CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns defense has been a tale of two units. Up front, they boast one of the NFL’s most intimidating defensive lines, anchored by superstar Myles Garrett. But behind that wall of strength lies a vulnerable secondary that was thoroughly exposed in their loss to Baltimore — and could be in for another long day against the Green Bay Packers.
As Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock pointed out on this week’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, the Baltimore game revealed serious concerns about Cleveland’s depth in the defensive backfield: “With Denzel Ward missing so much time in that Ravens game, I thought Cam Mitchell obviously got exposed a handful of times. He was on three of those touchdown passes.”
This exposure came primarily through backup corners being thrust into prominent roles when Ward went down with cramps. Mitchell and Myles Harden found themselves in coverage situations they couldn’t handle, giving Lamar Jackson easy targets in crucial moments.
The concern only grows as the Browns prepare to face a Packers team with a diversified passing attack led by Jordan Love. As Bastock noted, “Jordan Love really has multiple weapons,” creating matchup problems across the secondary.
What makes the Packers matchup particularly worrisome is how their offensive scheme, directed by head coach Matt LaFleur, might specifically target Cleveland’s weak spots. Host Dan Labbe framed the upcoming game as a strategic chess match: “I’m really interested to see like Matt LaFleur, who is thought of as one of the best play-callers in the game ... He’s the type of guy that can kind of find your weaknesses and exploit them.”
The podcast conversation highlighted a potential blueprint for attacking Cleveland’s defense that Baltimore may have created. Quarterbacks can acknowledge the fierce pass rush but focus on getting the ball out quickly to targets matched up against the Browns’ depth corners and safeties.
Bastock emphasized this concern: “I think they’re going to have to spend a lot of time on this Browns defensive front. But again, you just kind of worry about everything after that front right now and really the playmaking ability, the situational awareness. ... If it’s defensive stars making those plays, they make those plays. And the Browns don’t necessarily have that luxury right now outside of really a Denzel Ward in the back end.”
The missing element for the Browns’ defense so far has been turnovers. Despite putting consistent pressure on quarterbacks, they haven’t generated the game-changing takeaways that could mask their secondary issues and give their struggling offense short fields.
The Browns face a defensive coordinator’s nightmare: an offense with multiple receiving threats and a smart play-caller who knows how to create mismatches. Tucker Kraft has emerged as a particularly dangerous weapon for Green Bay, with Bastock noting, “He had a breakout game against the Commanders. He was second in the league with 75 total yards after the catch.”
Cleveland’s defensive strategy might need adjustment against Green Bay. Instead of relying primarily on man coverage that exposes their depth issues, they may need more zone looks and creative blitz packages to disrupt Love’s timing.
Ultimately, the Browns’ best defense might be their defensive line. If Garrett, Mason Graham and company can consistently pressure Love without requiring extra blitzers, they could mask their secondary vulnerabilities. But if Green Bay establishes a rhythm in the passing game, the cracks in Cleveland’s armor could quickly become chasms.
Here’s today’s podcast:
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