CLEVELAND, Ohio — Three weeks into the NFL season, one truth has become undeniable: the Cleveland Browns possess a defensive unit that strikes fear into opposing coaches and players. Sunday’s victory over the previously unbeaten Packers offered further proof that regardless of offensive struggles, this defense can keep the Browns competitive against any opponent.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Five sacks. Six tackles for loss. Seven quarterback hits. A smothering run defense that’s becoming legendary. This dominance isn’t just impressive — it’s becoming the team’s identity.
“This defense is proving to be really, really, really, really good and something you can kind of hang your hat on,” Browns film analyst Lance Reisland said on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.
What makes this defense so special? It starts with generational talent Myles Garrett, who continues to evolve his game. But the true difference this season lies in the interior defensive line, which has transformed the unit from great to potentially historic.
“This is a better defense than 2023 because of those defensive tackles. And that’s the bottom line,” Reisland explained. “Maliek Collins and Mason Graham inside, they are absolutely active as anything in there. They are movement and twisting and stunting.”
This interior pressure disrupts everything opposing offenses want to do. As Reisland points out, “A and B Gap pressure … that’s the worst pressure for a quarterback that gets into your sight line.”
Even more impressive has been the run defense, which has neutralized elite runners like Chase Brown, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs.
The Browns’ defensive dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed by opponents. Matt LaFleur’s entire game plan revolved around avoiding giving the Cleveland offense short fields. Ravens coach John Harbaugh predicted after Week 2 that “this football team is going to win a lot of games this year.”
Mary Kay Cabot put it bluntly: “If you can’t see that by now, then you’re blind because this defense is really good and it’s going to get better.”
What should excite Browns fans even more is the rookie contribution. Mason Graham collected his first half-sack on Sunday. Carson Schwesinger recorded his first career sack by “hunting Jordan Love down like a maniac for an 11-yard loss,” as Ashley Bastock described. This unit isn’t just elite now — it’s built to sustain excellence.
The defensive identity is now firmly established: physical, relentless, and intimidating. As the Browns progress through the season, this defense will keep them in games they might otherwise have no business winning.
For all the conversation about quarterback play and offensive struggles, the defense remains Cleveland’s pathway to success in 2025. The formula is clear — run the ball, protect it, and let the defense do what it does best.
Tune in to the full episode of Orange and Brown Talk to hear the complete breakdown of how this defense has transformed into what might be the NFL’s most fearsome unit.
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