Cleveland Needs A New Old Adage
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
This Cleveland Browns defense is good. Like, really good. Through the first three weeks of the season, they have given up only one touchdown, and that was a 71-yard bomb from Kenny Pickett to George Pickens. The other two quarterbacks they faced, one being a top-three quarterback in the league, and the other being a former Pro-Bowl passing leader, were held silent.
You could argue that Ryan Tannehill isn’t and has never been that good, and that Joe Burrow is playing on a bad calf, but even if that’s the case, the Browns’ defense has been doing things that are unprecedented. To further emphasize how completely insane the entire thing is, let’s take a look at the first three games of what are most commonly thought of as three of the greatest defenses ever and what they gave up to their opposing offenses, respectively.
1985 Chicago Bears
Week 1 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 307 total yards of offense, 4 TDs
Week 2 – New England Patriots: 206 total yards, 1 TD
Week 3 – Minnesota Vikings: 445 total yards, 3 TDs
958 total yards, 8 TD’s
2000 Baltimore Ravens
Week 1 – Pittsburgh Steelers: 223 total yards, 0 TDs
Week 2 – Jacksonville Jaguars: 421 total yards, 3 TDs
Week 3: Miami Dolphins: 258 total yards, 2 TDs
812 total yards, 5 TDs
2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 1 – New Orleans Saints: 238 total yards, 2 TDs
Week 2 – Baltimore Ravens: 173 total yards, 0 TDs
Week 3 – St. Louis Rams: 358, 2 TDs
769 total yards, 4 TD’s
The 2023 Cleveland Browns
Week 1 – Cincinnati Bengals: 142 total yards, 0 TDs
Week 2 – Pittsburgh Steelers: 255 total yards, 1 TD
Week 3 – Tennessee Titans: 94 total yards, 0 TDs
491 total yards, 1 TD
Yeah…
Oh yeah…
Is it too early to start calling Jim Schwartz ‘Daddy,’ or let out a pleasure-filled groan whenever the Browns get a turnover or force a three-and-out? Because if it is, then consider me the first to the party.
Admittedly, I am a reactionary person, and sure there are plenty of other metrics you can use to measure defense, but this really is remarkable especially given what we’ve seen on the defensive side of the ball in Cleveland in recent years.
So the defense is great and the old adage is that “Defense wins championships,” so we’re great, right? Well, like most old adages, it’s only partly true. There have been several GREAT defenses, but these are the three, along with the ‘86 Giants, the ‘69 Chiefs, the ‘15 Broncos, and arguably the 2013 Seahawks that ended their seasons with Super Bowl victories.
“Defense wins SOME championships, but not most.”
The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers were statistically the best defense of the Steel Curtain era but lost in the AFC Title game to Ken Stabler and the Raiders. Terry Bradshaw went for an inefficient 14/35 for 176 yards and an interception.
All it takes is running into a great offense or a poor game from your quarterback to get kicked out of the playoffs. As amazing as this defense is, the Browns need Deshaun Watson to play like he did this past Sunday more often than we’ve seen.
The defense is a final piece in place for a roster that completely removes any excuses from Watson’s repertoire. Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson have come in and helped create a front four push that only has its equal in places like Philadelphia and San Francisco. The suddenly staunch secondary and surprisingly up-trending linebackers have helped elevate the whole defense allowing Myles Garrett to shine even brighter than we’ve seen previously. And he’s having the time of his life doing so.
The Titans had two TEs following Myles Garrett today 💀
pic.twitter.com/iGJWwJzh3i— PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2023
This team can, despite the devastating Nick Chubb injury, support its quarterback by running the ball. This team can support its quarterback by stopping the opposing team. Now on the precipice of something special, this team needs its quarterback to consistently become who he was promised to be.
For the Browns, the old adage can’t be defense wins championships. They need a new old adage.
Like…
Defense is a wonderful thing to have. It can put you over the top and even partly lead you there, but who wins the game?
The team that scores the most points.
Who puts up the points?
The offense.
Who leads the offense?
The quarterback.
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