Revamped Cleveland Browns defense faces another big test

Kevin Stefanski’s team is riding a three-game winning streak. And the Cleveland Browns’ defense will need to come up big against the surging Chargers.

The focus for the Cleveland Browns this offseason was defense. Be it free agency or the draft, general manager Andrew Berry appear determined to fix a unit that was ordinary at best a season ago. Yes, the team reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and won a postseason game for the first time since 1994.

But despite putting up a good fight in a 22-17 loss at Kansas City in the divisional round, Joe Woods’ defensive unit allowed 438 total yards in a game in which Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes missed the majority of the second half.

So when free agency began, Berry got busy. He signed a pair of former Rams’ defensive backs in safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill. The team added underrated linebacker Anthony Walker, late of the Colts.

Defensive end Myles Garrett — currently tied for the team lead with 19 tackles — got some new teammates up front in the form of Jadeveon Clowney and interior performers Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell. The club’s first two picks in the draft this year were cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

After a shaky start, the Cleveland Browns defense has rounded into top form.

Things did not start out so well on the opening Sunday vs. the Chiefs. But after surrendering 33 points (and 397 total yards) in that disappointing Week 1 loss at Arrowhead Stadium, the Browns have allowed a combined 34 points in victories over the Texans, Bears and Vikings, respectively.

Entering Week 5, Cleveland ranked second in the league in total defense and had allowed both the third-fewest rushing and passing yards in the NFL. But this week, the stakes are a little higher in the Los Angeles Chargers and one of the more balanced offenses in the game.

The Browns are definitely making strides when it comes to fixing last season’s biggest weakness. But some of that could come undone if quarterback Justin Herbert is able to move the ball at will against Woods’ unit. An intriguing matchup indeed.