CLEVELAND — Hi everybody from Browns Stadium, which even though it's empty right now, it is still reverberating from the electricity, as the amazing Browns pull off an amazing win over the Chicago Bears by a score of 20-17.
It sends them to 9-5 overall, 7-1 at home, and another major step is taken to securing a playoff spot in the AFC. More work to be done, but what a journey it was on this day.
It would've been easy for the Browns to lose this game, and really, for 95% of the day, it looked as if the Browns were going to lose. After all, they were wracked with injuries coming into the game, and then early on, they lose the stalwart of their offensive line as left guard Joel Bitonio goes out with a back injury.
He does not come back, and the Browns' offensive line could not handle the Bears' defensive front (specifically Montez Sweat) for the rest of the afternoon. It led to Joe Flacco having a tough day — again, through 95% of the game.
But remember: There's still 5% of the game hanging out there, and that made the difference.
Flacco threw three picks — one of them went all the way back for a pick-six, another lead to the Bears getting points, as Chicago raced out to a 10-point lead — 17-7 — as we turned the corned and headed for home.
The Browns kept hanging in there, getting a Dustin Hopkins field goal to close the gap to seven. They got the ball back with about 5 1/2 minutes left to go in the game and came up with clutch, clutch plays.
A big third-down carry by Kareem Hunt got them a needed first down just over their own 30-yard line, and then, a razzle dazzle, in-your-backyard type of play where Hunt took a direct snap, gave it to Flacco, who then threw it to Hunt who ended up with a big gain to get them closer.
Then, Amari Cooper caught a pass from Flacco, split the defense, and tight rope walked down the sideline in front of the Bears' bench all the way into the end zone to tie the game up.
But now it's only tied, and the Browns get the ball back with under two minutes to go. Again, Flacco comes up big.
He hits David Njoku to get down into Bears territory, but the Browns take a five-yard penalty and go back to make it first-down-and-15. But on third-down-and-long, Flacco — throwing off his back foot — fires a ball that Njoku catches and takes down inside the 20.
Suddenly, there's only 46 seconds left to go in the game, and the Browns make the Bears use their timeouts before putting the game on the foot of Dustin Hopkins for 34 yards out. He nails it, and it's 20-17.
But, we're not home yet.
With just about a half-minute left to go in the game, the Bears get the ball back minus timeouts, and Justin Fields hits a pass down the far right sideline to get the Bears into Browns territory. Then, with five seconds left to go in regulation time and unable to kick a field goal because they are out of range, Justin Fields rolls to the right and heaves the ball into the end zone.
There are, it seems, about 5,000 players in the end zone, and the Browns knock the ball down. But when they do, it goes right into the midsection of wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and it looks like heartbreak — that the Browns are going to lose on a Hail Mary.
But the ball pops up in the air and into the arms of D'Anthony Bell, and the Browns are winners. An amazing win.
They are dressed like the Kardiac Kids of 1980, and they are playing like the Kardiac Kids here in 2023 as they win another one right down to the wire, and if you're going to make the playoffs, you have to win games like this.
Joe Flacco? Ever the pro. He had a tough day most of the day, but still threw for over 300 yards in the ballgame, and when they needed chunk plays, he came up with big throws that got the Browns at least into Bears territory and got them on their way to score points.
The defense was also magnificent once again, and the Browns now on Christmas Eve will head to Houston to take on a spunky Texans team that won in overtime on this Sunday.
But it's Victory Monday coming up, everybody. Enjoy it; you'll always remember this one: The day the Browns came from way back and beat the Chicago Bears 20-17.
Listen to Jimmy's calls from Sunday's game in the player below: