Usually I wait 48 hours after a Browns loss to write about it, but this game was different. If you still think QB Baker Mayfield is overrated or just a game manager, go away. He was 21 of 28 for 321 yards against the best team in the AFC in their home stadium. That’s a 75 % completion rate and 11.5 yards per pass attempt. From ESPN Stats & Info., Mayfield was 5 of 5 for 101 yards against the blitz, 5 of 5 for 94 yards on play action, 4 of 4 for 61 yards and three first downs on third and fourth down and 3 of 5 for 103 yards on passes 15+ yards downfield. The Browns had five drives of 75 yards or more. So far the Browns are number one in the NFL in total offense (457 yards) in offensive success rate (55.9%), in yards per play (8.2 yards) and the sixth highest graded team (80.0) in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.
The highest PFF rated player on offense was LG Joel Bitonio at 93.5 and the highest on defense was DT Malik McDowell at 82.9. Rookie WR Anthony Schwartz had a PFF grade of 82.2. WR Jarvis Landry was targeted five times and caught all five passes. That’s his 111th straight game with multiple catches. The Browns defense pressured Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on 44% of his drop backs, the fifth highest rate in the NFL in week one. According to BrownsDailyMockDraft @BrownsMockDraft DE Myles Garrett had 8 pressures (five hurries, 2 QB hits and 1 sack). DE Jadeveon Clowney had 4 pressures (three hurries and 1 sack). DT Malik Jackson and DT Malik McDowell had 5 pressures (four hurries and one QB hit). As a group, the starting defensive line had 11 tackles and 11 stops.
Bottom line, the Browns have an elite offense and a developing defense. If you had told me the Browns defense would hold the Kansas City Chiefs to ten first half points, I would have made you pee in a cup. Yes, against a team like the Chiefs, you can’t let up and you can’t make mistakes like turning ball over three times. No, the Browns are not going to fire defensive coordinator Joe Woods or cut punter Jamie Gillan. If you want those two things to happen, then why aren’t you calling for RB Nick Chubb to be benched because he fumbled? Relax. The defense will get better the more they play together. I have complete faith in the Browns coaching staff to fix any problems this week in practice. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked today whether he feels better about his team, that they were in position to win if they fixed things that went wrong. He said “No.” Next up the AFC South division leading (weird right?)Houston Texans. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.