3 problems the Commanders must address before Week 5 vs. Browns

The Washington Commanders have been one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises in 2024 through four games. The Cleveland Browns, their opponent in Week 5, have been one of the biggest disappointments.

Cleveland won four of its final five games last season to finish at 11-6 and make the playoffs. They did it despite missing their starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and stud running back Nick Chubb. Those players were supposed to return in 2024, joining a top-tier defense to make another run into the postseason.

It has not gone according to plan. Chubb’s knee remains an issue. He has only just begun practicing with the squad this week. Watson has played, but not well. The offensive line, a major strength, has been crippled by injuries. And that vaunted defense, though still talented, has not been able to take control of games.

The result is a 1-3 record. They were trounced by the Dallas Cowboys then played three lackluster contests against teams the Browns would have beaten easily last year. They squeezed out a win at the Jacksonville Jaguars, then lost consecutive games to the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

Now, they must go on the road against Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles in the next two weeks. Their season could be virtually over before they even reach the always-grueling AFC North games in the second half of 2024.

Kevin Stefanski's team has a lot on the line at Northwest Stadium. If the Commanders want to continue their hot streak and keep Cleveland in its current free-fall, here are three problems they must solve before taking the field in Week 5.

Problems the Commanders must solve before Week 5 vs. Browns

Neutralizing Myles Garrett

The Browns were among the best defenses in the NFL last year. They finished first in yards allowed, yards-per-play, and yards-per-pass attempt. They were near the top in sacks and turnovers. They have sunk back toward the middle of the pack in most of those categories through the first month of 2024, but they still have a lot of firepower.

Denzel Ward is a first-rate cornerback. Ronnie Hickman and Grant Delpit are good young safeties. At linebacker, they have newly acquired Devin Bush and young stud Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris are stout up front. All are capable of making plays.

But the Browns' defensive success usually begins and ends with Myles Garrett, one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the game. He is almost unstoppable. Fortunately for opponents, the defensive end has been dealing with a slew of injuries this season, but that has not prevented him from registering four sacks, eight quarterback hits, and four tackles-for-loss.

The Commanders' offensive line has been playing better of late. Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels can make up for a lot of mistakes with his elusiveness and playmaking. But they had better have an effective blocking strategy in place for Garrett.

If they don’t, he can ruin the best of game plans.