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Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Defensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| DL | Emmanuel Ogbah | 53 | 75% | 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 TFL, 1 QH. |
| DL | Jamie Meder | 49 | 69% | 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 TFL, 1 QH. |
| DL | Carl Nassib | 47 | 66% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH. |
| DL | Danny Shelton | 47 | 66% | 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). |
| DL | Xavier Cooper |
35 |
49% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
| DL | Gabe Wright |
14 |
20% | No stats registered. |
| DL | Tyrone Holmes |
10 |
14% | No stats registered. |
After only having four defensive linemen play a week ago, the Browns were back to seven this week. Nassib's recent surge in playing time continued, and he even got a touch sack while Landry Jones was on the ground. It was nice to see Ogbah and Meder make plays behind the line of scrimmage, and I thought Shelton bottled up the running game again.
Outside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| OLB | Jamie Collins |
64 | 90% | 9 tackles, 1 assist (10 combined). |
| OLB | Joe Schobert |
21 | 30% | 2 tackles (2 combined). |
Collins had 10 tackles, but the play that stood out to me was the one he didn't make as he lost DeAngelo Williams on a tackle, which led to a touchdown. Schobert got the start for the injured Cam Johnson, but only played 30% of the snaps.
Inside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| ILB | Christian Kirksey | 71 | 100% | 10 tackles, 1 assist (11 combined). 1 sack, 3 TFL, 2 QH. |
| ILB | Demario Davis | 31 | 44% | 5 tackles, 2 assists (7 combined). 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH. |
| ILB | Tank Carder |
11 | 15% | No stats registered. |
Kirksey and Davis both logged sacks. After a few down games in the second half of the season, Kirksey finished this one out strong, including three tackles for losses.
Safety
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| S | Ed Reynolds |
71 | 100% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 pass defended. |
| S | Tramon Williams |
70 | 99% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
| S | Tracy Howard |
1 | 1% | No stats registered. |
How can you not love how Reynolds stabilized the safety position to end the year? I'll give credit to Williams too -- I thought he settled into the role adequately to end the year. I didn't realize that Reynolds had started three games for the Eagles last year -- no wonder he didn't look like a deer in the headlights.
Cornerback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| CB | Jamar Taylor | 70 | 99% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| CB | Joe Haden | 64 | 90% | 4 tackles, 1 assist (5 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| CB | Briean Boddy-Calhoun | 46 | 65% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 interception, 2 passes defended. |
| CB | Marcus Burley |
6 | 8% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
Taylor ended the season strong, with the Steelers only getting one catch on him for three yards. Boddy-Calhoun started hot with an interception, but his pick six was wiped away when he fumbled the ball as he entered the end zone. Then, in the closing moments of the game, he was beaten twice, including for the game-winning touchdown. He'll want to wipe this one off his resume, but I'm not discouraged by what he can bring next year. I am glad the season is over for Haden's sake, so that he can have his surgeries. It sucks playing through limiting injuries and not being able to be the type of player you know you can be.