Through two games, the chemistry issues between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. have not gone away. (Icon Sportswire)
Second thoughts: Baker Mayfield’s bad day prolongs the Odell Beckham Jr. narrative
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Second thoughts on Browns 14-7 win over Minnesota Vikings …
1. Baker Mayfield did a good job of beating himself up over his “piss poor” performance on Sunday, so the intent here is not to pile on. My first reaction was it was his worst game in a win, but I was wrong. In 2019, Mayfield pitched a 38.9 passer rating in a 27-19 victory over the Bengals. That game arguably was worse because he tossed two interceptions on his home field. In Minnesota, Mayfield’s saving grace was not turning over the ball in some real hostile conditions. So Mayfield’s outing can easily be brushed off simply as a bad day – nothing catastrophic. It happens. Tom Brady was over-amped in his return to Gillette Stadium against Bill Belichick on Sunday night and missed a lot of open receivers. However, Mayfield’s repeated misfires on throws intended for Odell Beckham Jr. can’t be dismissed. If anything, the game rekindled the narrative that won’t go away -- that the chemistry problem between Mayfield and Beckham still has not been reconciled.
2. The Mayfield-Beckham conundrum was supposed to be solved because of Mayfield’s quantum growth in Kevin Stefanski’s offensive system in Beckham’s absence after the bye week last year. Plus, there were all those reps “on air” in Austin, TX, and in training camp between Mayfield and Beckham. Yet, the numbers are disconcerting, if not downright alarming. Through two games, Beckham has 7 receptions on 16 targets for an unacceptable catch percentage of 43.8. In the two games before Beckham returned from his ACL surgery rehab, Mayfield was 40 of 49 for 81.6 percent, 534 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions, and a passer rating of 101.8. In the two games rejoined with Beckham, Mayfield is 34 of 64 for 401 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, and a rating of 77.6. Two games is a small sample size. Give it two more games (against the Chargers and Cardinals). If things don’t improve by then, I would think the Browns would be a little uncomfortable with the state of things. Even Pro Football Focus-owner Cris Collinsworth would have a tough time spinning something positive out of that.
3. There are multiple theories about what’s going on with Mayfield. One is that Mayfield’s left shoulder injury is worse than he’s letting on. Another is tackle Jedrick Wills, virtually playing on one leg, is allowing way too much pressure from the left side. A third is that Mayfield badly misses security-blanket receiver Jarvis Landry. I don’t buy any of them. I think the problem is above Mayfield’s shoulders. He is still pressing to get the ball to Beckham. He wants so badly to make it work, it’s in his head. I absolve Beckham of blame. He’s running the right routes, working hard to be a team player. Mayfield has to figure this out. It’s on him.
4. The reason I thought Joe Woods’ defense played its finest game yet against the Vikings was because so many players made plays. My notes during the game “starred” more players than I can remember in any game of the Stefanski era. From front to back, they were Myles Garrett, Malik McDowell, Malik Jackson, Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Grant Delpit and John Johnson. I thought Garrett, Jackson and Ward, in particular, had outstanding games.
5. Woods considers points allowed the truest measure of a defensive performance. In beating Chicago, 26-6, and Minnesota, 14-7, the Browns have yielded fewer than 10 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1995. That Bill Belichick defense beat Tampa Bay, 22-6, and Houston, 14-7, in Weeks 2-3.
6. I charted six blitz calls by Woods against the Vikings. In chronological order, from start to finish, the blitzers and the results were: Johnson (Kirk Cousins incompletion), Ward (hit on Cousins, incompletion), Mack Wilson (McDowell flagged for roughing-the-passer), Owusu-Koramoah and Troy Hill (holding call on Vikings’ Tyler Conklin), Takitaki (20-yard completion to Justin Jefferson), and Ward (shared sack by Garrett and Jackson).
7. Remember when the Browns’ defense ranked last in allowing third down conversions? After holding the Vikings to 5 of 16, the Browns now rank 18th, allowing opponents to convert 23 of 54 third downs (42.6 percent).
8. Stefanski has gone for it on fourth down eight times, third-most behind Miami’s Brian Flores and Detroit’s Dan Campbell, each with 10. The Browns have converted on fourth down only four times. Three of the misses have been as a result of Mayfield taking sacks.
9. Stefanski’s 14-6 record in regular-season games is the second-best in Browns history through 20 games. Paul Brown (counting only NFL games) was 17-3. Other Browns’ coaching records through 20 games: Blanton Collier, 13-6-1; Sam Rutigliano, 12-8; Nick Skorich, 12-8; Marty Schottenheimer, 10-10; Butch Davis, 9-11; Hue Jackson, 1-19.
10. Chase McLaughlin is one of six kickers who haven’t missed a field goal or extra point. He’s 7 of 7 on field goals and 9 of 9 on PATs. His 16 for 16 ranks behind Kansas City’s Harrison Butker (20 of 20), Green Bay’s Mason Crosby (17 of 17), and Denver’s Greg McManus (17 of 17) .
11. Greedy Williams was ambushed by teammates with head slaps after his first career interception, like an MLB player meeting his teammates at home-plate after a game-winning dinger. They were so happy for him. The big day earned Williams his first appearance in the post-game interview room. Locker rooms have been closed to media since the pandemic hit, so Williams hasn’t seen a reporter following a game in two years. When he appeared and saw Northeast Ohio media waiting in the bowels of U.S. Bank Stadium, Williams was surprised. “You guys travel?” he exclaimed.
