sorry to nitpick but cleveland is not a top 10 d. they may be in yardage, but points, red zone, 3rd down, turnovers, they are closer to the bottom than the top.
My buddy is a Cleveland fan so I've been paying a bit of attention to them and I think you need to look beyond just the box score numbers. For example, points aren't really a fair metric either, unless you're arguing the Pats are a top 10 D.
And while this defense is near the bottom in third down D, part of that is due to a horrible start. In the last 4 weeks, they've allowed 18 of 59, which would put them at the top of the league.
As for turnovers, does that correlate with a top D? Considering Tampa Bay (#1) and Dallas (#5) are both in the top 5, I don't think that's truly the best way to evaluate a top defense either.
So first look at the talent. They have a shutdown corner in Joe Haden, a talented front 7 with depth led by first-rounders Phil Taylor and Barkevious Mingo, 2nd-rounder Jabaal Sheard, captain D'Qwell Jackson and old foe Paul Kruger, and it's no wonder they're in the top 10 in sacks.
The Cleveland offense is absolutely putrid and puts this defense in a lot of bad spots. Their offense is in the bottom 10 in yards per play and 3rd down conversions as well as turnovers, which results in the 6th-worst TOP leading to a lot of extra time for the defense on the field.
A good example of this was last week's game against the Jaguars. They were up 14-7 with three minutes to go before halftime when Weeden throws a pick on their side of the field returned into the red zone which is quickly converted into a TD and a tie game. They get the ball back, and Weeden throws another INT at their 28, leading to a FG. They get the ball back, make a few throws, then Weeden takes a sack and fumbles, giving the Jaguars one last play to kick a FG and go up 20-14 instead of trailing 14-7. The Browns would later fumble in their end zone for a safety. The ensuing punt is returned 31 yards setting up the Jaguars on the Browns side of the field where they kick another FG. The Browns would score one play later on the 95-yarder to Josh Gordon, giving the defense 19 seconds of rest before they would go out to defend that last drive where the Jaguars clinched the game.
They held the Jaguars to 4.4 yards per play. Chad Henne only completed 55% of his passes. While the third down defense wasn't great (7 of 16), they were 2 of 4 in the red zone. But there's no overcoming that offense.
The week before that, they trailed Pittsburgh 10-3 with two minutes to go before halftime. Their RB fumbles near midfield and Pittsburgh converts for a FG. On their second drive of the 3rd quarter, the offense is moving until Campbell is sacked and fumbles, allowing the Steelers to return the ball all the way to the 4. Then they punch it in for another 7. The last 7 came via pick 6 by Brandon Weeden.
They held the Steelers to 4.4 yards per play, 4 of 14 on 3rd down, and 1 of 2 in the red zone. But they weren't even close to being in this game, trailing 27-3 until with 3:17 left in the 4th, they score a garbage TD and 2-point conversion.
The week before that, Cincinnati posted 41 points on this defense despite Andy Dalton only throwing for 93 yards and completing less than half his passes. The Browns D even managed to return a pick 6 to help the team to an early 7-3 lead.
Then Weeden throws a pick 6 himself, only a penalty nullifies the TD and puts the ball at the Cleveland 22 where they convert for a TD. The offense goes 3 and out, then the punt is blocked and goes 9 yards to the Cleveland 38, which is converted into another TD. After another 3 and out, the defense forces Cincy into a 3 and out. The Browns start moving the ball but the drive stalls, so they punt again, and have it blocked again, but this time for a TD. On their next possession, Campbell throws a pick 6. Cincy would pick up a FG after getting the ball on the 48, and another FG after a sack fumble at the Cleveland 21.
The Bengals, who are in the top 10 in 3rd-down conversions, were 1 of 14 on 3rd down. The Browns defense got a pick 6, another INT, held the Bengals to 3.8 yards per play, and still got killed.
They haven't given up a 300-yard passer until Brady and haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.
So yes, I think they're a top 10 defense that is saddled with a bottom 10 offense. The NE game was one of the few times the offense played well this entire season.
