After looking shaky in the preseason opener against Philadelphia, Couch hoped to quiet any murmurs of concern with a solid performance against the Bears. That didn't happen. Couch completed 11 of 19 passes for 81 yards but was intercepted three times. Walt Harris, who had one of the pick-offs, dropped another pass that should have been intercepted. Couch was without favorite target Kevin Johnson, out with a minor hamstring injury, and was hoping to use the game to improve his chemistry with other receivers.
Much work apparently needs to be done.
After the first interception, Couch gestured to rookie Dennis Northcutt that he had run the wrong pattern. On Harris' drop, David Patten broke deep as Couch threw a medium-length pass. But on the other two interceptions, Couch clearly overthrew receivers deep in Bears territory, including a ball into double coverage to tight end Aaron Shea. However, Couch was able to direct two long drives against an opposing starting unit, which the Browns failed to do against Philadelphia. But Cleveland's only lead came with little help from the offense.