The Cleveland Browns found another new way (not actually sure that is true) to lose a game in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season against the Cincinnati Bengals. Missed kicks and tipped passes turned into interceptions ruined the Browns defense’s stellar play and exciting debuts by a few rookies.
Of the “five premium positions” in the NFL (QB, DE, CB, WR, OT), Cleveland’s roster has the best defensive end in football (Myles Garrett) and a top cornerback (Denzel Ward). Jerry Jeudy is a very good receiver
and Cedric Tillman has had flashes of his upside, but neither has entered the Top 10 level at their position.
We all know the questions remain at the quarterback position, but Dawand Jones may have answered the Browns need for a talented left tackle. In the first half, Jones shut down DE Trey Hendrickson:
Things didn’t go as well in the second half (Hendrickson ended the game with a sack and three QB hits). Jones was also flagged for two suspect holding penalties.
Compared to the play of Jed Wills, Jones looked stellar at left tackle.
While that spot might be locked down for the near future, the interior of the offensive line is somehow a new problem for the team. The trio of Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic and Wyatt Teller was expected to be the strength of the team. Instead, Cleveland couldn’t get the run game going due to push up the middle of the line of scrimmage.
On 22 called runs, the Browns totaled just 43 yards, with the running backs often seeing an interior defender in their lap before they hit the line of scrimmage. Getting Quinshon Judkins on the field should be helpful, but it will not matter if the interior of Cleveland’s offensive line struggles to get movement at the line of scrimmage.
Jones may have answered the Browns issue at left tackle, but the interior of the offensive line is a problem that needs to be addressed right away, which is a surprise to pretty much everyone.
