## Browns Aim to Limit Explosive Plays and Secure First Takeaway Against Packers This news report from **clevelandbrowns.com**, authored by **Noah Monroe**, details the Cleveland Browns' strategic focus for their upcoming Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers on **September 17, 2025**. The primary objectives for the Browns are to achieve their **first takeaway of the season** and to **limit the explosive passing plays** of the high-powered Packers offense. ### Key Information and Analysis: * **Browns' Defensive Struggles:** Through the first two games of the 2025 season, the Browns' defense has yet to record a single takeaway, a stark contrast to their 12 takeaways (including four interceptions) in the 2024 season. This is a key area of concern for the team. * **Coach Stefanski's Philosophy:** Head Coach Kevin Stefanski emphasizes playing sound defense with great effort as the priority, rather than solely hunting for takeaways. He stated, "Our focus is playing our defense, playing it with great effort, and then obviously taking the ball away in those moments when it allows us." The goal is to create opportunities for takeaways through strong defensive play. * **Packers' Potent Offense:** The Green Bay Packers boast the **sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL**. A significant factor in their success is their ability to **retain possession** and their effectiveness in throwing the ball downfield. Quarterback Jordan Love has **not turned the ball over** through the first two games. * **Packers' Deep Passing Threat:** * In Week 2 against the Commanders, Jordan Love attempted **eight passes of 15 or more yards** through the air, completing three. * In contrast, the Browns faced Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in Week 2, who attempted **14 passes of 15 or more yards**, completing nine and throwing four touchdowns. This highlights the caliber of passing offenses the Browns' defense has encountered and will face. * **Browns' Defensive Strategy Against Packers:** * The Browns plan to implement a **tailored game plan** for Jordan Love's skillset, which is described as similar to Lamar Jackson's philosophy of throwing deep. * Cornerbacks like Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II are expected to be heavily involved in pass coverage. Ward's approach is to "be wherever the ball is so he can make a play." * The strategy to achieve takeaways involves "doing your job, doing your technique, and the players are going to come to you. Just locking in once they do come, finishing them and then taking the ball away." * **Packers' Offensive Versatility:** Coach Stefanski acknowledged the Packers' "tremendous offensive attack," noting their ability to "throw it to all their guys – whether it's the receivers, the tight ends or the running backs." He also highlighted their use of play-action shots, quick spreads, and extensive motion. * **Packers' Target Distribution:** Jordan Love has demonstrated a willingness to spread the ball, targeting **11 different receivers** through two games in 2025. This means all Browns cornerbacks could have opportunities to defend the pass. * **Browns' Quest for First Win:** In addition to securing their first takeaway, the Browns are also aiming for their **first win of the season**. They are currently winless. The Packers, conversely, have **yet to lose their first game**. * **Importance of Recovering Fumbles:** The Browns had a near-takeaway against the Ravens when Cameron Mitchell punched the ball free from Derrick Henry, but the Ravens recovered. The report emphasizes that recovering fumbles, like the one against Baltimore, is crucial for potentially stopping the Packers from scoring. ### Numerical Data and Context: * **Takeaways (2024 Season):** Cleveland Browns defense recorded **12 takeaways**, including **4 interceptions**. * **Takeaways (2025 Season - through two games):** Cleveland Browns defense has recorded **0 takeaways**. * **Packers' Offensive Ranking:** Green Bay Packers have the **6th-highest scoring offense** in the NFL. * **Packers' Turnover Status (2025):** Green Bay has **0 turnovers** through two games. * **Lamar Jackson's Deep Passes (Week 2 vs. Ravens):** * Attempts: **14 passes of 15+ yards**. * Completions: **9**. * Touchdowns: **4**. * **Jordan Love's Deep Passes (Week 2 vs. Commanders):** * Attempts: **8 passes of 15+ yards**. * Completions: **3**. * **Jordan Love's Targeted Receivers (2025):** Love has targeted **11 different receivers** through two games. ### Visuals: The news report includes numerous images of Cleveland Browns players and coaches during practice on September 17 and 18, 2025, at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Notable individuals pictured include: * Wide Receiver Jerry Jeudy * Quarterback Joe Flacco * Tight End David Njoku * Defensive Tackle Maliek Collins * Running Back Quinshon Judkins * Defensive End Myles Garrett * Cornerback Cameron Mitchell * Head Coach Kevin Stefanski * Quarterback Dillon Gabriel * Cornerback Denzel Ward ### Additional Information: * **Game Information:** Browns vs. Packers, September 17, 2025, 04:05 PM. * **Related Content:** The article also links to information on how to watch, listen, and live stream the game, a contest to win a suite for a future game, and details about Browns' practice squad signings and their unofficial depth chart for Week 3. In summary, the Browns are entering a critical Week 3 matchup against a formidable Packers offense with a clear emphasis on defensive execution and ball-hawking. Their success will hinge on their ability to disrupt Green Bay's potent passing game and finally secure the takeaways that have eluded them thus far in the 2025 season, while also striving for their first victory.
Browns aim to limit explosive plays and get takeaways against Packers | Team Coverage
Read original at clevelandbrowns.com →Cleveland is looking for their first takeaway of the season against a high-powered Green Bay offense Sep 17, 2025 at 04:05 PM Through the first two games of the season, Packers QB Jordan Love hasn't turned the ball over. In the same vein, the Browns' defense has yet to get its first takeaway of the season.
After recording 12 takeaways, including four interceptions, in the 2024 season, Cleveland's defense made it a goal to increase those numbers in 2025. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski wants to make sure that the players on defense emphasize playing defense and not hunting for takeaways. To Stefanski, the defense's job is to run to the football on every play and play sound defense in the process.
Facing a Green Bay offense that likes throwing the ball down the field, sound defense is a necessity. "Our focus is playing our defense, playing it with great effort, and then obviously taking the ball away in those moments when it allows us," Stefanski said. "The idea that we want to just take it away, we want to play great defense and then take the ball away when we are presented those opportunities."
The Browns nearly had their first takeaway of the season when CB Cameron Mitchell punched the ball free from Ravens RB Derrick Henry's hands. The Ravens, however, recovered the football and scored a play later to take a 10-0 lead in Week 2. The Packers have the sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL, in part due to their ability to hold onto the ball during their drives, and Green Bay has yet to give the ball away through two games.
If the Browns can force a fumble like they did against Baltimore, recovering the ball is imperative to potentially stop the Packers from scoring. Just as vital for Cleveland is limiting and containing Green Bay's explosive plays through the air. When the Browns faced Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in Week 2, he attempted 14 passes that travelled 15 or more yards through the air, looking to move the ball down the field with one play.
Jackson went 9-for-14 on such throws, including throwing four touchdown passes. Against the Commanders in Week 2, Love attempted eight passes of 15 or more yards through the air. The Commanders held Love to three completions on such throws, sticking to the wide receivers to prevent them from completing the catch.
Following a game in which Jackson connected with his receivers down the field, the Browns will have another tailored game plan for Love's skillset, who employs a similar philosophy. "It's a tremendous offensive attack that Coach (Matt) LaFleur has going," Stefanski said. "Like we talked about the quarterback making great decisions, but they have the ability to throw it to all their guys – whether it's the receivers, the tight ends or the running backs.
And it comes in a variety of scheme. It can be hard play action shots down the field. They can spread you out very quickly with some of the things they do. They're an excellent motion team. So, it's a great, great challenge. But there's certainly a number of guys on their offense that they try to get the ball to."
2 / 72 Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 3 / 72 A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 4 / 72 Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 5 / 72 Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 6 / 72 Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 7 / 72 Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 8 / 72 Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 9 / 72 Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 10 / 72 Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 11 / 72 Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 12 / 72 Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 13 / 72 Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 14 / 72 Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 15 / 72 Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) and Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 16 / 72 Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 17 / 72 Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 18 / 72 Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 19 / 72 Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 20 / 72 Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 21 / 72 Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 22 / 72 Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 23 / 72 Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 24 / 72 Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 25 / 72 Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 26 / 72 Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 27 / 72 Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 28 / 72 Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 29 / 72 Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 30 / 72 Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 31 / 72 Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 32 / 72 Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 33 / 72 Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 34 / 72 Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 35 / 72 Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 36 / 72 Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 37 / 72 A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 38 / 72 Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 39 / 72 Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 40 / 72 Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 41 / 72 Offensive tackle Joshua Miles (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 42 / 72 Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 43 / 72 A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 44 / 72 Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 45 / 72 Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 46 / 72 Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 47 / 72 Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 48 / 72 Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 49 / 72 Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 50 / 72 Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 51 / 72 Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 52 / 72 Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 53 / 72 Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 54 / 72 Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 55 / 72 Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 56 / 72 Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 57 / 72 Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 58 / 72 Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 59 / 72 Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 60 / 72 Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 61 / 72 Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 62 / 72 Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 63 / 72 Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 64 / 72 Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 65 / 72 Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 66 / 72 Defensive end Julian Okwara (53) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 67 / 72 Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 68 / 72 Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 69 / 72 Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Erin Farina/Cleveland Browns 70 / 72 Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 17, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 71 / 72 Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025. Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns 72 / 72 Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2025.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns Browns vs. Packers: How to Watch, Listen & Live Stream Scan the QR code for a chance to win a suite for Browns vs. Steelers on Dec. 28 Browns celebrate Attendance Awareness Month with Stay In The Game! events, contests and school visits Browns sign four players to the practice squad Browns announce unofficial depth chart for Week 3 vs.
Packers With Green Bay airing the ball down the field, cornerbacks like Denzel Ward or Greg Newsome II will be targeted. Before the game against Baltimore, Ward said he likes to be wherever the ball is so he can make a play. Against Green Bay, there is potential for a heavy fill of pass coverage opportunities.
While Love's top targets include TE Tucker Kraft and WR Romeo Doubs, he likes to spread the ball around to all of his receivers, targeting 11 different receivers through two games in 2025. Love's willingness to spread the ball around opens the opportunity for all of the Browns cornerbacks to get involved in defending the passing game in Week 3.
"He's a great quarterback. He can make all the throws on the field," Ward said. "He's spreading the ball around to all the wide receivers, so everybody's going to get their targets and get their chances." Once Love targets the Browns corners, Ward said the key to trying to get a takeaway is being head-on in coverage and not overanalyzing the situation.
If the secondary can stick to their assignments, they will have the opportunity to get an interception like they've been looking for. "Doing your job, doing your technique, and the players are going to come to you. Just locking in once they do come, finishing them and then taking the ball away," Ward said.
"So really nothing too spectacular but just doing your job and taking the ball away." In addition to getting their first takeaway, the Browns are trying to get their first win of the season. Limiting explosive Green Bay plays and solid pass coverage could play its part against the Packers, who have yet to lose their first game.
Causing takeaways will also help slow down Green Bay by giving extra possessions to the Browns' offense. "Yeah, all it takes is one win," Ward said. "We are focused on getting that first win of the season. It takes one and then build on top of that, and that's the goal going into this week."
