CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are on a two-game winning streak and are above .500 for the first time in nearly six years after beating the Washington Football Team on Sunday afternoon.
The game wasn’t always pretty, especially in the third quarter. There were struggles on both sides of the ball. The Browns offense picked up in the fourth quarter and helped seal the win, but the real winner on Sunday was the Browns defense.
The fantastic front four
The Browns front four has been outstanding through the first three weeks -- even when you don’t see it on the stat sheet. That was no different on Sunday.
Defensive end Myles Garrett, who has his eye on winning Defensive Player of the Year, had seven pressures against Washington quarterback Dwyane Haskins and two sacks, one of which he made within three seconds of the snap. Garrett forced three turnovers caused by pressure, including a forced fumble, which he was able to recover.
But Garrett, the powerhouse defensive end that Cleveland knows is a mass disrupter wasn’t the only one who brought his A-game.
Playing opposite of Garrett, Porter Gustin, who is in his second year, as well as defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, were both able to put pressure on Haskins, both closing their separation from the quarterback to under the league average during the course of the game.
Richardson had himself a sack on Sunday, along with three tackles and an assist. Gustin recorded two tackles and an assist and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi recorded two tackles and two assists.
The Browns are tied for sixth in the league for most sacks this season and are in the top ten for lowest completion percentage allowed.
Coming up clutch
Considered questionable areas of the Browns roster after being bitten by the injury bug as the season approached, the Browns linebacking corp and secondary has had on a “next-man-up” mentality since the end of the training camp.
There have been some real issues that the team will need to address, let’s get that straight, but on Sunday there were moments more fun to focus on—such as the three interceptions by the Browns defense.
Safety Karl Joseph and linebackers B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith each picked off Haskins.
Joseph and Smith both gave Cleveland a boost in the second quarter, which helped the team head into the half with a 10-point lead.
The struggles in the third quarter, with the defense allowing Haskins to move down the field with ease, resulting in two touchdowns, were enough to make it feel like the game was getting out of control. Cleveland struggled offensively as well, with two straight possessions ending in punts. But after a pass to Odell Beckham Jr. at the end of the quarter, a fire was ignited. From that point, the Browns were able to push down the field and tight end Harrison Bryant caught his first NFL touchdown—but the Browns were still down.
Then, Goodson gave the Browns the edge that brought them back to life. Goodson’s interception came when the Browns needed it most, and the offense stuck to their guns, utilizing the passing weapon that is Beckham and staying true to the identity of the team and running with Nick Chubb.
Garrett’s strip-sack came on the following possession, and the Browns were able to capitalize once again, sealing the game with a field goal from kicker Cody Parkey.
Never say never
The Browns defense combined for five takeaways, the team’s highest since the 2018 home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they capitalized on all but one of them, scoring 21 points off of those takeaways.
It was sporadic to begin with, and many thought the defense heading into Sunday was going to be the downfall of the team, hoping that the offense would wake up and lead the team to victory—but just when they were starting to be counted out they erupted.
Smith believes that the linebacking corps is on its way to reaching a new level of success.
"Obviously, we have to go out there and we have some tough opponents. Every mistake we have made is going allow us to grow as a group. Some of the stuff is stuff we have seen as a group for the first time" Smith said. "Just having that ability to build every single game and get better so we can maximize our physical talents, we have to a gifted room physically so we just have to make sure that mental matches up.”
Hopefully that holds true and the entire defense can stay the course as they face a much tougher opponent against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys next week. Until then, let’s celebrate a Victory Monday, Browns fans.
