Browns Open Up Week 15 As Home Favorite According To Spread

After a statement win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the 8-5 Browns get ready to welcome the Chicago Bears to Cleveland for a game they'll be favored in once again

The Browns made a statement in Week 14, taking down one of the AFC's top teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars to get themselves one step closer to the postseason at 8-5.

There's no rest for the weary though when it comes to December football and Cleveland gets right back at it next week staying home for Week 15 clash with Justin Fields and the 5-8 Chicago Bears.

According to the SI Sportsbook, the Browns open up the week as a 3.5-point favorite against the Bears.

Fresh off that win over Jacksonville in which starting quarterback Joe Flacco produced the team's first 300-yard passing performance in over a year, head coach Kevin Stefanski declared Flacco the teams starter for their four remaining regular season games. There is a certain stability that Flacco seems to provide the Browns offense.

On top of Flacco's performance and Stefanski's commitment to him as the team's starter, the defense also got back on track in a number of ways, compiling four sacks and turnovers in the win. The Browns have battled a host of injuries this season but find themselves squarely in the playoff picture as the AFC's five seed if the tournament started today.

Meanwhile, the Bears may not be some juggernaut opponent, but they are a force to be reckoned with. They're coming off a 28-13, upset win over the NFC North leading Detroit Lions on Sunday. It was a game that saw Fields throw for 223 yards and score two touchdowns, while holding the Lions to a season low 267 total yards. They also held Jared Goff and the usually high scoring Detroit offense under 20 points for just the second time this season.

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Over the last three weeks Chicago's defense is top 10 in scoring allowed, yards per game allowed and passing yards per game allowed. That unit has also posted the second best turnover margin over the same span, at a rate of +2.7.

All this to say, the Browns being 3.5-point favorites at home with the positive vibes from a huge win still permeating through the city may be comforting, but the Bears are dangerous.