Factory Of Sadness
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The 3 best defenses the Cleveland Browns have had since 1999

By Chad Porto

Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Browns defense tackles Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard (42) stopping the fourth down conversion during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Browns defense tackles Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard (42) stopping the fourth down conversion during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 13: Running back Mike Alstott #40 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns on October 13, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 17-3. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 13: Running back Mike Alstott #40 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns on October 13, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 17-3. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2002

The NFL really screwed the Cleveland Browns hard in 1999 when they came back. They had one of the worst expansion scenarios in league history. So to be able to win seven games in year three, and then go to the playoffs in year four, is a huge testament to how well ran this team was under Al Lerner.

That is, well-ran compared to now, anyway.

The Browns’ offense was gadgety at best, with a lot of overreliance on getting Dennis Northcutt the ball in space, and trying to create a running game that anyone could be described as “average”. The offensive line was a mess, and Tim Couch got sacked way too often. The team wasn’t great. They did go 9-7, but that was mostly because of the defense.

The defense, on the other hand, was stout. Former middle linebacker Waili Rainer was out and ex-Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Earl Holmes was in. He was supposed to anchor a unit that included Pro Bowler Jamir Miller, but Miller’s career ended in the preseason due to tearing his Achilles. Despite that, the team was able to muster pressure with Brant Boyer, Kenard Lang, and Mark Word, while having solid tackler Dwayne Rudd cleaning up, and oversized corner Anthony Henry putting in some fierce hits on players.

The two players that did most of the work, however, were Holmes’ former teammate in Pittsburgh Orpheus Roye, and long-time Browns’ corner Daylon McCutcheon. The two men were super reliable and made those quiet plays that don’t get highlighted on SportsCenter but were always crucial.

They were considered a Top 10 defense and gave up the 10th least amount of points.

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