BEREA, Ohio – As the Cleveland Browns prepare to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday, defensive end Myles Garrett emphasized the importance of his team’s defense being dominant. “It’s our responsibility to be dominant,” said Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. “We have the players to do so, and that’s all about our expectations for ourselves.”
However, the elite form that carried the Browns to a playoff appearance last season has yet to materialize four games into the 2024 season. With a matchup against rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the NFL’s hottest offense looming, a throwback performance from Cleveland’s defense is crucial as the offense finds its footing.
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has completed a league-leading 82.1% of his passes and ranks fourth in QBR. He’s led a Washington offense that has scored a touchdown or field goal on 23 out of 30 offensive drives, the highest rate by any team in its first four games over the last 45 seasons.
Inside linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sees similarities between Daniels and another dual-threat quarterback, saying, “I’m in my Lamar mindset” when preparing for the rookie QB.
Despite returning most of its 2023 contributors, the Browns defense has regressed in multiple categories. Cleveland is allowing a greater QBR, completion percentage, and more yards per play through the first month of the season. The defense has also struggled to force turnovers, with just three takeaways (one on special teams) compared to 28 last season.
Safety Rodney McLeod’s 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Raiders brought the Browns within one possession in the fourth quarter, but those types of momentum-changing plays have been scarce. Against an offense averaging 30.3 points per game, the Browns will need to rediscover their dominant form.
Cleveland’s struggles against the run will be tested by Daniels and the Commanders offense, which ranks third in rushing yards per game and sixth in yards after contact per rush. The Browns have struggled with missed tackles, allowing 2.24 yards after contact per designed rush, the worst mark in the NFL.
Garrett emphasized the importance of wrapping up and slowing down runners, saying, “A lot of guys are going in with their shoulder trying to lay that big hit… first guy’s got to wrap up and slow the runner down and stop his momentum.”
In 2023, the Browns leaned on their defense as they won 11 games and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. As Cleveland’s offense works to find its identity and get quarterback Deshaun Watson back to Pro Bowl form, bouncing back from a 1-3 start might hinge on the defense having a renaissance of sorts – starting against one of the league’s best offenses.
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