The Cleveland Browns' defense had its hands full in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, and the tape tells a story that’s more nuanced than the final score might suggest. Yes, Cleveland gave up three touchdowns, but context matters - and in this case, field position told a big part of the story.
Each of the 49ers’ touchdown drives started deep in Browns territory: at the 16, 32, and 18-yard lines. That’s not exactly a recipe for defensive success, especially when you’re constantly backed up and trying to hold off one of the league’s most efficient offenses.
The one drive that felt truly earned by San Francisco came just before halftime, when Brock Purdy orchestrated a quick push into field goal range. Outside of that, Cleveland’s defense was constantly put in tough spots, thanks in large part to special teams miscues and offensive turnovers.
But here’s the frustrating part: even in those short-field situations, the Browns had chances to get off the field. On those three touchdown drives alone, San Francisco faced third down seven times - and converted every single one.
We’re talking about 3rd-and-8, 3rd-and-1, 3rd-and-2, 3rd-and-5… you name it. Seven third downs, seven conversions.
That’s a backbreaker for any defense, no matter how talented.
Let’s take a closer look at the individual performances behind those numbers, starting with the defensive line.
Defensive Line: Garrett Still Dominant, But Depth Being Tested
Myles Garrett continues to be the engine that drives this defense. He played 91% of the snaps - a massive workload for a defensive lineman - and still delivered with five combined tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. That sack marked his 19th of the season, and he graded out as the Browns’ second-best defender this week with a 78.6, per PFF.
But the help around him is thinning. Maliek Collins, who had been quietly putting together a strong season, went down with a quad injury.
That’s a tough blow, especially with the Browns already relying on a rotation of young and unproven players. Mike Hall and Sam Kamara are likely to see increased snaps moving forward, and they had very different showings this week.
Hall struggled mightily, earning a 28.6 grade from PFF - a number that reflected his issues in run defense. Kamara, on the other hand, held his own and graded out at 71.4, the fifth-best on the defense.
Shelby Harris and Mason Graham chipped in solid efforts, both logging over 30 snaps and combining for eight tackles. Graham also added a quarterback hit, continuing to show flashes of disruption in the interior. Cameron Thomas and Isaiah McGuire were active in the rotation as well, but neither made a significant impact statistically.
With injuries mounting, the Browns will need more consistency from their depth pieces - especially if Garrett is going to continue carrying such a heavy load.
Linebackers: Schwesinger Steady Again
Carson Schwesinger continues to be a bright spot in the middle of the field. He played nearly every snap (94%) and racked up 10 combined tackles, including a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
PFF backed up the eye test this week, grading him as the Browns’ third-best defender with a 75.9. His run fits and tackling have been a stabilizing force for a unit that’s been shuffled quite a bit this season.
Devin Bush had a quieter day - seven combined tackles but not much splash - while Mohamoud Diabate and Jerome Baker saw limited action. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold was on the field for just four snaps and didn’t register a stat.
The linebacker group has been solid, if unspectacular, but Schwesinger’s emergence as a reliable every-down player is giving Cleveland a much-needed anchor in the middle.
Cornerbacks: Ward’s Rollercoaster Season Continues
It’s been an up-and-down year for Denzel Ward, and this week fell on the “down” side of that trend. He played 93% of the snaps but finished as the second-lowest graded defender on the team with a 46.9. Statistically, he wasn’t targeted much - just one tackle on the day - but there’s still that one or two plays each game where you’re left wanting more from a player of his caliber.
Tyson Campbell played every snap and was more active, finishing with six combined tackles and two passes defended. Myles Harden continued to hold down the nickel role and quietly had another solid outing. He graded out at 74.4, the fourth-highest on the defense, and has been a steady presence in that slot corner spot.
Sam Webb saw minimal action and didn’t register a stat.
Safeties: Hickman Makes His Presence Felt
Ronnie Hickman had one of his better games of the season. He was all over the field, finishing with eight combined tackles and a pass breakup. He played 93% of the snaps and looked comfortable in coverage and run support alike.
Grant Delpit was steady, if not spectacular, with four combined tackles, while Rayshawn Jenkins contributed four assists in a rotational role. Donovan McMillon and Chris Edmonds were limited to just four snaps each and didn’t factor into the stat sheet.
The safety group has been a bit of a revolving door at times this year, but Hickman’s performance is a promising sign - especially with the Browns needing more playmakers on the back end as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Final Thoughts
This Browns defense is still playing with fire, even if the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect it. When the offense and special teams put them in tough situations, it’s hard to expect perfection.
But those seven third-down conversions on three short-field touchdown drives? That’s the kind of thing that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
There’s no question this unit has talent - Garrett is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level, Schwesinger is coming into his own, and guys like Campbell and Hickman are making plays. But with injuries piling up and depth being tested, the margin for error is getting thinner.
If Cleveland wants to stay in the playoff hunt, they’ll need to tighten up those third-down situations and get more consistent contributions from the next men up. Because as good as Garrett is, he can’t do it alone.