CLEVELAND – The Bears defense continued to take the ball away in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Browns, intercepting three Joe Flacco passes.

The Bears now have 24 takeaways and 18 interceptions this season, including 14 takeaways and 12 interceptions in their last four games, the most in the NFL during that span. The 14 takeaways are their most in a four-game stretch since they also had 14 during the first four weeks of the 2013 season.

All three interceptions Sunday were significant plays.

In the second quarter, Eddie Jackson picked off a pass over the middle and returned it 27 yards to the Browns' 1, setting up Justin Fields' 5-yard touchdown pass to Cole Kmet, which gave the Bears a 7-0 lead. It was Jackson's first interception of the year and his 15th in seven NFL seasons.

Early in the second half, Tremaine Edmunds intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for the first touchdown of his six-year NFL career, giving the Bears a 14-7 lead. The pick came after T.J. Edwards had hit receiver Cedric Tillman just as Flacco's pass arrived, causing the ball to carom into the air to Edmunds.

After registering five interceptions in five seasons with the Bills, Edmunds has four picks in his first year with the Bears.

Late in the third quarter, rookie Tyrique Stevenson made a diving interception at the Bears' 1, one play after Trent Taylor had muffed a punt that the Browns recovered at the Chicago 20. It was Stevenson's second interception of the season.

Blitz beater

Dustin Hopkins' game-winning 34-yard field goal was set up by Flacco's 34-yard pass to tight end David Njoku with :46 remaining in the game. Flacco beat a blitz on the play, which came on third-and-15 from the Cleveland 47.

"The thought process there, it's third-and-15, you're going to make him throw it and you're going to tackle the catch and they're going to end up punting it," said coach Matt Eberflus. "Maybe they'll get half the distance there, just to get the ball out of his hands fast. He kind of retreated back a little bit. He ended up retreating there and throwing it over the top. The tight end made a heck of a run."

News and notes

Left guard Teven Jenkins exited late in the first half with a concussion and was replaced by Cody Whitehair … The Bears rushed for 88 yards on 27 carries, just the second time they've been held under 100 yards in their last 11 games … The possession that started at the Browns' 1 following Jackson's interception was the Bears' only red-zone drive of the game … Tight end Marcedes Lewis made his 224th career start, tying Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the most among active players.

On the shelf

Receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral) and linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) missed Sunday's game with injuries. Other Bears inactives were quarterback Nathan Peterman, guard Ja'Tyre Carter and safety Quindell Johnson.