Last season, the Cleveland Browns’ defense was perhaps its brightest spot and the most important asset the team had. If the team is going to advance in 2026, it’ll be because the offense improves while the defense remains strong.
Week 1 showed some glaring holes in the team’s defense, as noted by Daniel Oyefusi on social media. He told readers that the team was missing far too many tackles and came in second behind only the Denver Broncos for missed tackles in Week 1. That led to the blowout loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The defense that once seemed fierce looked tame in some troubling ways.
“The Browns defense had 17 missed tackles against the Jaguars, per @NextGenStats, which only trailed the Denver Broncos for the most in the NFL in Week 1. Cleveland’s missed tackle rate (21.8%) was also the third highest,” Oyefusi said.
The Browns defense had 17 missed tackles against the Jaguars, per @NextGenStats, which only trailed the Denver Broncos for the most in the NFL in Week 1. Cleveland's missed tackle rate (21.8%) was also the third highest.
Todd Monken was asked about the tackling effort on Monday:…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) September 15, 2026
There were worries about Cleveland’s defense this year when they lost their high-value defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz. Incoming DC Mike Rutenberg was tasked with basically picking up where Schwartz left off. They didn’t want the defense to change drastically. Instead, they wanted Rutenberg to carry the torch handed to him.
Obviously, tackling is a major part of any team’s defense. If the Browns are letting their opponents sail past them, they aren’t going to get far this year. Head coach Todd Monken made post-game statements supporting his players and their tackling, but he admitted there is some room for improvement.
There are some fans who may be uneasy with Monken’s support of his team after the loss. A blowout defeat in Week 1 means that there were numerous problems, all of which need to be addressed. It’s important that Monken believes in his team, but he also needs to be honest about their shortcomings.
In Week 1, the Browns simply weren’t delivering enough tackles, and that can’t continue.
NEXT: Rich Eisen Thinks Todd Monken Is Making A Mistake
