Up until a couple of weeks ago, the Cleveland Browns versus New York Jets seemed like an exciting Monday Night Footballmatch-up. Unfortunately, the Browns being thrashed around by the Tennessee Titans in Week One and Jets quarterback Sam Darnold being diagnosed with mononucleosis was the perfect foreshadowing for this sluggish game. After getting blown out at home last week, Baker Mayfield had a prime opportunity to get back on track. While Baker didn’t have a bad performance necessarily, it was fairly pedestrian and definitely not up to expectations.
Concerns Over Baker Mayfield Despite Decisive Win Over New York Jets
Trouble Beneath the Surface
You may take a superficial glance at Mayfield’s stat line and think, “What are you talking about, 325 yards with a touchdown is a pretty good performance.” Well, here’s what I’m talking about. Baker has great receivers to throw to no matter where he’s looking downfield. To complete just 54 percent (19/35) of his passes is bad, but to do it against the Jets is criminal. A quarterback with the receiving corps of Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and David Njoku should not be hovering around 50 percent completion. To make matters a bit more concerning, Baker was fortunate to leave MetLife Stadium with just one interception. In the waning minutes of the first half, a pass batted into the air from Mayfield fell just out of reach from the Jets defenders. If the Jets weren’t so dismal, there could’ve been more. Baker was lobbing passes over receivers’ heads and into tight coverage, and he honestly didn’t look like the guy the media has been selling us on for months.
Odell was the real star and savior of last night’s game. His spectacular one-handed grab along the sideline and catching an 89-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield were highlights. Or as I should say, catching a 12 yard pass from Mayfield followed by 77 yards of unreal speed and elusion from Odell, was a highlight. It can’t be a good sign that nearly 30 percent of Mayfield’s production came on this one play. Against the Jets, more is expected of him.
Step Up or Step Aside
Through Week Two, Baker is completing barely 60 percent of his passes and has just two touchdowns against four interceptions. This kind of play would usually be accepted in Cleveland, but considering the Super Bowl aspirations the media laid upon them, it’s just not good enough. The next five games see the Browns face teams who are all currently 2-0 (vs. Los Angeles Rams, at Baltimore Ravens, at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Seattle Seahawks, at New England Patriots). This ranks among the toughest stretches any team faces this season, and Baker has to elevate his play soon. If not, the Browns risk not only losing grasp on the AFC North crown but losing grasp on a wild-card spot as well.
