Cleveland Browns Aim to Improve Inside Run Defense vs. Saints
The Cleveland Browns are focused on shoring up their run defense and limiting inside run concepts as they prepare to play the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 8, 2026. The story was published Nov. 5, 2026. Cleveland allowed 200 rushing yards in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a 51-yard trap run by Jaylen Warren that reached the Browns’ 25-yard line. Over the past two games the Browns have yielded an average of 170.5 rushing yards per contest, prompting coaches and players to emphasize corrections in practice this week.
Head coach Todd Monken and his staff identified the team’s attack-style front as a factor in those breakdowns, saying the defense has occasionally overshot gaps while pursuing ball carriers. Monken said the defense must refine how it fits gaps and improve tackling when runs break through the line. He added that the staff will change some looks and emphasize gap fits and tackling to limit big plays.
Cleveland will face a New Orleans offense that averages 86 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry this season, figures that rank among the NFL’s lower totals. The Saints’ running backs have gained 144 yards on 47 inside run attempts over their past three games, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger said the Browns have worked on defending trap and wham concepts with adjustments based on pre-snap looks and assignment discipline to limit those plays. Schwesinger called the problems “very correctable” and said the emphasis in practice has been on correcting those specific mistakes.
Several Browns defenders highlighted specific areas for improvement at the player level. Cornerback Denzel Ward, who leads qualified NFL corners with a 91.6 pass-coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, said his tackling has not been as sharp lately and that better tackling will help in run support. Defensive end Jared Verse said the line must win one-on-one matchups more often by getting off blocks quickly to prevent interior runs from breaking for big gains. Verse emphasized the need for each player to “win their one-on-ones” and for the unit to stay aggressive and move their feet against inside runs.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Browns face a favorable matchup on paper against a Saints rushing attack that has been limited this season, but recent film shows why Cleveland is taking the concern seriously. The Steelers and Titans combined for 264 rushing yards on 36 attempts and four touchdowns on inside runs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, underlining how quickly an overshoot of gaps and missed tackles can change a game. If the Browns can tighten their fits, sustain their aggressive front and convert open-field tackles into stops, this Week 9 game presents a realistic chance to correct course and reassert the run-defense identity they are building.