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Browns' front seven is an early bright spot for 2025 season | The Huddle

The front seven has also totaled six sacks in the first two weeks of the season

HuddleWeek2_9.15.25

The Browns' defense set high expectations for the 2025 season – dominate opposing offenses in their attack-style defensive scheme.

Through the first two weeks of the regular season, their front seven has shown promise in their ability to do so. While the Browns are 0-2 after losing to the Bengals and Ravens in the first two weeks of the season, the defense has found ways to limit key aspects of two AFC North offenses.

"The biggest thing is our defensive line is much, much improved over last year and I think we've got back to our personality," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said on Sept. 4. "When we play our best, our D-line leads us there as our engine."

The defensive line has been that engine in a young 2025 season. The Browns have allowed the least number of yards per game in the NFL, averaging 191.5 total yards per game. They have given up the fewest average rushing yards per game with 45.5 and are ranked third in the NFL in passing yards per game at 146.0 – just behind the Bills and the Falcons.

The Browns have also gone 30 straight games without allowing a 300-yard passer, the longest active streak in the NFL. In Week 1, QB Joe Burrow completed 14 of 23 passes for 113 passing yards and one touchdown. QB Lamar Jackson threw for 225 passing yards on 19 of 29 passes.

The pass rush has applied ample pressure on the quarterbacks, collapsing the pocket and forcing quarterbacks to scramble. Against the Ravens, the Browns recorded five quarterback hits on Jackson, as well as three sacks. Against the Bengals, they totaled seven quarterback hits and three sacks on Burrow.

DE Myles Garrett has played a critical role in the early success of the defensive line. In facing Burrow and Jackson, Garrett has recorded 3.5 sacks, leading the team, as well as 10 tackles, six tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.

Yet, that pressure isn't just coming from Garrett – the Browns are getting crucial production from their rookie in DT Mason Graham as well as more experienced players up and down the line. DE Isaiah McGuire recorded the third consecutive sack against Burrow in Week 1, while DE Cameron Thomas recorded half a sack with Garrett against Jackson. From the second level of the defense, LB Devin Bush broke through the Ravens' offensive line to also bring down Jackson for a sack.

Outside of the pressure on the quarterbacks, the Browns' run defense has found success early – in large part due to the front seven. In Week 1, they limited the Bengals to 46 net rushing yards, while in Week 2, they held the Ravens to 45 net rushing yards. The eight tackles for loss in Week 1 and the five tackles for loss in Week 2 keep opposing rushers from getting past the line of scrimmage for positive yardage and forcing opposing offenses to play from behind the sticks.

"As far as stopping the run, we did a solid job in keeping both of them contained on the ground," Garrett said following the 41-17 loss to the Ravens.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski also highlighted the collective effort put into the run defense to help stop the run specifically against the Ravens. While the front seven plays an important role in the run defense, Bush reiterated all three levels of the defense have contributed to the success of the run defense.

"Stopping the run is a collective thing," Bush said. "It's all 11, it's not just the front seven or the linebackers or the safeties. It takes all of us to go out there and be in the right positions and know which runs are coming out of which sets, playing together and stopping the run together."

That collective effort as a defense – not only in their run defense, but also their pass rush and coverage – will play a role in their overall success as a unit throughout the season.

The early results show they are on track to live up to the standard they set for themselves as a defense. Led by Garrett on the edge and the presence of Graham and DT Maliek Collins on the interior pass rush, their defensive line has the durability to be the engine of their defense. Their linebackers serve as that nerve center, with rookie LB Carson Schwesinger wearing the green dot and playing a critical role as the signal caller for the defense. As the front seven, they are showing signs of the dominance they all have aspired to demonstrate, setting the tone for their attack-style defense and working towards their goals for the 2025 season.

Browse action photos from the Browns' 2025 Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens, featuring top plays and moments.

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