Cleveland Browns 'Formula' is Defense in 2025
Cleveland Browns 'Formula' is Defense in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Cleveland Browns are hoping to recover from an abysmal 3-14 mark last season, where not much went right on either offense or defense.
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The team is hosting a quarterback room with two veterans and two rookie draft picks, and one of them will look to be the savior of the offense this season.
But it could be the defense that saves the 2025 campaign for the Browns.
SI's Albert Breer discussed Cleveland's upcoming season and what would have to happen for things to go right, and to maybe even post a winning record.
First, he mentioned the obstacles.
"[The Browns] need a lot of things to break right. They're in a tough division, obviously," Breer said on the MMQB Podcast. "I think we're going to have high expectations for the other three teams. ... By virtue of being in that division, their schedule is not easy. ... They could be staring down the barrel of 0-6 here."
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Then the job that general manager Andrew Berry has done comes into question, but if they win, he should get credit.
"Andrew Berry has really come under the microscope there, and there are some people who feel like he should be on the hot seat," Breer continued. "... I think if they are to get to nine or 10 wins, it's going to be because Andrew Berry did a great job drafting and putting players on the roster."
If the Browns are to win, Breer says it will be thanks to the defense. It could be the key to a winning "formula."
"If you look at the makeup of the roster, there are so many areas where they need to have gotten it right. ... There's a formula here if some of those things pan out," Breer said. "Play really good defense, have a kickass running game.
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"The formula here is to shorten games and lean on your defense ... that's the formula."
Related: Where Dillon Gabriel Was Drafted 'Matters' in Browns' QB Competition
Related: Ridiculous Prediction Has Browns Moving On From All QBs In 2026
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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