Browns Defense Being Completely Let Down by Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Offense

Cliches are as much a part of the NFL as first downs. And while some of them are overused and overvalued, none ring more true than “complementary football wins games." Over the last four weeks the Cleveland Browns have not played complementary football, and it is coming back to bite them.

Heading into this season it looked as though the Browns would have a dominant defense but would need to be creative to score points. They had a Pro Bowl corner in Joe Haden, a top-10 pick across from him in Justin Gilbert, newly signed leaders in Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby and a plethora of dominant defensive linemen.

Not only were they not dominant right out of the gate, but they could not even keep up with the surprisingly effective offense. It was quarterback Brian Hoyer and company who carried the load through the first four games. They ranked among the best in the league while the defense scuffled near the bottom of the rankings.

This resulted in a 2-2 record, and they needed the largest road comeback victory in NFL history just to get them to that point. The next week the Browns hosted Pittsburgh and finally played complementary football. It resulted in a 31-10 victory.

Over the next five games the Browns' two sides of the ball picked each other up when it was needed. The defense allowed just over 13 points per game while the offense was averaging over three touchdowns per contest. This resulted in a 4-1 record in that span.

Since that time, however, the defense has continued to ascend while the offense has spiraled out of control. The Browns are averaging less than 17 points per game on offense and won only one of their last four games.

“It’s very frustrating,” safety Donte Whitner said after Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis. “At the end of the day we are a team. Special teams, offense, and defense. It doesn’t go on one side of the ball. We have to get better and do the small things. That is going to help us win these football games.”

Quarterback Brian Hoyer has thrown eight interceptions over that four-game span and only found the end zone once through the air. The defense has created countless opportunities, yet Hoyer and the boys simply cannot capitalize.

"

So updated number by my account: 21 TOs forced by #Browns D in last 8 games. Offense has scored 3 TDs off them, the defense 2 TDs off them.

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) December 8, 2014"

This has been increasingly apparent the last four weeks because it has been highlighted by Hoyer’s poor play. His combined quarterback rating over that period is just 49.1. To put that in perspective, the worst quarterback rating in the league this year is owned by Geno Smith of the New York Jets. His rating is 65.8.

Sunday’s loss was particularly frustrating for the defense because it forced four turnovers and scored two touchdowns. This was against the top-ranked offense in the NFL. That should be more than enough to walk away with a victory and stay in the playoff hunt.

“We went out there and put hands on those guys, played man to man with them,” Whitner added after the game. “We are supposed to come out with a win after four turnovers and two defensive touchdowns, it’s really unacceptable. That’s the way we feel.”

So while the offense definitely let down the defense and you could feel the tension in the locker room after the game, there was no public finger-pointing. Not yet at least.

“Please don’t try and split this team into offense and defense, it’s not about that,” safety Jim Leonhard told the media after the game.

“It’s frustrating, but this is a team game and we’re all one,” said linebacker Paul Kruger. “This is a situation where we (as a defense) could’ve won the game on that last drive so it’s highly disappointing.”

It is disappointing. And while they are saying all the right things, any anger about playing at such a high level and getting nothing from the other side of the ball would be understandable. This defense is good. It is not the same unit that had to be carried through the first four games.

The Browns entered the week ranked ninth in points allowed per game and had forced the fifth-most turnovers. If you take away the first four weeks of the year, the Browns are allowing just 329 yards per game. That would have them ranked eighth best in the NFL.

They are playing good enough to win every week, yet the Browns have lost three of the last four. They are playing good enough to deserve a postseason berth, yet the Browns are ranked 12^th in the AFC and need a miracle run over the final three weeks to get in. It isn’t fair to them and the offense is to blame.

When the Browns finally reach their offseason and evaluate what exactly happened this year, it won’t be pretty for the offensive unit. Injuries are no excuse, either, because the defense has lost its starting nose tackle, starting inside linebacker and starting free safety that were headed to the Pro Bowl. The defense is still getting it done.

Complementary football seems like a distant memory in Cleveland these days. As do the times when the playoffs not only seemed realistic but nearly a certainty for the Browns. It all seems like a lifetime ago now.

All quotes and observations were acquired firsthand unless otherwise noted.