The world of sports is full of clichés and football has as many as any. The Cleveland Browns defense, particularly this week against the Baltimore Ravens is quickly becoming one.
Sports clichés — everyone recognizes them and has heard them all ad nauseum. Often taking on the personality of their coach regurgitating phrases that they’ve heard endlessly, but also as a way to avoid getting themselves in trouble, athletes in interviews will use them to say something without really saying anything. Every so often, an athlete will speak almost entirely in clichés. In so many ways, the Cleveland Browns defense is becoming so many of those clichés.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, through almost five quarters, the Browns were able to hold them to just nine points and just 4.9 yards per play, both outstanding marks and make it clear why they were able to win in overtime.
And a reputation has started with this group this season is growing and is going to stick if they keep producing the way they have been.
Next man up – Emmanuel Ogbah was down for a few games and Chris Smith filled in pretty well for him. After the loss of Terrance Mitchell for the season last week, E.J. Gaines stepped up and had a tremendous game against the Ravens in pass coverage across from Denzel Ward. The Ravens tried to go at him but he was up to the task.
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Do your job. Do your 1/11th. – Particularly against the Ravens, there isn’t a single player that can’t be named for making a specific play that helped impact the win. From Ogbah tipping the pass that Ward intercepted down by the goal line to Joe Schobert punching out a ball that Trevon Coley recovered. Jabrill Peppers, maligned unfairly, and Jamie Collins, maligned fairly, had their best games as Browns.
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Backs against the wall – In this game, the Browns defense had their backs against the wall multiple times and had no choice but to hold firm. The first possession of the game, a miscommunication between Baker Mayfield and Rashard Higgins on continuing a play as opposed to running the scramble drill resulted in an interception and an incredibly short field for the defense.
They were able to keep the Ravens out of the end zone, holding them to a field goal. On another short field starting at the 48, the Browns forced the interception at the goal line. Finally, when the Browns were up 9-6 late in the fourth quarter, the defense was able to stop them at the 14-yard line and force them to kick a tying field goal as opposed to taking the lead.
Bend but don’t break – the Browns were largely stout all game, but did allow the Ravens four different field goal opportunities. The Browns and Ward in particular were able to block one of the four, but the Ravens made the other three. They couldn’t find their way into the end zone.
They left it all on the field – When a defense plays 84 snaps and is on the field for 33:42 while only giving up four field goal attempts and just 4.9 yards per play to enable the Browns to win in overtime, they certainly qualify.
Have to play a full 60 minutes to win – In this case, 69:58 seconds.
The Cleveland Browns defense has gotten pretty good in a hurry and it’s been a lot of fun to watch. Coming into this game, it was understood that certain players were playing at a high level, including Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, Denzel Ward and Joe Schobert and they did that on Sunday. The difference is Sunday, everyone played well, looked like a cohesive team unit and everyone contributed into an effort good enough to secure a win. And as the Browns continue to put up these kind of defensive efforts, the name will just become synonymous with good defense.