Cleveland Browns instant reactions: Defense holds off Vikings in Week 4 win

The Cleveland Browns and their defense came to play for a second Sunday in a row as they shut down the Vikings offense for their third win in a row.

Many storylines headed into the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings game today including the fact that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was headed back to familiar territory where he’d been an assistant coach with the Vikings for many years prior. Well, that familiarity seemed to help as the Browns hung on and won 14-7.

Stefanski again went for several fourth-down conversations that weren’t made. I don’t understand Stefanski’s love affair with the need to go on these fourth-down plays all the time. The game came down to the final play and the Browns defense, who played well again for a second week, secured the win as the Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins couldn’t convert on the last play of the game.

It was a game where the Browns controlled the clock with many drives but couldn’t convert and quarterback Baker Mayfield had quite honestly a horrible performance. The Browns offense couldn’t get anything going in the second half, outside of an important late-game 53-yard field goal by Chase Mclaughlin.

Cleveland’s defense played well again, getting good pressure on the quarterback and finally paid off with a late-game interception by cornerback Greedy Williams. However, the Browns offense and Mayfield’s inaccuracy stalled the offense again but the defense secured the win on the last play.

All in all, it left Browns fans questioning what they have so far this season. It’s definitely difficult to win games on the road, so getting this win is big nonetheless. The Browns now are 3-1 and have that going forward to their next road game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Let’s discuss a few stars of the game and some glaring concerns too.

Cleveland Browns defense played well

When the game started with the Vikings marching down the field on a 75-yard drive, I had my concerns pop back into my head about exactly what we had with our defense this season. Was defensive coordinator Joe Woods back on the hot seat?

But I was pleasantly surprised the rest of the game as it played out. The Browns defense only allowed that first Viking touchdown through the rest of the game. They started pressuring the Viking quarterback and forcing the Viking offense into a rut that they never got out of.

Considering the Vikings were averaging 400 yards and more offensively, it was a very solid day for the defense. Browns defensive end Takk Mckinley got to the Vikings quarterback for a nice sack in the second half. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah was again everywhere defensively getting tackle after tackle.

Greedy Williams had the nice interception and that Browns front four continued to get pressure on Cousins and the Vikings. Considering Cousins season so far and his hot start the Browns defense should be commended.