CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns’ defense has shouldered the load for this team.
But they collapsed under it in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. QB Carson Wentz led a 10-play, 80-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown, practically ending the game with just 25 seconds left to play. It was a disappointing result for a defense looking to mirror — or even exceed — a historic 2023 season.
This defense is elite at its “fastball” as defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has said. Outside the red zone, the Browns dominate with their proven formula: elite four-man pass rush + elite man coverage.
It’s an aggressively simple scheme that often punishes lesser talent.
But inside the 20, they completely unravel.
Browns Red Zone Passing Defense
2023
34.6% TD rate allowed (31st in NFL)
0.40 EPA/play allowed (32nd)
2025
38.9% TD rate allowed (31st)
0.54 EPA/play allowed (32nd)
Expected Points Added (EPA) is a great way to quantify how valuable each play is in terms of points based on down, distance, and field position. EPA assesses the “value” of a play in an intuitive way. A 4-yard gain on third-and-3 is more valuable than a 4-yard gain on second-and-15. In the box score, both 4-yard gains would show up equally in the stat sheet. EPA considers these plays to be very different. (Data sourced from Sports Info Solutions)
Red-zone defense can be a volatile statistic, but when an otherwise elite unit posts two abysmal seasons in that area, it points to something more structural. In both healthy years under Schwartz, the Browns’ red-zone defense has been the worst at defending the pass. The problem is their defensive strengths are exactly what makes them a liability in the red zone.
The red zone shrinks the field and speeds everything up. Offenses get the ball out quickly, and as a result, four-man pass rushes are less effective since the ball is often gone before pressure can land. Man coverage also becomes much harder to play, as offenses use a lot of motion and pick/rub concepts in the red zone to create traffic and chaos.
The Vikings did exactly that. They were 2 for 2 in the red zone, Wentz had the quickest time to throw (2.43 seconds) in Week 5, and they held Myles Garrett to his second-lowest pressure rate in a game since 2021, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Their game plan was systematically designed to take advantage of the Browns’ every weakness.
Here’s a closer look:
(Q4 - 00:59) On a 3rd and 4, the Vikings run a motion play against the Browns man coverage. CB Myles Harden (#26) is assigned to WR Jordan Addison (#3) on this play.
Browns vs. Vikings.cleveland.com
(Q4 - 00:59) On a third-and-4, the Vikings run a motion play against the Browns’ man coverage. CB Myles Harden (#26) is assigned to WR Jordan Addison (#3) on this play.
Browns vs. Vikings.
Browns vs. Vikings.cleveland.com
As a result, Harden has to navigate the traffic, leaving Addison wide open in the flat. This is an example of how offenses attack the Browns’ in the red zone with motion.
Browns vs. Vikings.
Browns vs. Vikings.cleveland.com
The Vikings would convert this crucial third down and score the game-winning touchdown two plays later.
Offenses have watched the film on this defense and are starting to produce answers. Vanilla four-man rushes with Cover 1 behind it doesn’t scare anyone on a quick slant. It scares offenses on third-and-long, not in the red zone.
Schwartz must find ways to adjust his approach in the red zone. That doesn’t mean abandoning what makes this defense elite, it means incorporating more wrinkles.
They could play more zone-match principles, where Denzel Ward (78.9 career passer rating allowed) has performed well. This is much better than simply playing spot drop coverage, where Ward in particular really struggles. He was to blame for the Vikings’ game-winning touchdown.
Browns vs. Vikings.
Browns vs. Vikings.cleveland.com
In this spot drop zone coverage, Ward’s job is to funnel the receiver inside to the safety. Instead, he lets the receiver get outside for a wide open touchdown.
It would also be great to see more post-snap rotation to disguise their coverages. This often forces the quarterback to hold onto the ball longer — as they have to process new information — giving the pass rush more time to generate pressure.
Whatever it may be, the Browns desperately need a complementary pitch. Because right now, opponents are starting to game plan against their strengths. Offenses know the pass rush is elite, they know the coverage is elite, and they are finding ways to mitigate it. The Vikings had Wentz at quarterback behind an offensive line ravaged by injury. Yet they were the ones who had the answers at the end of the game.
This defense will face Aaron Rodgers and Tua Tagovailoa in the next two weeks. Both QBs get the ball out quickly, 2.52 and 2.69 seconds, which ranks first and ninth in the league, respectively. These games will be a great litmus test on whether the Browns can adjust to what offenses are doing.
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