BALTIMORE – Josh McCown threw for and unbelievable total of 457 yards to lift the Browns over the Baltimore Ravens 33-30. It is the third game in a row which McCown threw for over 300 yards.
The biggest highlights of the day were a Gary Barnidge circus catch for a touchdown after using his legs to avoid a drop. Travis Coons game winning field goal in overtime sealed the win. The one matter of concern is the lackluster defensive effort which is has been a problem all season. The Browns need a pass rusher like Ohio State’s Joey Bosa.
Last week, The Browns lots to the Chargers 30-27. The defense was not able to consistently charge through a weakened offensive line which was very surprising. Drafting Ohio State’s Bosa in 2016 will help.
Bosa is clearly one of the top pass rushers in the NCAA and drafting another Ohio State Buckeye would be a huge win for the defense and fan base. He has 1.5 sacks so far this season. He had 13.5 sacks last season and 21.5 tackles for loss. Bosa was suspended for the 2015 season opener against Virginia Tech.
The lackluster defensive performance is a like a bad omen. The continuing sloppy tackling and lack of physical play for full games is a major reason the Browns are 2-3 when they should be one or two game behind the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland needs another young talent on the defense and Ohio State’s Bosa is the answer.
The Browns rank 21st in the NFL in pass defense giving up 264.8 yards per game. The run defense ranks 31st in giving up 141.5 yards per game.
Cleveland can enjoy the brilliant offensive performances and huge overtime win over the division rival Baltimore. However, the defense must improve.