Browns defensive grades vs. the Chiefs: Who was elite, average and replaceable?

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns’ defense held the Chiefs to 10 points in the first half of their Week 1 matchup. But the Chiefs didn’t stay down for long. They rallied with 23 points in the second half while going 6-of-8 on third downs.

To provide a fuller picture of how the Browns’ defense performed, here is how Pro Football Focus analysts graded Browns defensive players.

(PFF grades every player on every play and uses a scale of 0-100, with higher grades indicating better play. PFF has explained its grades this way: 100-90 elite; 89-85 Pro Bowler; 84-70 starter; 69-60 backup; 59-0 replaceable. In other words, it’s not too different from how we would match up percentages with traditional letter grades in school.)

DEFENSIVE END

Takk McKinley: 69.5.

Myles Garrett: 69.0.

Jadeveon Clowney: 65.6.

Joe Jackson: 64.7.

Notable: Garrett had eight pressures (one sack, two hits), Clowney had four and McKinley two. Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown had a 43.5 grade in pass protection (five pressures), and right tackle Lucas Niang was at 59.5 (five pressures).

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Malik McDowell: 83.0.

Malik Jackson: 67.0.

Jordan Elliott: 56.4.

Andrew Billings: 46.7.

Notable: McDowell graded above 71.0 in both run defense and tackling. Jackson graded 68.4 against the run and had four pressures.

LINEBACKER

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: 69.5.

Anthony Walker: 59.6.

Sione Takitaki: 57.1.

Mack Wilson: 40.5.

Malcolm Smith: 29.6.

Notable: Owusu-Koramoah played 25 snaps, grading 78.3 against the run and 55.2 in coverage. Walker had the top tackling grade (82.1) with a team-high nine tackles. Smith graded 29.9 in coverage and was responsible for two touchdowns by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Wilson’s coverage grade was 33.1.

CORNERBACK

Denzel Ward: 74.4.

Greg Newsome II: 72.6.

Troy Hill: 59.9.

Greedy Williams: 32.6.

Notable: Ward (72.8) and Newsome (72.4) led the corners in coverage grade. Ward gave up five catches on seven targets, Newsome one catch on one target. Ward gave up four catches on six targets to Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill. Williams played eight snaps and had a coverage grade of 31.5.

SAFETY

M.J. Stewart: 68.8.

Richard LeCounte III: 62.0.

John Johnson III: 55.7.

Ronnie Harrison: 29.2.

Notable: Johnson’s tackling grade was 82.0. In coverage he earned a 55.4 and was responsible for a touchdown to Hill. Johnson gave up three catches on four targets to Hill. Harrison and LeCounte each played five snaps.