Browns’ defensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 7

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

• Obviously, this goes both ways, but in the Cleveland-Cincinnati game, the game finished with 11 consecutive scoring drives by both teams. The Browns had to score a touchdown on all four of their second-half drives in order to overcome what the defense was allowing.
• The Bengals had a bad offensive line heading into the game, and they lost three of their starters during the game. Yes, Joe Burrow once again did a marvelous job, and I remain very impressed by him. But...come on, defense. Whether it’s the defensive line taking over, or the rest of the defense making a play, everyone has to be better.
• Myles Garrett is the exception. The Bengals chipped him for a lot of the game, but when they couldn’t, he registered two sacks and forced a fumble that was eventually recovered by Ronnie Harrison.

• B.J. Goodson logged an interception off of a tip in the first half. He could have had a touchback, but came out of the end zone and was tackled at the 4 yard line, backing Cleveland up on offense for their first drive.

• Besides Garrett, the only other player to make some notable defensive plays was Denzel Ward. He jumped to tip a pass on the Bengals’ first drive, creating an interception for Goodson instead of it being a touchdown. Ward batted away three passes in the game, and also came up with a nice tackle for a loss on a wide receiver screen pass.
• Terrance Mitchell has had a disappointing past two weeks. The frustrating part perhaps is that he has been in position to make some huge plays, but has not come up with them. This week, he had a gimme interception (and possibly pick six) on a play where Burrow had a miscommunication with his receiver. It could have given the Browns a two-possession lead, but instead, the drop allowed Cincinnati to keep driving. Mitchell also was getting beat on back shoulder throws left and right.
• Kevin Johnson connected on a sack with a nickel blitz.
• Joe Burrow threw for 406 yards and ran for 34 more yards. The defense has to be better, plain and simple.

• Surprise, surprise — Andrew Sendejo was targeted early and often in pass coverage again. I get that he sets the secondary (or something) as the veteran, but he’s simply not effective after the whistle. Cleveland needs to make a trade to upgrade at safety. Also, this was the first time this season that Sendejo didn’t play every snap on defense.
• Ronnie Harrison got the start over Karl Joseph and made a great diving recovery on the ball that Garrett stripped from Burrow. Harrison ended up leading the Browns with 9 tackles. Harrison was also the Browns’ highest-graded defended by PFF with a grade of 78.2.
• Sheldrick Redwine batted down the Hail Mary deflection after it looked like Karl Joseph was basically committing pass interference on the initial receiver trying to catch the ball. Yikes!