With two weeks left in their home slate, the Cleveland Browns are preparing for a critical showdown against the surging Buffalo Bills this Sunday. The Browns, mired in their third three-game losing streak of the season, are looking to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, the Bills are trending in the opposite direction - winners of three straight and locked in a tight race with the Patriots atop the AFC East.
The matchup brings a tough challenge for Cleveland, especially with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders under center. Buffalo has made a habit of feasting on rookie QBs in recent years, going 9-3 against them since 2019 while allowing just 13.6 points and 271 yards per game. That’s not exactly encouraging for a Browns offense averaging just 16 points per contest.
Jim Schwartz: Stop the Run, or Get Run Over
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz isn’t sugarcoating the task ahead. The Browns have given up a combined 326 rushing yards over the past two games, and now they’re facing the league’s top rushing attack.
Buffalo’s ground game isn’t just about James Cook - though his ability to stretch the field horizontally and run with power between the tackles makes him a serious threat. Add in Josh Allen’s legs - over 500 rushing yards himself - and you’ve got a two-headed monster that’s already piled up 2,000 yards between them.
Schwartz put it plainly: “We have as big a challenge as we’ve had the whole season.”
The defensive issues haven’t just been about yardage totals. Schwartz pointed to stretches - like a sequence against Chicago where the Browns gave up four or five consecutive successful runs - that allowed opponents to dictate the game.
That’s the real danger. If Buffalo can control the tempo on the ground, Cleveland’s defense doesn’t get to play to its strength: rushing the passer.
And that has implications beyond just winning the game. Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the NFL sack record is directly tied to the Browns’ ability to stop the run and force long-yardage situations. Schwartz didn’t mince words: “If Buffalo comes out and runs it 60 times, you’re not going to get any sacks.”
It’s all connected. No run defense, no pass rush.
No pass rush, no chaos. And without chaos, Josh Allen is more than capable of picking a defense apart.
Tommy Rees: Still Betting on Jerry Jeudy
On the offensive side, coordinator Tommy Rees is sticking with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, despite a season that hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Jeudy’s numbers - 40 catches for 519 yards - don’t jump off the page, and he was involved in a costly turnover against the Bears. But Rees isn’t backing off his belief in the former first-round pick.
“Every time the ball goes to Jerry, we have trust that it’s going to be a completion,” Rees said. “That’s what Jerry has earned with us.”
The Browns still see Jeudy as a focal point, and they’re working to maximize his strengths. That includes staying locked in on the fundamentals - route precision, mental focus, and trust in the system. The message is clear: the team isn’t giving up on Jeudy, and they believe he can still be a difference-maker down the stretch.
Getting Quinshon Judkins Going
If there’s one area where Cleveland has to get right - and fast - it’s the ground game. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has been quiet lately, failing to crack 50 yards in three of the last four games. That’s a steep drop-off from earlier in the season, when he had only two such games in his first nine.
The good news? Buffalo’s defense has been vulnerable against the run, giving up 143.1 rushing yards per game. Rees knows that’s an opportunity the Browns have to seize.
“We have to find the ability to run the ball,” he said. “When you can run the ball well, it really opens up a lot of things.”
That includes keeping Sanders out of third-and-long situations and giving the offense a chance to stay balanced. For a rookie quarterback still finding his footing, a strong run game isn’t just helpful - it’s essential.
Bubba Ventrone: Back to Basics on Special Teams
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone is focused on fixing the fundamentals. Cleveland’s coverage units have struggled, particularly on kickoffs and punts, and Ventrone pointed to poor execution of basic principles - leveraging blocks, shedding, tackling - as the root cause.
“When we’ve had issues, we’re not executing those necessary fundamentals,” he said. “We’re not leveraging the ball well enough.”
The breakdowns have been costly, and with a team that’s already fighting uphill battles on offense and defense, special teams miscues only make things harder.
There was a bright spot last week: kicker Andre Szmyt nailed a 50-yard field goal in frigid conditions - Cleveland’s only points in a loss to Chicago. Ventrone praised the rookie’s resilience and execution.
“For him to bounce back after that first game and reset - he’s had really good practice weeks,” Ventrone said. “He’s done a good job throughout the season.”
The Bottom Line
Sunday’s matchup against Buffalo is a litmus test for the Browns. Can the defense bottle up one of the league’s most dynamic rushing attacks?
Can the offense find rhythm behind a rookie quarterback and a struggling run game? And can the special teams unit finally tighten up the loose ends?
The answers to those questions will determine whether Cleveland can snap its losing streak - or whether the Bills will keep rolling right through them.