Browns’ Big Plays Beat Bears : Interconference: Kosar returns as Cleveland sends Chicago to its fifth consecutive defeat, 27-14.

Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar finally returned to the lineup, but the Browns’ defense and special teams did most of the work Sunday during a 27-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.

“I didn’t even need to shower,” said Kosar, who returned from a 10-week layoff.

The Browns (6-6) scored only one of their three touchdowns on offense and sent the Bears (4-8) to their fifth consecutive defeat, Chicago’s longest skid since ending 1989 with six consecutive losses.

Kosar, who suffered a broken right ankle during the second game of the season, completed eight of 17 passes for 59 yards, with nearly half the yardage coming on a 23-yard completion to Lawyer Tillman. Kosar was sacked three times.

“Our defense and special teams were playing so well, we didn’t want to take any chances,” Kosar said. “We had the lead all day, and we just wanted to be conservative and not make mistakes.”

The Browns were outgained, 320 yards to 178. But David Brandon of the Browns intercepted a pass by Peter Tom Willis and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown during the first quarter, and Eric Metcalf scored on a 75-yard punt return in the third quarter.

Brandon also recovered Neal Anderson’s fumble at the Bears’ 28-yard line, and a pass interference penalty on Chicago’s Lemuel Stinson in the end zone set up Kevin Mack’s one-yard run with 10:35 to play.

The Browns have forced at least one turnover in 26 of their last 27 games. Brandon, a linebacker, has scored three times during that span.

“I think most of it is good timing,” Brandon said. “There’s a little luck involved in it, but you also have to be in the right place.”

Brandon’s return came with the Bears threatening at the Cleveland 10 on their first drive. Brandon read the play perfectly, stepped in front of tight end Keith Jennings and ran untouched down the left sideline.

“We knew they would try to get the ball out in the flat, close to the end zone,” Brandon said. “I tried to hold back so the quarterback wouldn’t see me break on it, and that’s what happened. I got tired about 40 yards down the field, but I wasn’t going to stop. I was exhausted from it the whole first half.”

Willis, who started in place of demoted Jim Harbaugh, said the interception set the tone of the game.

“I should have thrown the ball out of bounds,” he said. “Instead, I tried to make a really good throw, and the guy made a good play.”

Willis connected on touchdown pass plays of 30 yards to Anderson with 20 seconds to play in the first half, and 68 yards to Tom Waddle in the third quarter.

Willis completed 19 of 26 passes for 285 yards, but had two passes intercepted and was sacked five times.