Another Victory Monday, the Browns won and now they’re in the playoffs. Eighteen long years. QB Baker Mayfield was 17 for 27, 196 yards and a touchdown. No turnovers. For the season Mayfield finishes with a 62.8% completion rate, 3563 yards, 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a QBR of 72.4 and a Pro Football Focus rating of 81.6. He joined Payton Manning and Andrew Luck as the only players in NFL history with 3500 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of their first three seasons. That’s a franchise quarterback. Mayfield also added 44 yards rushing. The most important on a third down needing a first down to seal the game. This team fought hard all season and especially this past week. I think the facility in Berea was shut down every day. The Browns had a revolving door of players going on the Covid list and coming off the Covid list. They only had two short practices during the week. One on Wednesday and one on Friday. Amazing.
Several players stepped up yesterday besides Mayfield. On offense Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Austin Hooper. Landry is the first Browns player since Eric Metcalf (1989) to throw, catch and rush for a touchdown. On defense Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, Ronnie Harrison, Karl Joseph, M.J. Stewart and Jacob Phillips. Phillips had his best game of the season at middle linebacker. He, Grant Delpit, Denzel Ward and Ronnie Harrison are the types of players, along with Myles Garrett, you build a defense around. Hopefully Ward will be back for the Wildcard game, because Robert Jackson was abused all day. As for the game, it appeared to me, head coach Kevin Stefanski was holding back some of his offense knowing the Browns would be playing the Steelers again this weekend. The Browns did just enough to win.
Next up is Pittsburg part three. The Steelers will have Ben Roethlisberger, T.J. Watt and Cam Hayward back. I would argue that Mason Rudolph has a better arm for throwing long passes, so the defense will have to be ready for the dink and dunk passing attack of Big Ben. The Browns offensive line will have to play better after giving up four sacks Sunday. I expect some roll outs, a little more play action and Mayfield being in the shotgun more.
Injuries, the Covid list and signings. DE Olivier Vernon ruptured his Achilles and is done for the season and probably played his last game as a Brown. Time for Adrian Clayborn and Porter Gustin to step up. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is in concussion protocol, but said he is okay. On the Covid front, LB B.J. Goodson, TE Harrison Bryant, LB Malcolm Smith and S Andrew Sendejo should be back for this weekends game. Ward might be back, but it will be close. Today the Browns signed Brian Allen off the Bengals practice squad.
Finally, on the above mentioned run to secure the win, Mayfield called out Maserati, Maserati as the play call. Early in his NFL career, known Baker hater Colin Cowherd said Mayfield was a Mazda and Sam Darnold was a Maserati. On a game and playoff clinching play, the Browns are trolling Cowherd. You got to love this team. Everyone enjoy your week and this win. It’s Steeler week again and Go Browns.