How can the Browns limit explosive plays from QB Jordan Love?

Defensively, both the pass rush and coverage will have tough assignments in Week 3 against the Packers, as QB Jordan Love looks to take shots downfield to his receivers.

In Week 2 against the Commanders, Love took a handful of shots downfield to set up the offense to score. He connected with TE Tucker Kraft for a 57-yard catch and run to set up a touchdown by WR Romeo Doubs, and another 37-yard catch by Malik Heath to then lead to a rushing touchdown by RB Josh Jacobs.

Stefanski reiterated the Packers can spread the ball around to multiple pass catchers and do so in a variety of schemes. Love has targeted 11 different pass catchers in the first two weeks of the season, with his main targets as Kraft and Doubs.

Love has thrown for 480 yards on 35 completed passes this season and is averaging 240 passing yards per game through two games. He is averaging 9.1 yards per pass and has thrown four touchdowns, while only taking two sacks. As a defense, the Browns will not only have to pressure Love but also cover Green Bay’s receiving corps well to prevent those explosive plays.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said the Packers’ success in the run game allows Love to take those shots downfield and look for receivers. While the Browns have to cover their receivers and apply pressure on Love, their run defense has also to limit the success of Jacobs. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Browns’ run defense is the best in the NFL, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game at 45.5.

“When it’s all said and done, on first and second down they’re a run play action team,” Schwartz said. “And when they play action, they want to take shots. And you look at (Jordan) Love and look at his completion percentage, and it’s not eye popping the way some guys are. A lot of guys, its 75 percent, 70 percent. And it’s not that he’s an inaccurate passer, it’s reflective of how many deep shots he takes. And they’re very surgical with those. They use their run to set up that stuff. It doesn’t work if you’re not a good running offense, and it goes back to Jacobs. Their run creates their opportunities to push the ball down the field on those first and second downs. And that’s just sort of built into the way they do things.”