The Cleveland Browns have a tough matchup on Sunday against a surprisingly potent Houston Texans offense that is third in the NFL in passing yards and ninth in scoring. Last year, they rode the league’s most dominant defense to a 12-5 finish after a 3-5 start, but if they want to do the same after this season’s 3-5 start, it will have to be a more balanced attack.
It’s a deceptively dangerous 3-5 opponent that the Browns can’t afford to take lightly. Cleveland is in danger of falling back to .500 in a crowded AFC playoff picture and the team certainly has some things to clean up in order to get back on track.
Safety Grant Delpit recently spoke with the press and pinpointed one area where the defense needs to improve. He noted that the run defense has been subpar and that he and the rest of the crew know this is what needs to be focused on.
“Our run defense is not where it needs to be right now…if I was (another) team, I’d try to run on us, too. We know what we’ve gotta focus on,” Delpit said.
"Our run defense is not where it needs to be right now…if I was (another) team, I'd try to run on us, too. We know what we've gotta focus on." #Browns safety Grant Delpit on the defensive run game struggles in recent weeks pic.twitter.com/nYwUpfo7Le
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 13, 2026
Cleveland’s defense has been good by most metrics outside of defending the run. The Browns are surrendering 130.6 rushing yards per game, which is the sixth-worst in the NFL. Hopefully, last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints was a wake-up call since Audric Estime ran for 72 yards and a touchdown against this defense just days after the Browns cut him.
Fortunately for the Browns, the Texans have one of the league’s worst rushing offenses. They are fourth-worst in the NFL with just 87.1 yards per game and none of their running backs have topped 70 yards in a game this year. If there were ever a week for this defense to get on track when it comes to defending the run, this is the time, especially with the injury report being lighter than it has in quite some time.
Houston’s passing game has been explosive and Cleveland is in for a fight in that aspect, but this game could come down to a battle of two weaknesses. Houston could try to exploit the underbelly of the Browns’ defense and try to get their running game going, and if the Texans are unable to do so, perhaps this could be a turning point this defense needs to get this issue figured out.
NEXT: Key Browns Player Questionable For Texans Game
