Saints passing game to take center stage against Browns pass defense

After a Week 8 bye, the New Orleans Saints return to the field this Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns. The Saints stumble in at a 2-5 record, including an infuriating 0-3 mark inside the Superdome. Cleveland, playing their third straight road game, comes in at a rather surprising 5-3 despite getting routed by a 27-6 score last week by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not much has gone right for New Orleans through the first half of the year. One of the few positives has been second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and a few of his receivers. Shough and those receivers will take on a Browns defense that ranks 14th overall but has been strong against the pass. It’s this part of Sunday’s game where we focus our analysis today.

Cleveland Browns pass defense

• 196.6 yards per game (6th)
• 59.5% completion percentage
• 11 touchdowns (11th)
• 6 interceptions (13th)
• 21 sacks
• 50 QB hits

Cleveland has held five opponents to less than 190 net passing yards. Only two opposing receivers have managed over 100 yards against Browns coverage, with an additional three gaining over 80 yards. The Browns have pressured opposing passing attacks into mistakes because of an aggressive style at all three levels.

Despite the offseason trade of Defensive MVP Myles Garrett to the Rams, Cleveland still generates good pressure on quarterbacks. Eleven different players have a sack on this defense, with four recording at least 3 sacks. One of those is not Jared Verse, a talented rusher included in the Garrett trade who has gotten off to a slow start. Verse has no sacks and just 5 pressures so far, but had a career-best 7.5 takedowns and 36 pressures in 2025 with the Rams. It’s likely just a matter of time before Verse starts producing, but Isaiah McGuire is making up for him at the other defensive end spot. McGuire has 3 sacks with 6 pressures, with Sam Williams and veteran Derek Barnett making up a capable end rotation.

Where the Browns are strong is at defensive tackle. The position has combined for 12 sacks and 20 QB hits. Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, and Aidin Huntington have accounted for 11 of those sacks, with Graham and Collins adding 17 pressures. This group not only eats up double teams, but consistently collapses pockets into a quarterback’s face to disrupt timing.

Linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams aren’t often used as blitzers, but Williams especially can be effective in that role. Instead, Schwesinger is heady in zone duties with Williams having the athleticism to make a quick play on throws or stay with most tight ends in man coverage. They make it difficult for quarterbacks to get into a rhythm with intermediate throws, though the Browns have had recent difficulties against athletic tight ends.

Cleveland has perhaps one of the league’s most underrated defensive backfields. Safeties Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman are a versatile pair with decent range in deep support along with the ability to cover the slot. Cornerback Denzel Ward is one of the league’s better at his position. Ward has 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups to lead the Browns in both categories while allowing an elite 43.2% completion percentage when targeted. At the other corner, Tyson Campbell is lengthy and talented but inconsistent, surrendering a 66% completion percentage. Slot specialist Myles Harden has been a find for Cleveland, breaking up 6 throws and allowing less than 60% completion percentage when he’s targeted.

New Orleans Saints passing attack

• 229.7 yards per game (14th)
• 67% completion percentage
• 13 touchdowns (9th)
• 6 interceptions (22nd)
• 15 sacks

After starting the season on a tear, second-year quarterback Tyler Shough has cooled off a bit. Most of the reason for that is the complete absence of a running game for balance, thus making the Saints a one-dimensional offense. Still, Shough has shown incredible poise and toughness while often under incredible pressure. He has impressive arm strength and accuracy, particularly in key moments, as one of this team’s only bright spots through the first half of the year.

Shough has an amazing chemistry with wide receivers Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and tight end Juwan Johnson. He has no hesitation targeting any of the three regardless of situation or coverage. To be fair, each of the three have also come through with tremendous individual efforts for their quarterback. Johnson is another that’s cooled a bit after a hot start, but still has 26 catches for 255 yards and 3 scores. The Saints have two talented tight ends to complement Johnson’s mismatch abilities. Veteran Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp haven’t been heavily involved in the offense, but each are very good receivers.

Olave is halfway through an All-Pro type of year, on pace to break all of his 2025 career-best marks. The team’s most consistent weapon, Olave has caught 49 of his 71 targets for 636 yards in spite of heavy defensive attention. Perhaps the team’s most underrated contributor is Vele, who has 33 catches and 348 yards. Vele is most clutch on third downs, when he’s come through with some acrobatic receptions. Rookie wideouts Bryce Lance and Barion Brown have not made significant impacts yet, combining for 13 receptions and 140 yards on 26 targets. However, each have explosive ability and could be clutch down the stretch. This receiving corps gets even more dangerous with the expected return of Jordyn Tyson soon, their first round draft choice.

Running back Alvin Kamara may no longer be an elite all-purpose weapon, but Kamara can still be dangerous as a pass catcher. His numbers, 22 receptions for 133 yards, may not reflect that, but he’s flashed his generational balance and open field skills at times. Until the return of Travis Etienne (hamstring) from injured reserve, Kamara is the best backfield receiving threat over Kendre Miller, CJ Donaldson, or the newly re-signed Audric Estime. Where those backs, along with tight ends Fant and Delp, can be the biggest asset to Shough are as extra blockers on blitz pickup.

Shough needs all the help he can get in pass protection, because he often doesn’t get it from an offensive line that’s been abysmal. Right tackle Taliese Fuaga has regressed badly, while Asim Richards has played poorly in replacing Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle. On the inside, Erik McCoy, David Edwards, and Cesar Ruiz have failed to keep rushers at bay. This has encouraged opponents to blitz the Saints relentlessly. The fact that Shough has only been sacked 15 times is more a testament to his ability to buy time. He is still one of the most-hit quarterbacks in the league. The ability to protect Shough and reduce the punishment on him is not only a major key to beating Cleveland, but also crucial to any success the Saints have going forward the remainder of the year.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints passing game to take center stage against Browns pass defense