As the preseason continues, the Browns' defense is buying more and more into defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defensive style.

Throughout the preseason, the personality of a Schwartz-led defense has become more visible – fast, hard and physical play.

The defensive personality has showcased itself in Cleveland's two preseason games, allowing 16 points combined, notching two interceptions and holding the Panthers and Eagles to an average of 169.5 yards. In the Browns 22-13 win against the Eagles, Philadelphia's offense could only muster 88 total yards and six points.

"I think you see the speed to the ball. I think you see guys playing hard, playing physical," head coach Kevin Stefanski. "Coach (Jim) Schwartz and the defensive staff do a great job of coaching that out of our players. It's natural in most of our players but there's a style to which we play, and I think it's been on display the last couple of weeks."

Throughout the preseason, the defense has been tested. Joint practices against the Panthers and Eagles saw high temperatures, as well as high-caliber competition.

Across two weeks, three practices and two games, the Browns' defense was called on to contain players on the Panthers and Eagles like QB Jalen Hurts, QB Bryce Young, RB Saquon Barkley and WR Adam Thielen. Then, the defensive line also had the added factor of facing players like Panthers G Robert Hunt or Eagles T Lane Johnson in the trenches. However, when faced with the challenge, the defense thrived. In the trenches, the defensive line stuffed up runs and put pressure on both Hurts and Young, forcing them both to scramble out of the pocket and make throws on the run.

Cornerbacks Tony Brown II and Myles Harden both forced turnovers on pass plays, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble, respectively, in the joint practice with the Panthers. In Philadelphia, CB Denzel Ward went 1-on-1 with WR DeVonta Smith, finding ways to keep the ball out of his hands. Ward even went so far as to talk to Smith about what he does during 1-on-1 battles, trying to improve his game.

"We continue to come together as a team. But just that competition level and going against different guys, seeing different schemes, going against different players, that's how the season is going to be," Ward said on Aug. 19. "Just going out there and then getting to work, it was hot out there and just putting ourselves in a different feeling and situation, I think was good for the team."

The defense, though, took another step when the cameras were rolling and the score started counting for something.

Against the Panthers, after surrendering a touchdown in the first quarter, the Browns' defense didn't allow another point until there was 1:57 left in the game. The defense swarmed the ball carrier with 25 defensive players recording a tackle. Cleveland got to the quarterback, hitting the signal caller seven times and sacking them four times.

In Philadelphia, the story of the first preseason game carried over. While the defense only recorded one sack, the pressure in the backfield resulted in a pick-six. DE Julian Okwara beat his man on the edge and hit Eagles QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, propelling the ball into the air. DE K.J. Henry then caught the airborne ball and took it 45 yards to the end zone.

A week after allowing 40 rushing yards against the Panthers, the Browns allowed fewer yards on the ground to the Eagles, holding Philadelphia to 33 yards and 1.7 yards per carry. Due to the quarterback pressure, the passing game had a hard time gaining traction, forcing the quarterbacks to throw shorter passes, averaging 2.2 yards per pass.

With the starters not playing the majority, if at all, of the first two preseason games, it has given the Browns a chance to show the depth that their defense possesses. For players like Ward, it's a chance for them to see how players they are mentoring look in an NFL game.

"Yeah, it's exciting. We're working hard and to be able to see plays out there being made and your work show on the field, I think that's the fun part about the game," Ward said. "Those guys, they've been playing hard. I know (CB Dom Jones), he's been doing a great job and making plays out there, shutting guys down and that's just what it's all about."

For a defense that was top of the NFL in 2023, the Browns' defense has talked among themselves this offseason about how to regain that defensive stature in 2025. Part of that is increasing their takeaways. Another part is players stepping up, fully embodying the attack-first mentality of their unit. Throughout the preseason, though, the Browns' defense has proven they are up to the test.

"It's just a building block. (We're) taking it a day at a time," Ward said. "So, I think that was good progression on to trying to get to where we want to get to and I think we're going to get there. But we just have to take it a day at a time, gain a game at a time, and everything else will take care of itself."