How the Browns limit the Bengals’ pass game?

For the second time this season, the Browns will face QB Joe Burrow, who has completed 144 of 220 passing attempts for 1,573 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in seven games played. He is also coming off back-to-back 300-yard passing games in Week 16 and Week 17.

However, the Browns rank second in the league in fewest passing yards allowed at 163.8 yards. And when Cleveland faced Cincinnati in the season opener, Burrow completed 14 of 23 passing attempts for 113 yards and one touchdown.

With a receiving duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Browns have to cover their top receivers to limit success of the pass game. Cleveland held Chase to two receptions for 26 yards and Higgins to three receptions for 33 yards in Week 1.

“It’s a huge challenge every week in this league, but certainly when you’re going up against Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, multiple tight ends,” Stefanski said. “Each week presents its own challenges, but this is a unit that’s playing, if not the highest, at one of the highest levels on the offensive side of the ball. So, we’ll obviously always try to put our guys in position to go make plays. But it comes down to their players versus our players.”

How do the Browns pressure QB Joe Burrow?

While the Browns’ secondary has to cover to limit the success of the pass game, their front seven can also apply ample pressure on Burrow to limit his ability to get rid of the ball.

Burrow has been sacked 15 times this season through seven games played – and taken at least two sacks in five of those games. When the Browns first faced Burrow in Week 1, they recorded three sacks for a loss of 18 yards. DE Myles Garrett led the charge with two, while DE Isaiah McGuire contributed the third sack.

Burrow also took seven quarterback hits from the Browns in the season opener. LB Carson Schwesinger and LB Devin Bush each added one, while McGuire had two quarterback hits and Garrett recorded three. If the Browns’ front seven can shed their blocks on the offensive line and pressure Burrow, they can limit his ability to move the ball downfield.

“You look at their numbers when he’s been the quarterback this year, and their top of the league in just about everything – number one in third down and right up there in points and red zone and everything else,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. I’ve always had respect for him, because not only is he a talented player, but he plays tough, uses his weapons, gets out of bad plays and into good plays, he can extend the play, but he can also throw it quick from the pocket.”