Studs and duds from Cleveland Browns Week 12 victory over Miami

Dud: Browns pass rush

With the Cleveland Browns missing three of their four starters on the defensive line, it was expected the unit was going to struggle against the Dolphins. But for most of the game and when the Dolphins were not in desperation mode, the front four could not generate any type of pass rush.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to sit in the pocket and go through his reads, even though Miami’s offense wanted to use a quick passing attack in the first half. Noticing the lack of a pass rush, the Dolphins started working the intermediate part of the field and were moving the ball down the field.

The Browns were able to manufacture a pass rush by blitzing, but when the blitzes didn’t get home, it allowed the Dolphins receivers to run open. Because the Browns had to blitz more often to generate some sort of pass rush, they allowed many chunk plays because they could not get to Fitzpatrick.

If Olivier Vernon can get healthy for Week 13 and with the return of Larry Ogunjobi, the Browns should generate more of a pass rush next week. But if they don’t they will pay more than they did against the Dolphins.