CLEVELAND, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Jay Cutler returned from an injury to toss three touchdown passes Sunday, boosting the Chicago Bears to a critical 38-31 win over Cleveland.
Cutler, who had missed four games with a sprained ankle, completed 22-of-31 passes for 265 yards with a pair of interceptions as the Bears (8-6) grabbed a 1/2-game lead over Detroit atop the NFC North.
Detroit (7-6) will play Baltimore Monday. Should the Lions prevail, Chicago would find itself in second place due to a pair of losses against Detroit earlier this season.
Matt Forte ran for 127 yards on 24 carries.
Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Earl Bennett each caught a TD pass for Chicago.
Jason Campbell made good on 23-for-39 attempts for 273 yards with a touchdown but was intercepted twice for the last-place Browns (4-10), who dropped a fifth straight and eighth in nine games.