Scouting Ahead/Behind: Cleveland Browns Week 14 opponent
By Colin Damms
Cleveland Browns: Keep making Lamar Jackson uncomfortable
The Browns offense isn’t the only one underperforming right now. The Ravens, the AFC North favorites, have hit a bit of a rough patch. A big reason why is the Miami Dolphins possibly having cracked the code, and it’s pretty straightforward: Make Lamar Jackson as uncomfortable as possible.
If there has been a bright spark for the future in the 2021 Browns team it is the defense. They’ve rounded into quite the unit, and the team effort against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football was a great example of their progress.
The pass rush of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney were excellent at taking the edge away and rushing the passer, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is as effective as we’d hoped as a run stopper, and even the secondary finally seems to have gelled and found synchronicity in defending the pass and keeping tabs on the QB. The interceptions and the many hits Jackson took left the former MVP looking very human, and that will need to be the case if the Browns are going to have a chance next week.
It has perhaps an unfair burden, but with the offense struggling it means more responsibility in getting stops, forcing turnovers, and maybe even scoring on the defense.