BEREA — The last time the Cincinnati Bengals opened the season against the Browns, it was a defensive tour de force by Cleveland.
The 2023 opener saw the Browns limit Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow to career lows in completion percentage (45.2%), passing yards (82) and passer rating (52.2). They sacked him twice and recorded 17 total pressures.
The 24-3 win was a tone-setter for a defense that would finish the season No. 1 in multiple statistical categories. It’s kind of performance the individual who would go on to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year that season — All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett — would love to see replicated when the teams open the 2025 season in Cleveland.
“I mean, we’re hoping to do something very similar and keep those guys mostly contained, or as much as possible,” Garrett said Sept. 5, “and strike early, try to put the game away and it’ll turn into a passing game at end the game and let us up front tee off as a four-man front.”
The engine of that 2023 defense was its defensive line, led by Garrett. The Browns believe strongly that the engine of this season’s defense can start there as well.
It’s not just Garrett, whose level of play this training camp both teammates and opponents alike have raved about. It’s the addition of No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham at defensive tackle alongside a veteran addition in Maliek Collins, as well as the development of past draft picks Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire at defensive end.
It’s a group that, before a game has even been played, had defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz catching himself when asked if it had a chance to be the best defensive line he’s coached. At least, the best he’s coached in his three seasons in Cleveland.
“Well, yeah, we’ll see, right?,” Schwartz said Sept. 4. “But I think they have the makings of that. I think one of the biggest things is we’re able to play a true form of attack now because of the those, and we have improved players. … You know, I think we have the makings of it, but, you know, when it’s all said and done, we got to prove it on the field. I like where we’re going, but let’s not crown them just yet.”
The opportunity to back up the lofty preseason hype for the group starts against a Bengals team where the perceived strength of the Browns’ defense runs directly opposed by the perceived weakness of the Cincinnati offense. For all of the high praise doled out about the Cleveland defensive front, the concerns for the Bengals remain what they’ve been throughout Burrow’s career, which is along the offensive line.
Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle has been a Pro Bowler four times, while right tackle Amarius Mims is a 2024 first-round pick Cincinnati has remained high on. Center Ted Karras has been a consummate pro in the middle of the line, but it’s on either side of Karras — rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild and veteran right guard Lucas Patrick — where the Browns could find a real advantage.
That’s where the Browns are hoping their interior pass rush from Graham and Collins, among others, could create real issues for Cincinnati. If they can add that to the rush off the edge from Garrett and others, it could overwhelm the blockers.
“He (Schwartz) wants the D-line to be the engine of the team,” Graham said Sept. 5. “Set the tone for running to the ball because the hardest thing to do is strain against another O-lineman and then run to the ball right after. So if we’re doing it, then everyone else is going to do it and it’s just going to feel like we have 14 guys playing on the field.”
That pressure is going to be critical considering who’s standing behind that Cincinnati offensive line. Burrow is coming off a season where he led the league in pass attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43).
The Browns have had success against him, with 27 sacks in eight games the most any team has sacked Burrow. His 64.57% completion percentage against Cleveland is the lowest for him against any team he’s faced four or more times.
However, the Browns also know that every split second is critical against Burrow, who’s one of the quickest in the league at getting rid of the football.
“He led the league in passing yards, like top three in pass efficiency, getting the ball out faster than anybody else,” Collins said Sept. 3. “He’s a guy that knows exactly where he wants to go with the ball. The challenge to us will be to win faster, try to disrupt that.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns looking to get the ‘engine’ of defense started against Joe Burrow, Bengals
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
