We’re only a few weeks into the season, but the NFL landscape is already beginning to take shape. Despite the Cleveland Browns’ offensive struggles, the defense has looked incredibly dominant, especially
against some of the league’s more talented offenses. NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger says they have the best defense in the NFL.
Let’s break down what areas they are excelling at and why they are in the conversation for the league’s best defense.
Led by Myles Garrett, Cleveland’s pass rush has been fantastic against some really talented offenses. Garrett continues to draw double teams consistently, opening up opportunities for teammates like Maliek Collins and Mason Graham. They have really stepped up, and their combined pressure has made life challenging for opposing quarterbacks.
Maybe even more impressive is the Browns’ run-stopping ability. Through the first three games, they’ve allowed just 172 total rushing yards—a remarkable stat considering the competition. They have faced some talented running backs like Derrick Henry, Chase Brown, and Josh Jacobs, but they have all been shut down.
Cleveland’s secondary has had more inconsistent performances than the other units in the defense; however, they have come through in crucial moments. Grant Delpit’s interception on a critical 3rd down late in the 4th quarter in the Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers helped the Browns to win that game.
According to DVOA, however, Cleveland’s defense is not the best in the NFL through Week 3. The struggles against the Baltimore Ravens have the team third overall which is pretty impressive given the points given up in Week 2 (mostly due to getting tired from the offense’s poor performance and bad slot cornerback play). The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings currently hold down the top two spots in defensive DVOA.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Do the Browns have the best defense in the NFL?
