Browns' run defense problems and what must change vs. Saints

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns play hard on defense and have talent at all three levels, and there is no shortage of players willing to hit somebody. The effort is there but playing physical and consistently stopping the run are two different things.

They have allowed too many runs of 10 yards or more, and those chunk plays change everything. They flip field position, keep an offense ahead of the chains and make the next defensive call more difficult. Against New Orleans on Sunday, correcting those problems is a necessary step toward getting to 6–3.