7 biggest Chicago Bears winners from preseason blowout of Browns

Chicago erased an early 10-0 deficit and scored 34 unanswered points in their preseason 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. Caleb Williams and most of the Bears' established starters didn't play, which turned the afternoon into an extended audition for players fighting for roles further down the depth chart.

Several took advantage.

The Bears piled up 348 passing yards, forced three Cleveland turnovers, and received contributions from players on both sides of the ball who entered Saturday with something to prove.

Here are the biggest winners from Chicago's first preseason game.

Case Keenum, QB

If the Bears wanted an experienced veteran quarterback who could step into Ben Johnson's offense and immediately look comfortable, Case Keenum provided a pretty convincing demonstration of why they signed him.

Keenum was nearly flawless.

The 38-year-old completed 9 of 10 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He wasn't sacked and averaged a ridiculous 15.1 yards per attempt.

That's about as efficient as preseason quarterback play gets.

His biggest strike came on a screen to Salvon Ahmed that turned into a 49-yard touchdown, but Keenum consistently moved the offense after replacing Tyson Bagent in the second half. Chicago scored 24 unanswered points after halftime.

Keenum's value has always extended beyond competing for a spot on a depth chart. He's played a lot of NFL football, and Saturday was a reminder that the Bears have another quarterback capable of stepping into a game and functioning like a professional.

Kaden Davis, WR

Good luck ignoring wide receiver Kaden Davis after this one.

Davis led the Bears with four catches for 88 yards on six targets, averaging 22 yards per reception. His longest catch went for 41 yards.

The Bears' established receiving hierarchy doesn't leave many obvious openings, but injuries have already changed the equation. Luther Burden III is expected to miss a few more weeks with a groin injury, creating additional practice and preseason opportunities for players further down the depth chart.

Davis took advantage of his Saturday. He entered the game needing to force the coaching staff to notice him. Needless to say, mission accomplished.

Salvon Ahmed, RB

The competition for the Bears' final running back spots might have gotten a little more interesting.

Ahmed only carried the ball twice, gaining 17 yards, but he did his biggest damage as a receiver. He caught all three of his targets for 55 yards, including the 49-yard touchdown from Keenum.

He totaled 72 yards from scrimmage on five touches. Not bad.

The Bears already know what D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai bring to the backfield. The preseason is about figuring out what the depth behind them should look like, and versatility matters when constructing the bottom of a 53-man roster.

Beanie Bishop Jr., DB

Want to get noticed as a defensive back fighting for a role? Intercepting two passes usually works.

Bishop picked off Cleveland quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel as the Bears' defense completely shut down the Browns after halftime.

His performance becomes even more noteworthy because of what's happening elsewhere in Chicago's secondary.

Coby Bryant is expected to miss four to six months following knee surgery. Kyler Gordon has missed significant training camp time with a soft-tissue injury. Suddenly, the Bears' secondary depth isn't some obscure August storyline.

They need guys like Bishop to emerge.

Jamree Kromah, Edge

Kromah delivered exactly the kind of preseason performance that can change the conversation surrounding a roster bubble player. He recorded two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered it himself, creating one of Chicago's three takeaways.

It's also encouraging for a Bears defense that needs pass-rush depth to emerge somewhere on the roster.

Chicago entered training camp with legitimate questions surrounding its defensive front. The Bears didn't make the kind of splashy pass-rush addition many expected during the offseason, putting additional pressure on younger players and reserves to provide meaningful snaps.

Kromah gave Dennis Allen something worth studying on film.

Maurice Alexander, WR

Alexander made his opportunities count. He caught three passes for 42 yards and scored Chicago's first touchdown, hauling in a 25-yard pass from Bagent during the second quarter.

Like Davis, Alexander faces an uphill climb in a crowded receiver room.

Ben Johnson and the Bears' offensive depth

Johnson deserves some credit here, too. Williams didn't play. Neither did most of the offensive players who will determine whether Chicago can make another postseason run.

And the Bears still moved the football.

Bagent threw for 169 yards and a touchdown before Keenum added 151 yards and two scores. Chicago's quarterbacks combined for 348 passing yards and three touchdowns.

It's preseason football, and plenty of the players on both sidelines won't be on 53-man rosters in September. But the encouraging part is that the Bears looked organized, created explosive plays, and received meaningful contributions from deep into the roster.

There will be plenty for Johnson to correct. Bagent threw an interception. The running game averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. The Bears also fell behind 10-0 before taking control.

But Chicago's first preseason game produced exactly what a coaching staff wants from August football.