The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as penalty analysis from Joe Gibbs. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
Penalties are an under-discussed aspect of NFL success and failure. Average teams can become playoff contenders with good discipline, and good teams can become great simply by winning the penalty battle.
Let's look at how the Cleveland Browns performed from a penalty perspective in 2024 and where they can improve in 2025.
How Did Penalties Impact the Cleveland Browns?
The Good
- When playing at home, the Browns defense was a top 10 unit at generating false starts and offensive holds on opposing offenses, ranking third and seventh in these categories.
- The defense was one of the least penalized units in terms of surrendering automatic first downs via penalty, ranking 29th in per game average.
- The Browns offense ranked second as a beneficiary of roughing the passer penalties in 2024, behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bad
- The Browns offense accounted for 64% of the team's penalties, significantly higher than the NFL average of 51.7%.
- In raw numbers, the Browns were the No. 1 penalized offensive unit in 2024.
- Pre-snap penalties accounted for 51% of the Browns' penalties. The NFL average is 38.5% in this category.
- An above average 58% of the Browns' penalties occurred in the second half of games.
Grade: D
John Madden said, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.”
Well, the Browns have four quarterbacks and no clear cut standout among that group.
Joe Flacco led them to the playoffs in 2023 and seems the logical choice to be the starter in 2025.
If the Browns elect to go the rookie route, it's still a confusing situation, with two rookies vying for the starting job.
Regardless of the quarterback, a major reduction in this team's offensive penalties has to be a point of emphasis.
No team can win long term with the volume of offensive infractions the Browns committed in 2024.
Cleveland’s difficult schedule and uncertainty at the quarterback position loom over the organization heading into 2025.
If Flacco turns back the hands of time or a rookie quarterback completely outperforms expectations, the Browns have enough talent on the roster to be a surprise team.
In the absence of those scenarios unfolding, it's highly unlikely the Browns compete for a playoff spot in an extremely competitive AFC North division.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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