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Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 16 game against the San Diego Chargers.
Defensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| DL | Emmanuel Ogbah | 57 | 84% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). |
| DL | Carl Nassib | 53 | 78% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
| DL | Jamie Meder | 43 | 63% | 1 assist (1 combined). 1 QH. |
| DL | Danny Shelton | 40 | 59% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
I knew something different was in store for the Browns' defensive line rotation before the game when Tyrone Holmes, Gabe Wright, and Stephen Paea were all inactive. The big difference was that instead of splitting time between Paea and Wright, they let Nassib play the majority of the game. Meder could be argued as the MVP of the game for his field goal block.
Outside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| OLB | Jamie Collins |
68 | 100% | 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 1 TFL, 1 QH. |
| OLB | Cam Johnson |
34 | 50% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| OLB | Joe Schobert |
2 | 3% | No stats registered. |
Nassib saw more playing time on the defensive line, but Schobert didn't get that same benefit at outside linebacker as Johnson continues to get work over him. The Browns seemed to win this game as a collective unit, so Collins didn't have to be a one-man wrecking crew like I've been calling for.
Inside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| ILB | Christian Kirksey | 68 | 100% | 6 tackles, 3 assists (9 combined). 1 TFL. |
| ILB | Demario Davis | 23 | 34% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| ILB | Tank Carder |
3 | 4% | No stats registered. |
Kirksey led the team with nine tackles. Davis' work was cut down from last week, as he played a third of the game and registered one assist. Carder got a couple of snaps in.
Safety
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| S | Ed Reynolds |
68 | 100% | 4 tackles, 3 assists (7 combined). 2 QH. |
| S | Tramon Williams |
63 | 93% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 TFL, 2 passes defended. |
| S | Tracy Howard |
25 | 37% | 1 assist (1 combined). 1 pass defended. |
My man crush for the 2016 season is officially squarely on Reynolds. He did have one gaffe in the first quarter in which he bit for the run and left Gates wide open for a touchdown, but at first-and-goal from the one yard line, you're not going to stop the opposition very often anyway. Williams had arguably his best game of the season -- if there is any way he stays with the club in 2017, it'll be as a veteran safety. Howard had a nice hit on Gates late in the game to force an incompletion.
Cornerback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| CB | Jamar Taylor | 64 | 94% | 2 tackles, 3 assists (5 combined). 1 INT, 3 passes defended. |
| CB | Briean Boddy-Calhoun | 52 | 76% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). |
| CB | Joe Haden | 39 | 57% | 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). |
| CB | Marcus Burley |
1 | 1% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
Taylor has answered the call after his contract extension. He had two big plays in this one: intercepting a pass (the team's first pick in over a month) and deflecting a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Boddy-Calhoun continues to not be targeted. Haden gave up a big first play to Benjamin, but was otherwise fine before leaving with a neck injury.