When the 2026 season started, there was a belief that if the Cleveland Browns offense was going to be good, it would be because of a strong run game.
Four weeks into the season, the Browns haven’t really been a good unit offensively, but they have been better than expected on their way to a 3-1 record. Surprisingly, the run game hasn’t been effective at all, though.
After four weeks, the Browns are averaging just 93.8 yards on the ground, which ranks 23rd in the league. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has led the team in rushing in two of the four games, and talented running back Quinshon Judkins has just 177 rushing yards and one touchdown on 59 carries this season.
It’s no secret that Cleveland wants to get the ground game going, and it desperately needs to.
The next opponent may help that finally happen. The Browns will go on the road to face the New York Jets this weekend, and New York has been terrible against the run to start the season.
Jets’ struggling run defense should help Browns’ ground game finally get rolling
The Jets are 1-3 and are allowing 123.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 25th in the league. In Week 4, New York’s defense was dominated by the Chicago Bears, giving up 232 rushing yards at 4.3 yards per rush. A week prior, the Jets let the Detroit Lions rush for 131 yards at 4.4 yards per carry.
New York did hold both of its first two opponents under 100 rushing yards, but the Tennessee Titans still averaged 4.9 yards per rush en route to 68 rushing yards in Week 1, and the Green Bay Packers had a 3.5 average when they posted just 63 yards in Week 2.
The Browns are averaging just 3.7 rushing yards per carry and would love to increase that number. If the offensive line and the running backs, namely Quinshon Judkins, can get on the same page in Week 5, they will be up against a rush defense that could make way for a confidence-building performance.
If Cleveland gets its traditional run game going, it has the chance to have a really dangerous offense. The young weapons are currently making things happen, and they are doing that against defenses that don’t have to respect the run.
If the Browns can get to a point where defenses have to commit to stopping the run, Cleveland will have opposing teams at its mercy.
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