CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns defense has been a force of nature through the first few weeks of the season, stifling elite running backs and earning league-wide respect. But this Sunday, they’ll face their greatest challenge yet: a Detroit Lions offense that’s been absolutely scorching its opponents.
The contrast between these units couldn’t be starker, as Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot points out: “When you look at the Lions over the last two weeks they have scored 52 points and 38 points. That is 90 points to the Browns’ 30. They’ve outscored the Browns by 60 points over the last two weeks and their running game went crazy in this game. They rushed for 224 yards.”
While the Lions’ offense has been unstoppable, Cleveland’s defense has been immovable. The Browns completely neutralized Derrick Henry two weeks ago, holding him to just 24 yards. For context, Henry had rushed for over 160 yards twice in his previous four games. Last week, they limited Josh Jacobs to just 30 yards on 16 carries.
This showdown represents the classic matchup of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. As Orange and Brown Talk host Dan Labbe frames it: “This is a great test for this defense and I think that’s maybe the most interesting thing. A defense that has asserted itself, is getting all sorts of buzz, is one of the best defenses in football versus this Lions offense that is just a well-oiled machine right now.”
The Lions’ offensive success starts with their powerful two-headed monster at running back. David Montgomery rushed for 151 yards against Baltimore, including explosive runs of 72 and 31 yards. When combined with Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit’s backfield is arguably the most dangerous in the NFL right now.
But Cleveland might have identified a weakness they can exploit. Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock observed: “I did think the interesting thing was with the Ravens, the Lions offensive line, because they’re still a relatively young group, seemed to have some issues picking up blitzes, reading blitzes. And look, I think this Browns D-line is better than the Ravens.”
The Browns’ defensive front, led by Myles Garrett and an emerging Mason Graham, could be the difference-makers in this matchup. If they can disrupt Jared Goff’s timing and confuse Detroit’s offensive line with exotic blitz packages, they might be able to slow down this juggernaut.
This game represents more than just another week on the schedule — it’s a measuring stick for just how good this Browns defense truly is. Can they continue their dominant ways against what might be the league’s most explosive offense?
Want to see if Cleveland’s elite defense can shut down Detroit’s high-powered attack? Don’t miss this clash of titans when the Browns travel to Ford Field this Sunday. This Orange and Brown Talk podcast episode dives even deeper into this compelling matchup, so make sure to listen for more expert analysis and predictions.
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