Matt LaFleur told some truths — good and bad — about the Browns on Sunday: 10 Tuesday takes

The Browns defense was dominant Sunday, validating LaFleur’s assessment. Five sacks; six tackles for loss; seven quarterback hits. Three players — Myles Garrett, Mason Graham and Maliek Collins — had four pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. The Browns created 22 pressures in the game.

Excluding Jordan Love’s kneel-down to end the first half, five of Green Bay’s other nine possessions yielded one first down or less. Six of those nine possessions ended still in Packers territory.

LaFleur knew how the Packers needed to win this game and it was working for 56 minutes and 42 seconds.

Then the Browns defense made a play, exactly what LaFleur was trying to avoid.

That’s one takeaway from Sunday. Here are 9 more:

2. The offense is still an issue

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What did LaFleur tell us about the other side of the ball?

“What’s unfortunate is our defense was doing so well, we knew we couldn’t make a deadly mistake like that offensively to give them a short field. That’s exactly what happened,” he said.

The Packers head coach and play-caller was kicking himself after he called that pass play on third-and-3 with 3:18 left.

“You could argue that we lost the game offensively by making a critical error in a critical situation,” he said. “That’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Both teams seemed content to let this game be an old school, Big 10 punt-fest between a team from Ohio and one from Wisconsin. The Packers, at least, managed to squeeze out a couple of successful drives in the process.

The Browns didn’t have a drive last longer than nine plays until the fourth quarter. That field goal drive, a 12-play, 63-yard march that went backwards once they reached the one-yard line, was their longest drive of the day.

After their opening 30-yard drive ended in a punt, they only had two more drives that covered more than 20 yards for the rest of the game.

The Browns had one play over 20 yards on Sunday and it was Quinshon Judkins’ 38-yard run.

Prior to Monday night’s game, the Browns are 29th in yards per play and 31st in passing yards per play.

Much like the Packers, the Browns appeared content not to make big mistakes and force Green Bay to operate against their defense, but if the plan is to rely on an interception return to the 4-yard line every week, it’s going to be tough to score points.

Part of the point of starting Joe Flacco is his ability to push the ball downfield. It wasn’t happening on Sunday. The Browns have to find ways to unlock bigger plays in the passing game.

Before we move on, let’s look at some long-term rookie quarterback scenarios.

3. Dillon Gabriel is next up

We know this; he’s the backup, one play away from stepping on the field.

The rookie quarterback flow chart starts with Gabriel, the third-round pick, and what he does with his opportunity when it arrives.

If he seizes the job, the flow chart ends. It’s safe to assume the Browns will give him plenty of time to do just that.

If he doesn’t …

4. Then it’s Shedeur Sanders

Once Gabriel takes over, Sanders’ supporters will be vocal about him getting his opportunity. What does he need to prove if and when it comes?

Can he process quickly? Can he avoid costly sacks? Can he protect the football?

He’s embracing his time running the scout team, but we won’t know answers to those questions until we see him in real games.

5. Then what?

If neither seizes the opportunity, are we in for another three- or four-man quarterback competition? Hopefully the Browns have learned their lesson.

This is the reality: If the Browns make a significant free agent or trade investment in a veteran, he’s the starter.

If the Browns make a significant draft investment in a rookie from the 2026 class, the job might not be his right away, but whoever has it is keeping the seat warm for that player.

At that point, it will be about how the Browns manage Gabriel and Sanders as assets.

We’re a long ways from getting to this point.

6. Grant Delpit’s rise

Let’s get back to the good stuff.

Delpit’s interception Sunday was his first since intercepting future teammate Kenny Pickett in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Delpit was impactful against the Ravens in Week 2 and equally impactful beyond the interception in Week 3.

I’ve always believed Delpit is better closer to the line of scrimmage. Even though the Browns don’t always differentiate free and strong safety, Delpit truly excels when he’s playing downhill and doing work in the run game.

According to PFF data, among the 168 defensive snaps he has played, he has lined up 73 times in the box, 36 in the slot and 39 at free safety.

He is tied with linebacker Devin Bush for second on the team with seven tackles in the run game — rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger is the leader — and is tied with Bush and Myles Garrett with six stops in the run game, which PFF defines as tackles that constitute a “failure” for the offense.

Delpit is the highest paid safety on the roster and, while he’s not the oldest player in the room, it feels like he’s embracing the opportunity to make it his room.

It appears putting Delpit in a role in which he can excel and letting him loose has paid off.

7. The Dawand Jones chain reaction

The news that the Browns lost Jones for the season makes planning for the offensive line’s future even more challenging. While he wasn’t exactly seizing the job, three weeks is a small sample size, and part of finding answers with young players is giving them time to prove themselves over a season.

The Browns’ offensive line is facing a reset this offseason. Left guard Joel Bitonio, right guard Wyatt Teller, center Ethan Pocic and right tackle Jack Conklin are all free agents.

Bitonio has already admitted he’s taking his career one year at a time. If he does decide to continue playing, it will be in a Browns uniform, but he’ll face another difficult decision this offseason.

Teller turns 31 in November and Pocic turned 30 in August. There’s likely a scenario where one or both are back, but cost could be a factor.

As for Conklin, who turned 31 in August, the Browns must weigh his performance, which has been good, against his injury history.

• BETTING: For Sunday’s game against the Lions, Browns moneyline is +375 on BetMGM. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review will show you how to use their platform. For all of the best Browns Week 4 Odds, check out our expert insights.

The good news: the Browns are armed with 10 draft picks next April, including five in the first 108 picks. GM Andrew Berry likes taking bigs with his first-round picks.

They could also benefit from internal development. Luke Wypler is a former draft pick who is the backup center now. Zak Zinter has been inactive the first three weeks. Getting him up to speed would help.

They signed Teven Jenkins last offseason and can try to develop him to take over at a guard position.

None of those are certainties, but through some combination of retaining players, free agency and draft picks, the Browns can hopefully pull off this transition.

8. The Lions template

Before the Lions beat the Ravens on Monday night, they opened as 8.5-point favorites against the Browns for this week.

Detroit is one of the most talented teams in the league with a roster right up there with the Eagles. One key reason is the 2023 draft.

The Lions defied convention and selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 and linebacker Jack Campbell No. 18. They took tight end Sam LaPorta No. 34 overall and safety Brian Branch at No. 45.

That’s an infusion of talent to a roster that already had it. (Save yourself the stress of looking up the picks the Browns made before Detroit picked Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2021.)

While it is early for this Browns draft class, they seem to be onto something with defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

The verdict is still out on the two quarterbacks and running back Dylan Sampson, who had a strong Week 1 but hasn’t played as much the last two weeks — he played just five offensive snaps on Sunday.

Hopefully, one day, the Browns will reflect on this class with the same pride that Lions fans have for their 2023 class.

9. AFC North power rankings

Baltimore Ravens (1-2)

I don’t care if their defense looks shaky and Derrick Henry keeps fumbling. This is the best team in the division.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

They’re finding ways to win and Aaron Rodgers only sometimes looks like he’s 41 years old.

Cleveland Browns (1-2)

The defense is in the running for best individual unit in the division.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

Their record doesn’t matter. They won Week 1 because of two missed kicks. They won Week 2 because of a fourth-down drop. They looked awful on Sunday.

10. My ‘Whichever direction the wind is blowing Super Bowl pick of the week’

What if you were allowed to make a new Super Bowl pick every week based on vibes, gut feelings and recency bias? Well, that’s what we’re doing here.

This week: Bills vs. Eagles

Our first big change. The Eagles, who stole a win from the Rams, take the place of the Packers. The Bills won ugly on Thursday Night Football, but I’m not ready to make the leap to the Ravens, Chargers or Colts just yet.