For the majority of the 2023 season, the Cleveland Browns defense has been historically good. Much of that is due to the play of DE Myles Garrett, who is a leading contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett was only a half-sack behind the league leader entering Week 13. Many expected Garrett and the defense to lead the Cleveland Browns in Los Angeles, despite the fact that they were starting their fourth quarterback of the season.
That did not occur. In fact, Myles Garrett was a non-factor in the Los Angeles Rams’ 36-19 loss on Sunday, accounting for zero tackles, sacks, or any other type of statistic. Garrett and the Browns’ pass rush were virtually non-existent on Sunday, with no sacks, interceptions, or tackles for loss.
The Rams’ quarterback, Matthew St afford,had all day to throw behind the team’s 23rd-ranked offensive line. He threw three touchdown passes, and the team averaged nearly five yards per carry.
The 2023 Cleveland Browns, for better or worse, rely on their defense. Sunday was the epitome of bad.
Defensive Player of the Year Candidate Shut Out Sunday
Injuries Taking Their Toll
To be fair to Myles Garrett, he’s probably in a lot more pain than he’s admitting. Garrett was injured in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos, claiming he felt a “pop” in his shoulder. He clearly couldn’t stand upright correctly late in the game and left the stadium with his arm in a sling.
Even if Myles Garrett plays every game this season, it is clear that he will not be fully healthy for the final five games. He is not, however, the only one. Denzel Ward, the team’s cornerback, missed his second straight game due to a shoulder injury. The Cleveland Browns have one of the league’s best cornerback trios, but there’s not much behind them. The defense is getting thin, with safety Rodney McLeod already on injured reserve.
But that pales in comparison to the offensive side of the ball. The Cleveland Browns were missing their top two quarterbacks, top running back, top deep threat, and top two offensive tackles on Sunday. They also lost top wideout Amari Cooper early on Sunday, and his availability for next week is questionable.
In 13 games, the Cleveland Browns will start their fourth quarterback.
On Sunday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco performed admirably in his first start for the team. Flacco threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns against a late interception. With just minutes remaining in the game, Flacco and the Browns took the lead again, 20-19. Flacco attempted to throw the ball downfield to receiver Elijah Moore but was unsuccessful. Los Angeles safety John Johnson snatched it out of the air and returned it 42 yards for the Rams’ game-winning touchdown three minutes later. From there, the game spiraled out of control.
“Just upset at myself,” Flacco said at the post-game press conference, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I know I can play the game, so that’s not my current thought process.” “My thought process is simply dissatisfied with myself.”
Flacco led the team down the field on his first possession, finishing with a 24-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford. Flacco used nine different receivers, including TE Harrison Bryant, who had a season-high day. He didn’t look like a quarterback who had only been with the team for a few days, and the offense looked better with him than with any other signal-caller except franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Are the Cleveland Browns More Effective at Home?
The Cleveland Browns are 5-1 at home and 2-4 away from Cleveland. At home, they’ve won by an average of 19-10. On the road, they’ve lost by an average of 31-24. More importantly, the Browns’ historically strong defense has given up at least 24 points in every road game this season. At home, the defense has only allowed more than 24 points once, in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, when Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback with only two hours notice.
The Cleveland Browns, who are 7-5 and on a two-game losing streak, return home for a two-game homestand against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears. If they want to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive, they must win both games.
Leave a Reply