The Cleveland Browns squeaked out a win against the Green Bay Packers. The game demonstrated the importance of every play and second in football. The Browns battled the Super Bowl favorite Packers to the very end. With determination, skill, and a little bit of luck, the Browns eked out a tight 13-10 win in the final seconds. The game was a good example of the resiliency growing in Cleveland. The Browns have been tight for dead as fans have abandoned this season to seek harbor in college football and mock drafts. However, the Browns aren’t letting the doubt creep in. They’re fighting hard against the gentle goodbye.
Browns’ kicker Andre Szmyt is an excellent example of the toughness of the team. Szmyt had one of the worst NFL debuts in Browns history. Many people, including myself, wanted him cut from the Browns. Szmyt persisted through the noise and nailed a 55-yard game-winning field goal. Here are five players who helped the Browns get an upset victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Stud: Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett is the best non-quarterback in the NFL. He should’ve left the game as the betting market’s favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett was an unstoppable force against the Packers. He destroyed their game plan. The Packers had to double and triple-team him just to keep him from immediately destroying Jordan Love. Garrett was equally deadly in the run game.
The Green Bay Packers’ head coach did a great job of presenting various run actions to keep Garrett honest. The Packers did everything they could to stop Garrett, and nothing worked. He ended the game with six tackles, two solo, one for a loss, half a sack, and one quarterback hit. The Packers were held to their lowest point total since their wildcard loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. Garrett is the best defender in the NFL, and he’s getting better with age. He’s just as quick and as strong as he was a few years ago, but now he’s employing strategy on every play. Garrett is aging well, but he knows he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
He’s playing with much more urgency every down. He’s also become a vocal leader; the Browns’ quiet but tough defense needed. If Garrett continues to dominate teams like he did Sunday, he’ll have another trophy in his case and could lead the Browns to a Wildcard Berth.
Stud: Maliek Collins
Maliek Collins has become the ideal partner in crime for Myles Garrett. The ten-year veteran is having a resurgence in Cleveland. The Browns are telling Collins to destroy the front of the pocket, as Garrett loops around the end. Collins has done a good job of penetrating the pocket. He’s a slippery pass rusher with the strength to walk linemen into their quarterbacks. Collins harassed quarterback Jordan Love on Sunday.
Collins had one and a half sacks. Against the run, Collins had five total tackles, two solo tackles, and one tackle for loss. Garrett, drawing the most attention from the offense, frees up the other defensive linemen in one-on-one matchups. Collins has been unblockable in these situations. Collins has been everything the Browns needed, except for Garrett. He has the quickness to burst upfield with the strength to stonewall blockers carrying him out of the play. He’s a skilled hand-fighter who knows how to break down blocks. Collins is constantly cutting through the front of the pocket, cutting off quarterbacks from stepping up.
Cutting off the front of the pocket helps the ends get to the quarterback without needing to bend around the pocket while cutting back up the field. The Browns are discovering fun combinations and pass rush plans with their pass rushers. Collins’ veteran leadership is helping the line gel. He’s been a significant force multiplier this season.
Stud: Carson Schwesinger
Carson Schwesinger has had an impressive rookie debut for the Browns. The Browns, the play-caller of the defense, gave the 33rd overall pick the green dot. The rookie linebacker has looked like a veteran in his first three games. Sunday’s game against the Packers was Schwesinger’s best yet.
Schwesinger had ten total tackles, making seven solo tackles, including one tackle for a loss and one sack. Schwesinger does an admirable job of triggering downhill and blowing up the ball carrier. He was patrolling the entire field against the Packers. His most impressive play was his sack, when he homed in on quarterback Jordan Love, leaving the pocket. Schwesinger dropped his helmet and fired at Love from 10 yards away. Before Love knew what happened, he was flattened by a screaming Schwesinger. Schwesinger’s football intelligence is through the roof. The Packers attacked the Browns’ linebackers with weird run action, quarterback runs, and play-action passes.
However, Schwesinger did a great job of remaining disciplined and only triggering downhill when he knew where the play was going. He looked like a grizzled veteran against one of the most sophisticated offenses in the NFL. Schwesinger had a great start to his rookie season. The linebacker could win Rookie Defensive Player of the Year if he continues to have performances like he did against the Packers.
Stud: Quinshon Judkins
Quinshon Judkins has hit the ground running since arriving in Cleveland three weeks ago. The Browns’ second-round pick got a late start after a domestic dispute derailed his preseason. The NFL is still investigating the case. Judkins doesn’t look like he’s missed much time. He’s running strongly, decisively, and quickly. Judkins is still getting his legs under him, as he seemed gassed at points. Judkins ran all over the Packers.
The rookie running back put up 94 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The performance put him at the top of the rookie running back leaderboard, despite missing a game. Judkins is exceptionally strong, and he can shed would-be tacklers with ease. The Packers have one of the top defensive fronts with stars across the field. Judkins made them look pitiful as he ran through their arm tackles. Judkins’ determination on high-leverage downs is becoming palpable to fans watching him. He runs with reckless abandon, slamming himself into defenders, attempting to run them over. He can spin out of contact to collect extra yards. Judkins fights for every yard.
He proved that on Sunday against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Stud: Grant Delpit
Grant Delpit was flying all over the field for the Browns. Delpit is one of the best safeties in the NFL. For years, Delpit has been a key enforcer for the Browns, punishing players in both the run and pass games. The 27-year-old is becoming a more cerebral player on the field and a vocal leader in the locker room. Delpit followed up a strong game against the Ravens with a good game against the Packers.
He recorded nine total tackles, with six solo, and one tackle for loss. In coverage, Delpit had one pass deflection and a game-winning interception. Delpit had a couple of errors against Green Bay. He slowly played Jordan Love on the Packers’ only touchdown. He was also beaten on a hole shot in Cover Two as Delpit was misaligned pre-snap. Delpit made the biggest play when it mattered the most. He baited Love into throwing the second slant, thinking Delpit would stick to the first. Once Delpit got the ball in his hand, he was determined to get as close as he could to the endzone. He rumbled his way through offensive players to get inside the five.
The play bumped the Browns’ win percentage from 5% to 23%, according to NFLfastR. Delpit is starting to put together a great year. If he can take the step from analytics star to a star fans recognize, the Browns have a puncher’s chance for a wildcard spot.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Studs and Duds: Browns shine in defensive win against the Packers
