Browns Week 2 Grades: Defense, special teams fail in epic collapse

Defense Grade: F

This grade would have at least been a C or maybe even a B if it hadn’t been for the last two drives of the game.

The Jets were able to move the ball on the Browns for much of the afternoon but it wasn’t until the last two drives that it changed the outcome of the game.

New York finished with 402 yards of offense. Rookie wide receiver, and former Ohio State Buckeye, Garrett Wilson shredded the Cleveland secondary with eight catches for 102 yards including the game-winning touchdown.

The lack of communication on defense has become an alarming problem as it’s nearly cost them two losses in the early season. If it weren’t for Cade York kicking a 58-yard field goal against the Panthers then this team would be 0-2.

The defense’s game plan in Week 2 rarely put pressure on the quarterback either and if it weren’t for a strip sack by the Brown’s defensive end Jadeveon Clowney late in the first half, then they might have been losing at halftime rather than tied. The Jets were able to orchestrate yet another drive after that sack that resulted in them knotting the game.

For all the chatter coming into the season about the potential for this defense, it’s certainly been the polar opposite of that, as opponents seem to be able to recognize the problems and expose this group a lot.

It’s a quick turnaround this week, so we’ll have to wait and see how they play Thursday when they welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to town.