Browns’ defense sets tone as team battles on
The Browns (7-6) salvaged their season and kept alive their playoff hopes with a 24-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Not all was perfect. Far from it. But the victory, as unnecessarily dramatic as it was, proved the Browns want to fight together. Their effort on defense was a throwback to 2020, when they overcame every obstacle COVID-19 threw at them to make their first playoff appearance since 2002 and reach the divisional round.
One of the Browns' scores came on Myles Garrett's first career touchdown, a strip-sack and 15-yard fumble return. On the same play, Garrett set the Browns' single-season sack record with 15.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Denzel Ward saved the season, Clowney with his 10-yard sack of Tyler Huntley with 1:05 to go, Ward with his tackle on Rashod Bateman that limited the receiver to a 2-yard gain with 56 seconds remaining.
“The defense, we was just ready,” Clowney said. “We was just saying, ‘It don't matter what situation they're going to put us in, just go out and play our game.' When they got the onside kick, I just said, ‘That's good . ... ' I didn't have a problem with it. I just wanted to make sure that we went out there and finished, and we did that together.”
Mayfield agreed, saying he felt the defense's determination from the sideline, especially after the Ravens' onside kick bounced off Browns fullback Andy Janovich and was recovered by Ravens safety Chuck Clark with 1:17 remaining.
“All game long you could tell they were locked in,” Mayfield said. “That's why when the onside kick happened, I truly wasn't that worried.”
The game-changing plays by Garrett, Clowney and Ward were the kind expected from the Browns' upgraded defense all year, but they have been especially crucial as of late.
“You always want to find your groove towards the end of the season. I feel we're coming on strong, working collectively as an entire defense and just got to finish strong,” said Ward.
Friday afternoon, the Browns' season seemed on the verge of circling the drain.
On Sunday evening, all their dreams — and those of their fans — were revived, and the defense deserved the credit.