Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns

For the Cleveland Browns, the 2024 season has been a tale of two units: an offense capable of scoring at will and a defense that can’t seem to find consistent footing. What began as minor lapses—missed tackles, blown coverages, and inconsistent pass rush—has evolved into persistent struggles that have cost the Browns critical games, including their gut-wrenching Week 13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Even with star defensive end Myles Garrett anchoring the line, the Browns’ defense ranks 22nd in the NFL in points allowed per game (24.8) and 25th in rushing yards allowed (121.3 per game). These numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re a reflection of deeper issues: personnel inconsistencies, schematic missteps, and a lack of discipline in high-pressure moments. Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns explores why the defense can’t turn the corner, the specific issues plaguing key units, and how these struggles are threatening the Browns’ playoff aspirations.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns starts with the most glaring issue: a run defense that has become a liability. For years, the Browns prided themselves on stopping the run, but in 2024, they’ve allowed opponents to rush for 100+ yards in seven of 13 games—including a 145-yard performance by the Bengals’ Joe Mixon in Week 13. Part of the problem is injuries along the defensive line: nose tackle Jordan Elliott missed four games with a calf strain, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris has been limited by a knee injury, leaving gaps in the interior. Without a consistent push up front, opposing running backs have found room to operate, forcing the Browns’ linebackers to overcommit and creating mismatches in the secondary. “We’re not winning the line of scrimmage like we need to,” said defensive line coach Chris Kiffin. “When you let running backs get past the first level, it puts pressure on everyone else—linebackers have to make tackles in space, and safeties have to come down to help. That opens up the passing game for opponents, and it’s a cycle we can’t break right now.” The run defense struggles have also disrupted the Browns’ ability to set up their pass rush, as opponents can control the tempo with the run and keep Garrett and company off balance.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns shifts to the secondary, where inconsistency has turned promising drives into opponent touchdowns. The Browns’ cornerbacks—led by Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II—have shown flashes of brilliance, but they’ve also been prone to costly mistakes: Ward’s late-game blown coverage against the Bengals’ Tee Higgins cost the Browns a win, and Newsome has allowed a 63% completion rate when targeted this season. The safety position has been even more problematic: Grant Delpit has missed 11 tackles (tied for the most among NFL safeties), and rookie Ronnie Hickman has struggled to read NFL offenses, leading to two critical pass interference calls in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos. “Our secondary has the talent to be one of the best in the league, but they’re not playing with consistency,” said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “One play they’ll make a game-changing interception, the next they’ll miss a tackle or blow a coverage. In the NFL, you can’t afford that—especially against quarterbacks like Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes, who will exploit every mistake.” The secondary’s struggles have been compounded by the run defense’s issues, as safeties are often forced to leave their coverage assignments to help stop the run, creating open receivers downfield.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns delves into the pass rush, which—despite Garrett’s dominance—has been inconsistent. Garrett leads the Browns with 11 sacks, but he’s been double-teamed on 68% of his snaps this season, and the rest of the defensive line has failed to pick up the slack: the Browns have just 23 total sacks as a team, ranking 24th in the NFL. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith, signed in free agency to complement Garrett, has just 3.5 sacks and has been limited by a back injury. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson has been solid against the run but has yet to record a sack this season. “Myles is doing everything he can, but he can’t do it alone,” Schwartz said. “We need other players to step up and win one-on-one matchups. When opponents can focus all their attention on Myles, it makes it harder for him to get to the quarterback—and it gives opposing quarterbacks more time to throw.” For the Cleveland Browns, the pass rush’s inconsistencies have made it harder to hide the secondary’s flaws. Without consistent pressure, quarterbacks have time to pick apart the Browns’ coverage, leading to long drives and easy touchdowns. This has created a vicious cycle: the run defense struggles, the pass rush can’t get to the quarterback, and the secondary makes mistakes—all of which add up to points for opponents.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns explores how schematic decisions have contributed to the defense’s woes. Schwartz, known for his aggressive, blitz-heavy schemes, has tried to compensate for personnel weaknesses by sending extra rushers, but this has often backfired: the Browns have blitzed on 34% of their snaps this season (the 7th-highest rate in the NFL), but they’ve allowed a 72% completion rate and 8.1 yards per pass when blitzing—both among the worst in the league. Part of the issue is that the Browns’ linebackers and safeties haven’t been effective as blitzers: linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. has just one sack on 28 blitz attempts, and Delpit has yet to record a tackle for loss on his 15 blitzes. “We’re blitzing to create pressure, but we’re not getting there—and when we don’t, we leave our secondary exposed,” Schwartz admitted. For the Cleveland Browns, the schematic struggles highlight a larger problem: the defense doesn’t have the personnel to execute Schwartz’s aggressive schemes consistently. Until they fix that—either through better player development or future roster moves—the defense will continue to struggle against top offenses.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Challenges for the Cleveland Browns wraps up with the implications of these struggles for the Browns’ playoff hopes. With just four games left in the regular season, the Browns are clinging to a wild-card spot, but their defense could derail their chances. Their remaining schedule includes matchups against the Houston Texans (who rank 8th in scoring) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (who have a revitalized run game), both of which could exploit the Browns’ defensive weaknesses. If the Browns can’t fix their run defense, improve their secondary’s consistency, and find a way to generate more pass rush from non-Garrett players, they’ll likely be one-and-done in the playoffs—if they make it at all. “We have to get better, and we have to get better fast,” Garrett said after the Week 13 loss. “This defense has the talent to be great, but we’re not playing like it. We need to hold each other accountable, fix our mistakes, and start winning games with our defense.” For the Cleveland Browns, the defensive struggles aren’t just a short-term problem—they’re a threat to their long-term success. Until they address these issues, they’ll never be able to compete for a Super Bowl. As the season enters its final stretch, the Browns have a choice: either fix their defense and make a deep playoff run, or let another promising season slip away because of persistent defensive lapses.