CLEVELAND, Ohio — While the Browns’ offense struggled to find its footing against Cincinnati, their defense — particularly the dominant front led by Myles Garrett — showed why it might be the team’s best hope for success against Baltimore. Garrett’s performance wasn’t just good; it was the kind that changes games and potentially the trajectory of a season.
“I think that Myles Garrett, when he talks about wanting to set the tone for this team and the way that I wrote it after the game, that he had that Superman hype video and I think he went out there and he played like a superhero,” said Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. “I think that he is setting the tone for how he wants this defense or how they all want this defense to play.”
The Superman comparison seems apt after watching Garrett wreck Cincinnati’s gameplan. While his stat line of two sacks is impressive, it doesn’t fully capture how he took over the game, particularly in crucial moments.
“I thought this honestly was one of Myles Garrett’s best games as a Cleveland Brown. He had the two sacks. But that fourth quarter, he took over that football game,” said podcast host Dan Labbe. “Everyone has seen the clip of him coming around on the loop and just drilling Joe Burrow that resulted in a third down incompletion. I thought Myles Garrett really impacted this football game in a way that only he can.”
What makes this defensive line particularly dangerous — and gives the Browns hope heading into Baltimore — is the sustainability of their success. This isn’t just about one superstar having a great day; it’s about a system designed to create advantageous matchups across the front.
Browns film analyst Lance Reisland broke down the brilliance of Jim Schwartz’s scheme: “What you’re getting a ton of is you’re getting a ton of five and six man fronts. Whether they bring six or not is irrelevant because the offense has to prepare for it and assume that they’re bringing six. And then they’re creating these one-on-one matchups for these guys that are just really tough to block. So that’s what I mean by sustainability. That ability to create those one on one matchups is what Schwartz does very well.”
This approach doesn’t just benefit Garrett. It creates opportunities for the entire defensive front to feast, with Mason Graham, Maliek Collins and others capitalizing on the attention Garrett commands. The result is a defense that gradually wears down opponents through consistent pressure — essentially “body punching” them into submission over four quarters.
As the Browns prepare to face Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, this defensive front represents Cleveland’s best chance at containing Baltimore’s explosive offense. The Ravens’ offensive line struggled at times against Buffalo, and if Garrett and company can exploit those weaknesses, they could disrupt the timing and rhythm that makes Baltimore so dangerous.
The Browns’ defense has shown it can dominate. Now, the question becomes whether they can replicate that performance against a Ravens offense that presents a completely different challenge than Cincinnati’s more traditional approach.
Don’t miss the chance to see if Myles Garrett and this defensive front can continue their superhero performance against one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Tune in Sunday to witness what could be the determining factor in this heated divisional showdown.
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