Let’s just get this out of the way 🙄
Yes, the Browns offense was bad. Really bad. Really, really, bad… But to quote a famous Omar Epps doppelgänger, “We do not care”; you can only play who’s on your schedule. Sure, Cleveland may be weak but the Washington defense did exactly what they needed to do to the Browns offense by obliterating them on Sunday afternoon.
The Good:
Washington didn’t play with their food. The Browns were 1 for 13 on third down conversions and a good chunk of their production came during garbage time as Washington had a commanding 28-point lead on the team. They didn’t let Cooper kill them and took advantage of downright awful QB play from Deshaun Watson.
The Bad:
Quan Martin dropped an interception and Emmanuel “Should’ve been Gonzales” Forbes only played four snaps. That’s it, that’s all the bad I can give you this week!
Two Up 👍
FRANKIE LUVU!!!! (PFF Grade: 80.6)
Man, what more can I say about "Uce"? He is the heart of the defense and he was everywhere yesterday versus the Browns. I cannot stress how much this man is causing havoc on opposing defenses. Even his “down” games so far this season have been better than anything more highly touted players for this team have done the last few seasons.
Mikey Sanristil (PFF Grade: 67.4)
You would think with his size that Sanristil would be better in the slot. However, in the last few games, he’s been playing on the outside and he’s surviving. For a rookie, he’s going to get tested by fire for the remainder of the season but I believe he will make an impact this season.
Again, I can't give two down this week. So...
Two MORE Up 👍👍
Da'Ron Payne (PFF Grade: 76.8)
It, no pun intended, pained me to put Da’Ron Payne in the two-down section a few weeks ago, but he wasn't playing well. Well, that changed on Sunday with a noticeable performance vs Cleveland. If he and John Allen can continue to improve and get as close to their full potential as possible, the defense will explode!
Bobby Wagner (PFF Grade: 72.6)
If Luvu is the heart of the defense, Wagner is the brain. Again, he does struggle versus the pass, but it's expected for a vet his age. I remember similar things happening to London Fletcher back in the day. However, most of the time, it has to be an A-grade level pass and route; if it's not, it could be a pick. Having said that, Wagner made an impact on the game with a crucial strip sack that led to Luvu's fumble recovery. Even with the liability he sometimes brings versus the pass, Wagner is still a good player and will continue to be a plus for this defense.
Season Progressive Grade
Week 4 Grade: A
Season Grade: C
Defensive Rankings:
Total YPG: 328.0 (14th, Last Week: 26th)
Pass YPG: 198.0 (13th, Last Week: 21st)
Run YPG: 130.0 (22nd, Last Week: 23rd)
3rd Down Conversion Rate: 43.63% (23rd, Last Week: 32nd)
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, the defense will get cooked next week. They are going against a QB who has the same type of skills as their QB but he’s a two-time MVP. Though Daniels Vs Lamar has the makings of a classic, the defense will get torched and how they figure out how to limit the damage will be how they're graded, by me, next week…
Photo credits: Commanders.com
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