Through the first two games of the season, Packers QB Jordan Love hasn't turned the ball over. In the same vein, the Browns' defense has yet to get its first takeaway of the season.
After recording 12 takeaways, including four interceptions, in the 2024 season, Cleveland's defense made it a goal to increase those numbers in 2025.
However, head coach Kevin Stefanski wants to make sure that the players on defense emphasize playing defense and not hunting for takeaways. To Stefanski, the defense's job is to run to the football on every play and play sound defense in the process. Facing a Green Bay offense that likes throwing the ball down the field, sound defense is a necessity.
"Our focus is playing our defense, playing it with great effort, and then obviously taking the ball away in those moments when it allows us," Stefanski said. "The idea that we want to just take it away, we want to play great defense and then take the ball away when we are presented those opportunities."
The Browns nearly had their first takeaway of the season when CB Cameron Mitchell punched the ball free from Ravens RB Derrick Henry's hands. The Ravens, however, recovered the football and scored a play later to take a 10-0 lead in Week 2.
The Packers have the sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL, in part due to their ability to hold onto the ball during their drives, and Green Bay has yet to give the ball away through two games. If the Browns can force a fumble like they did against Baltimore, recovering the ball is imperative to potentially stop the Packers from scoring. Just as vital for Cleveland is limiting and containing Green Bay's explosive plays through the air.
When the Browns faced Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in Week 2, he attempted 14 passes that travelled 15 or more yards through the air, looking to move the ball down the field with one play. Jackson went 9-for-14 on such throws, including throwing four touchdown passes.
Against the Commanders in Week 2, Love attempted eight passes of 15 or more yards through the air. The Commanders held Love to three completions on such throws, sticking to the wide receivers to prevent them from completing the catch. Following a game in which Jackson connected with his receivers down the field, the Browns will have another tailored game plan for Love's skillset, who employs a similar philosophy.
"It's a tremendous offensive attack that Coach (Matt) LaFleur has going," Stefanski said. "Like we talked about the quarterback making great decisions, but they have the ability to throw it to all their guys – whether it's the receivers, the tight ends or the running backs. And it comes in a variety of scheme. It can be hard play action shots down the field. They can spread you out very quickly with some of the things they do. They're an excellent motion team. So, it's a great, great challenge. But there's certainly a number of guys on their offense that they try to get the ball to."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) and Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
With Green Bay airing the ball down the field, cornerbacks like Denzel Ward or Greg Newsome II will be targeted. Before the game against Baltimore, Ward said he likes to be wherever the ball is so he can make a play. Against Green Bay, there is potential for a heavy fill of pass coverage opportunities.
While Love's top targets include TE Tucker Kraft and WR Romeo Doubs, he likes to spread the ball around to all of his receivers, targeting 11 different receivers through two games in 2025. Love's willingness to spread the ball around opens the opportunity for all of the Browns cornerbacks to get involved in defending the passing game in Week 3.
"He's a great quarterback. He can make all the throws on the field," Ward said. "He's spreading the ball around to all the wide receivers, so everybody's going to get their targets and get their chances."
Once Love targets the Browns corners, Ward said the key to trying to get a takeaway is being head-on in coverage and not overanalyzing the situation. If the secondary can stick to their assignments, they will have the opportunity to get an interception like they've been looking for.
"Doing your job, doing your technique, and the players are going to come to you. Just locking in once they do come, finishing them and then taking the ball away," Ward said. "So really nothing too spectacular but just doing your job and taking the ball away."
In addition to getting their first takeaway, the Browns are trying to get their first win of the season. Limiting explosive Green Bay plays and solid pass coverage could play its part against the Packers, who have yet to lose their first game. Causing takeaways will also help slow down Green Bay by giving extra possessions to the Browns' offense.
"Yeah, all it takes is one win," Ward said. "We are focused on getting that first win of the season. It takes one and then build on top of that, and that's the goal going into this week."
