Bears wrap up preseason on high note with shutout win over Browns

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It wasn't a perfect preseason by any means, but the Bears finished their four-game slate on a high note.

Playing with only one projected Week 1 starter, the Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns, 24-0, in front of 46,499 fans at Soldier Field on Thursday evening to wrap up their first preseason under new head coach John Fox. 

David Fales, in a battle with Zac Dysert for the third-string quarterback job, got the starting nod and saw extended action for the first time since last year's preseason finale. Fales was nearly flawless as he finished the evening 14-for-18 for 131 yards, two touchdowns and a dazzling QB rating of 134.0.

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The Bears opened up the scoring in the second quarter when rookie fourth-round running back Jeremy Langford showed tremendous open-field vision, gashing the Browns 34 yards to set the Bears up in the red zone. Just three plays later Fales found Marc Mariani, who was sprung by a Josh Bellamy block, for a 19-yard touchdown. Fales got the Bears on the scoreboard one more time early in the third quarter when he hit rookie wide receiver Ify Umodu in the back corner of the end zone for an 11-yard score. 

The Bears second- and third-string defensive units continued their stellar preseason play. Led by undrafted linebackers Jonathan Anderson (two sacks) and Kyle Woestmann (two sacks), the Bears collected seven sacks and forced three turnovers, the highlight being a Sherrod Martin 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Bears finished the preseason without allowing a single second-half score.

Robbie Gould closed out the scoring for the Bears with a 28-yard field goal at the 7:51 mark of the fourth quarter. 

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]

The Bears collected 139 rushing yards against the Browns, the third time they've reached 100-yard mark in preseason, with Ka'Deem Carey leading the way 68 yards (5.7 per carry). Langford had nine carries for 55 yards.

Mariani led all Bears receivers with three receptions for 32 yards. Local product Cameron Meredith (Illinois State) tallied four receptions for 26 yards. 

The Bears (3-1) open up the regular season against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Soldier Field. 

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