The excitement surrounding the Browns’ recent Week 8 showdown against the Ravens was palpable. And it didn’t disappoint. With both teams looking for that elusive win, a light-hearted moment from Browns’ safety Grant Delpit became a memorable talking point. His cheeky take on preparing for Baltimore’s powerhouse running back, Derrick Henry, might have provided the spark leading them to a hard-fought 29-24 victory.

Delpit had a wild idea in the lead-up to the game: he playfully suggested using offensive tackle Dawand Jones as a scout team running back. “We’re just going to put Dawand out there as a scout team running back,” he joked. With an average annual salary of $12 million, Delpit has proved to be instrumental in the Browns’ defense.

While Delpit’s comments were delivered with a sense of humor, his team clearly understood the mammoth challenge ahead. Henry was tearing up the field this season, boasting 873 rushing yards and averaging an astonishing 6.5 yards per carry. He was a player that any defense didn’t want to tangle with.

This whole joke kicked off with Ryan Mink’s tweet before the game. “Did Grant Delpit really just give Derrick Henry the ‘too small‘ taunt? 😂 That’s not going to age well.” Delpit’s response? A cheeky lil finger gesture emoji!

This playful banter reflected the confidence within the Browns‘ locker room, wherein even with high stakes, there was still room for a good laugh. They knew they couldn’t take Henry lightly, especially with his track record of bulldozing defenses throughout the season.

Stopping the juggernaut

Let’s get real. If the Browns wanted any shot at winning, they had to put the brakes on Henry. Historically, Cleveland had some success containing him, managing to hold him to 60 yards in 2020 and just 20 yards last season. And that trend needed to continue. Myles Garrett, a blistering force on the defensive line, understood the stakes, saying, “Lamar [Jackson] is one of the best players in the league… We knew that if we didn’t give it our all, he was going to make something happen.”

It wasn’t just about Henry; they had to keep an eye on Jackson as well—the dual threat added layers to their game plan that could either make or break their chances.

With the Ravens rolling into this matchup on a five-game winning streak, they brought serious heat to the field, averaging 210.9 rushing yards per game. But the Browns flipped the script beautifully. Despite their own struggles defensively this season, allowing an average of 126.1 rushing yards per game, the team was able to muster the grit needed to contain Henry. Tackling him wasn’t just about individual effort; it required the collective functioning of the entire team.

Grant Delpit’s humorous ploy to have Dawand Jones play running back turned out to be more than just a punchline. While that playful banter was fun, it ultimately underscored a serious mission. Containing the unstoppable force that Henry represents and supporting each other in the quest for victory. The Browns did just that, transforming laughs into fierce defense and showing everyone—including themselves—that they meant business.