44-3-374, Thompson-Robinson 1-1-0-5.
RECEIVING–Chicago, Kmet 5-23, Moore 4-52, R.Johnson 4-24, Scott 3-49, Mooney 2-14, Herbert 1-4. Cleveland, Njoku 10-104, Cooper 4-109, Tillman 4-52, J.Ford 4-11, Moore 2-17, Strong 2-9, Goodwin 1-57, Hunt 1-12, Akins 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.
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