For the second straight week, one of the Browns’ biggest strengths this season became a struggle.
Cleveland has been the best third-down defense in the league this season under new coordinator Jim Schwartz. Coming into Sunday, the Browns led the NFL allowing opposing offenses to convert on only 27.14% of their attempts.
But over the last two weeks, suddenly opposing team’s third-down conversions became difference makers.
Against the Rams in their 36-19 loss on Sunday afternoon, the Browns’ overall numbers weren’t terrible, but not up to par with their average, allowing the Rams to convert on four of 12 attempts.
And it was also about when those conversions came. Three came on L.A.’s closing drive of the first half, a 13-play, 66-yard methodical march that ended with a 28-yard field goal from Lucas Havrisik that gave the Rams a narrow 13-10 halftime lead.
The conversions came thanks to two Matthew Stafford reads to tight end Tyler Higbee — a 14-yard completion and a 21-yard completion. The final conversion was an 8-yard run by Kyren Williams that got the Rams to the Cleveland 12-yard line on the drive.
The series may not have ended with the touchdown, but the points gave the Rams not just the lead, but key momentum going into the break.
The other third-down conversion came in the fourth quarter, a much more adverse scenario. The Rams started that drive with great field position on the Cleveland 24, thanks to an interception return by John Johnson III — his first INT since he was with the Browns last season.
Facing third-and-goal at the Cleveland 3, Stafford fired a dart to Cooper Kupp at the front of the end zone, a 3-yard TD that gave them an 8-point advantage, 27-19.
And then there’s last week’s 29-12 loss to the Broncos.
That game was one of the defense’s worst performances from third down of the season, allowing the Broncos to convert on six of 14 attempts.
“That wasn’t our best third-down performance of the year,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said this week. “And a lot had to do with not being able to get the quarterback down. He didn’t throw it a ton in the game. But when we had chances to be able to make some tackles for losses or some sacks and put them in some longer yardage situations or win on third down, we sort of let those opportunities slip through our fingers a little. Probably that’s probably the biggest takeaway.”
Against Russell Wilson last week, the unit only managed one sack from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and four quarterback hits.
This week against Stafford — an experienced quarterback who knows Schwartz well, considering their history together with the Lions — it was more of the same.
The defense struggled to get to Stafford with no sacks and only two QB hits, one apiece by Grant Delpit and Maurice Hurst II. It was the first time this season the defense failed to record a sack.
The Rams chipped Myles Garrett — who defied odds and played despite not being able to lift his left shoulder after last week’s game and only practicing on Friday — early and often. They weren’t afraid to be aggressive, and no one else could take advantage as Stafford quickly went through his reads and got rid of the ball.
While a lot of this does go back to how quickly veteran QBs can go through their reads, the Browns defense must now figure out a way to get their mojo back as far as their aggressiveness up front.
At a critical point in the season, sitting at 7-5, it’s time to reclaim one of their biggest strengths as quickly as possible.
