The Browns had the right idea.

Challenge Drake Maye by pressing his receivers in man coverage. Smash his running backs in short-yardage. Unleash Myles Garrett on most of his offensive lineman by bouncing him around the formation so that none of them could rest easy.

At halftime, Maye was 3-of-8 for 68 yards and an interception versus man-to-man coverage. He’d taken four sacks. Cleveland trailed 9-7, having lived up to its reputation as one of the NFL’s most ferocious defenses by putting the clamps on a leading MVP candidate.

But the thing about great players, and especially those in the running for MVP, is they are inevitable. The dam always breaks. It’s just a matter of how much water you take on while trying to fight back.

Once Josh McDaniels unlocked the Browns defense in the third

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