Cleveland Browns’ standout defensive end Myles Garrett had a brief but pointed reaction when addressing the media Sunday night after his team suffered a 34-10 defeat to the Detroit Lions in Week 4. The loss dropped Cleveland to 1-3 on the season.
The Browns remained competitive until the fourth quarter, keeping Detroit’s lead at just 10 points, but the Lions pulled away with two late touchdowns as Cleveland’s offense struggled to respond.
While the defense wasn’t entirely at fault—Cleveland contained Detroit’s running game reasonably well—the 34 points allowed made a comeback highly unlikely.
“We didn’t perform at the level we expect,” Garrett said of the defense. “We pride ourselves on being better than what we showed today, and we are.”
Garrett himself had a quiet game, recording only two tackles without any game-changing plays. He did manage two hits on Lions quarterback Jared Goff, but his limited penetration was emblematic of the defensive struggles.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Garrett added. “You have to focus on how you can be productive and make an impact. Today wasn’t about blaming anyone else; it’s about what I can do better.”
Cleveland’s Offense Fails to Gain Traction
The Browns’ offensive woes continued, and Joe Flacco’s tenure as the starter may be nearing a crossroads. Intended as a steady veteran presence while rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders developed, Flacco has struggled to deliver consistent results.
The 40-year-old has completed fewer than 60% of his passes and has a troubling 2-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His QBR of 60.3 ranks lowest among all NFL starters.
While Cleveland isn’t a playoff contender this year and inserting a rookie QB into a difficult situation could be risky, it’s clear Flacco hasn’t provided the offense with the spark needed. Head coach Kevin Stefanski may need to consider other options sooner rather than later.
Challenging Schedule Looms
Cleveland’s path doesn’t get any easier. After facing four playoff-caliber teams to open the season, the Browns now have matchups against Minnesota and Pittsburgh, followed by games with Baltimore, Buffalo, San Francisco, Chicago, and New England.
Sharp Football Analysis ranks Cleveland’s schedule as the second toughest in the NFL, only behind the New York Giants. With a 1-3 start, the Browns face an uphill battle just to reach four wins this season.
If the team hopes to salvage the year, immediate adjustments will be critical.
