The Cleveland Browns defense has been historically good for most of the 2023 season. Much of that is due to the performance of DE Myles Garrett, who is a top candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Entering Week 13, Garrett was just a half-sack behind the top spot in the league. With the Cleveland Browns starting their fourth quarterback of the season, many looked to Garrett and the defense to lead the team in Los Angeles.
That didn’t happen. In fact, Myles Garrett was a complete non-factor in the 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, accounting for exactly zero tackles, sacks, or any other kind of statistic. Garrett and the Browns pass rush was virtually non-existent as well on Sunday, accounting for no sacks, no interceptions, and a single tackle for a loss.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford had all day to pass for the Rams behind the team’s 23rd-ranked offensive line. He tossed three touchdowns, and the team also racked up nearly five yards per carry.
For better or worse, the 2023 Cleveland Browns run on their defense. Sunday was the definition of worse.
Defensive Player of the Year Candidate Shut Out Sunday
Injuries Taking Their Toll
To be fair to Myles Garrett, he’s probably a lot more injured than he’s letting on. Garrett suffered a shoulder injury in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos, stating that he felt a “pop” in his shoulder. Late in the game, he clearly couldn’t stand upright correctly and left the stadium with his arm in a sling.
Even if Myles Garrett does play every game this season, it’s clear he won’t be fully healthy for the remaining five games. He isn’t the only one, either. Cornerback Denzel Ward missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury of his own. The Cleveland Browns have one of the best corner trios in the NFL, but there’s little behind them. The defensive ranks are getting thin, with safety Rodney McLeod already on the IR.
But that’s nothing compared with the offensive side of the ball. On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns were down their top two quarterbacks, their top running back, their top deep threat, and their top two offensive tackles. They also lost top wideout Amari Cooper early on Sunday, and he’s questionable for next week.
Cleveland Browns Start Fourth Quarterback in 13 Games
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco wasn’t half-bad in his first start for the team on Sunday. Flacco threw for 254 yards and two scores against a late INT. With just minutes left in the game, Flacco and the Browns got the ball back down 20-19. Flacco launched the ball downfield for receiver Elijah Moore but shorted it. Los Angeles safety John Johnson snagged it out of the air and returned it 42 yards, setting up the Rams’ decisive score just three minutes later. The game got out of hand from there.
“Just upset at myself,” said Flacco at the post-game press conference, as reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I know I can play the game, so that’s not my thought process at this point. My thought process is just disappointed in myself.”
Flacco led the team down the field on his opening possession, slinging a 24-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford to cap it off. Flacco involved nine different receivers, including a season-best day for TE Harrison Bryant. He didn’t play like a quarterback who had been with the team for just days, and the team looked better behind him than it has with any other signal-caller except franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Are the Cleveland Browns Better at Home?
The Cleveland Browns are 5-1 at home and 2-4 on the road. They’ve won by an average score of 19-10 at home. They’ve lost by an average score of 31-24 on the road. More significantly, the historically good Browns defense has allowed at least 24 points in every single road game. At home, the defense has only allowed over 24 points once, and that was during the Week 4 disaster game when Dorian Thompson-Robinson started at quarterback against the Baltimore Ravens with just barely two hours notice.
With a 7-5 record and riding a two-game losing streak, the Cleveland Browns return home for a two-game homestand against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. If they want to keep their ever-diminishing playoff hopes alive, the team needs to win both.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
