Led by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Cleveland Browns managed to hold the Minnesota Vikings to just 14 points in the first 57 minutes of the Week 5 matchup between the two teams in London, England, last Sunday.
But in the final three minutes of the contest, the Vikings offense put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in Minnesota wide receiver Jordan Addison catching the eventual game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass. Unsurprisingly, it's been a tough loss for the Browns to get over, specifically Schwartz.
When talking with the local Cleveland media on Thursday, the veteran defensive coordinator opened up about his feelings from losing to the Vikings in such brutal fashion.
"I don't think I've been able to keep any food down since we gave up that touchdown.
When you get the lead in the fourth quarter, [the] hallmark of a great defense is [that] you close the game out, and we failed in that regard."
Minnesota Vikings literally made Cleveland Browns coach sick to his stomach after Week 5 win
To Schwartz's credit, the Browns' defense put up a great fight in Week 5. But in the end, it was Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell and his offense who emerged out of the battle in London with a victory.
Compared to the rest of Cleveland's opponents this season, an argument can be made that no team's offense has had more success than the Vikings in Week 5.
Against a Browns defense that is regarded by some as the best defensive unit in the NFL this year, Minnesota was able to put together touchdown drives of 82, 71, and 80 yards last Sunday. In their previous four games, Cleveland's defense had only given up one touchdown drive of 70 yards or more.
The Vikings had plenty of reasons to crumble when presented with the challenge of facing the Browns' defense in Week 5. Instead, Minnesota dove in headfirst and captured a much-needed win that has the team feeling good five games into their 2025 season.