3 big takeaways from the Browns’ loss to the Commanders

The defense showed early signs of improvement before faltering

After defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and the players pointed out the need to attack better, play with more intensity from the jump and communicate throughout the week, the Browns’ defense answered the call early in the game.

On the Commanders’ opening drive, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah hit RB Brian Robinson Jr. for a loss of one yard. Then, two plays later, on a third-and-10, DE Za’Darius Smith sacked QB Jayden Daniels for a loss of 10 yards, forcing the Commanders to punt – just their fifth of the season.

Their intensity continued as Owusu-Koramoah intercepted Daniels’ pass in the red zone intended for TE Zach Ertz on the goal line. It was only Daniels’ second interception this season.

They still had some mistakes, like when S Grant Delpit failed to bring down Robinson Jin in the red zone, resulting in a touchdown, or when RB Austin Ekeler had a chance to break tackles and run 20 yards in the second quarter . They also allowed a 34-yard run by Daniels as he tried to keep the ball. Daniels’ run put the Commanders in the red zone for Robinson’s touchdown. They also gave up a 41-yard touchdown pass to WR Dyami Brown at the end of the first half with only CB Martin Emerson Jr. in coverage.

“We have to be in the right positions,” DE Myles Garrett said. “It makes tackling a lot easier when you’re where you need to be and you’re cornering an opponent rather than trying to run across the field to make the tackle. So we just have to be where we need to be and execute.”

The Browns got off to another strong start in the second half when Owusu-Koramoah punched out the ball and forced the turnover on the first play. Emerson Jr. picked up the ball, provided the necessary takeaway and set the Browns up for good field position on offense.

However, as the game progressed, the defense’s ability to shut down the Commanders and Daniels began to weaken. With the defense so stout on the field, they struggled to attack as hard as they had earlier in the game and gave up big plays. The Commanders had a total of 12 explosive plays throughout the game, giving up 17 points in the second quarter and 10 points in the third quarter. Daniels completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 238 yards and a touchdown and 82 rushing yards.

Still, Garrett said they need to play complementary football in all three phases of the ball.

“We started getting stops, holding them, getting them punting and getting takeaways; but we have to continue to do that,” Garrett said. “It doesn’t matter if they don’t have the most points this week. If we limit them to fewer points, then we have done our job. We can’t keep paying attention to the offense and expecting more and more. We have to expect more from ourselves. We all have a job to do individually and as a team.

Garrett said that as both defenders and players, they have had conversations over the last two weeks about the need to improve their game. Now it needs to be translated into the field.

“I think we’re not playing at the level we set last year,” Garrett said. “I think we have taken a step backwards to this point. So we have to figure out what we lost last year and improve on it. We have to go back and search for souls.”