Tag: Baker Mayfield

5 big plays from the Browns’ Week 10 win vs. Buffalo

Not everything was positive but there were some great highlights too

What moments stood out from the Browns’ big 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10?

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt usage

Both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were used on over 50% of the Cleveland Browns offensive snaps in Week 10 against the Bills. In this play, not only are both runners on the field, but Kareem Hunt delivers a block to help establish Nick Chubb’s cut back lane for a great run.

Jarvis Landry great catch for a touchdown

Landry has been the best and most reliable wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. On this play, Landry makes a great hands catch extending his arms away from his body. After the play, Landry was called for a taunting penalty and Austin Seibert ultimately missed the field goal. This was a great play and also a reminder to not let yourself get caught up in the heat of the moment.

Rashard Higgins game-winning touchdown

Browns fans have been rooting for Higgins to get more playing time and he did. Higgins finished Week 10 with 47% of the offensive snaps. While this was a great catch and I enjoyed seeing Higgins on the field, I also wonder if he would have been on the field if Antonio Callaway wouldn’t have been benched (click here for the full story). I will be watching closely to see if Higgins’ usage continues to trend up or if Callaway returns to the field and supplants Higgins.

Baker Mayfield safety

One of my biggest concerns with Baker Mayfield is his ability to get the ball out on time and this play perfectly outlines why. While the play design is horrible and there should have been a runner in the backfield with pass protection duties, it is also on the quarterback to deliver the ball when his back foot hits on the three-step drop. Mayfield double clutches and tries to scan the field for another option. If the ball was thrown on time, it could have been thrown away. Instead, Mayfield tries to make “the big play” and takes a safety.

Incredible Jarvis Landry catch to set up the game-winning score

As mentioned earlier, Landry has been the best wide receiver for the Browns in 2019. This play shows not only great concentration, but also his ability to adjust to the ball in the air. While we shouldn’t dwell on Odell Beckham uncovering himself in the deep middle or Kareem Hunt being wide open on the right side of the field, the catch was great and set up the game-winning touchdown to Rashard Higgins.

Baker Mayfield’s wife clarified her ‘fair weather fans’ comment after the Browns’ win

“Didn’t expect to ruffle so many feathers.”

While I wasn’t aware that it was actually possible to be a fair-weather Browns fan — like, have you seen the Browns? — Baker Mayfield’s wife, Emily, caused a stir amongst Cleveland fans this week with her Monday Instagram Story.

Following the Browns’ win over the Bills in what was essentially a must-win game, the enthusiasm for the Browns took a decided turn for the positive.

Mayfield had his best game of the season, throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Browns snapped a four-game losing streak. Given that Mayfield was getting compared to Johnny Manziel just a week ago, Emily couldn’t help but laugh at this sudden swing for the better from the same people who mocked Baker.

She posted about that on Instagram, calling out the “fair weather fans.”

As expected, plenty of Browns fans took issue with the comment. The way the post was originally framed made it sound like she was talking about all Browns fans.

Emily would clarify in a separate Instagram Story on Tuesday that she didn’t mean the diehard Browns fans. Instead, she was laughing at the fans who suddenly jumped on (and then off, and then back on) the Browns bandwagon amid the offseason hype.

She wrote:

LOL didn’t expect to ruffle so many feathers with my “fair weather fans” comment yesterday. No, I was not directing that at the die-hard, loyal fans who have stuck around for YEARS. I’m talking about the idiots who say HORRIBLE things about my husband and the team when we lose, and are back to obsessing when we win. That is laughable to me.

…loyal fans, I see you!

Surprisingly enough, the Browns are still somewhat in the playoff hunt at 3-6. They host the Steelers on Thursday night.

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Top 5 offensive lines of Week 10: NFC North, upsets, honoring Swagger, and typical Ravens

As we slowly adjust back into reality, let’s take a look at the top 5 from Week 10.

In what could be described as a perfect spinoff to Netflix’s Stranger Things, Week 10 in the NFL was so upside down that the most-normal thing from all of the action was a dual something-or-other that might have forever changed the way uncles dance at weddings.

First, there was Dak:

And then, there was Jimmy:

Beyond that? Cleveland honored their mascot, Swagger, and his retirement from leading the Browns onto the field with an upset win over Buffalo. Aaron Rodgers caught a penalty flag—poetically, mind you—and the internet immediately shouted that such art needed to be accompanied by Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.”

Three Heisman Trophy winners lined up in the backfield—at the same time!—during the Ravens-Bengals game. And Matthew McConaughey took the cyber streets after the incredible Monday night battle between the Seahawks and 49ers and basically wrote the dialogue for the next Lincoln commercial.

Not to be ignored or outdone—with some of the stranger credit going to Tennessee Titans’ Taylor Lewan—there were also some stellar efforts from a few the offensive lines.

As we slowly adjust back into reality, let’s take a look at the top 5 from Week 10.

5. Baltimore Ravens

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The only thing keeping the Ravens’ O-line from being ranked higher than fifth this week is the tilted-smirk realization that they played against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But when your quarterback ends the day with a perfect QB rating, and the running game totals over 130 yards and two touchdowns, it’s impossible not to give a thumbs up, either.

The Ravens’ O-line continues to be a collective force. They led the way for Jackson’s big game on the ground and they kept him protected during the pass. One penalty and one sack, with only minimal pressure from the Bengals’ rush later, and the Ravens’ front had done another standout job—regardless if some saw this game as more of an AFC North intramural session.

Marshal Yanda, Bradley Bozeman, Matt Skura, Orlando Brown, Ronnie Stanley, with a dash of Patrick Mekari and James Hurst: You don’t make the schedule, you just block—and, man-O-man, do you guys block!

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NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Upsets rule, and a new team at the top

In the wake of an unlikely trio of upsets, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar assesses the hierarchy of the NFL’s 32 teams.

Some weeks in the NFL, a series of things surprise you. In Week 10, three 1-7 teams posted victories, giving hope to fans of some much-maligned squads.

The Jets beat the Giants, 34-27, as safety Jamal Adams became the sixth player since 2000 to record two quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and a touchdown in the same game. The Dolphins won their second straight game after an 0-7 start, besting the depleted Colts and proving that, at least to head coach Brian Flores and his players, any talk of tanking was pure bunk.

Then, the Falcons improbably whupped up on the Saints, sacking Drew Brees six times and holding New Orleans under 10 points in New Orleans for the first time since 1973.

None of these teams have realistic playoff hopes this season, but the ability to get your game together for even a short part of the season can provide some compelling narratives.

Here’s how all 32 teams stand in out Touchdown Wire’s Week 11 power rankings:

32-25 | 24-17 | 16-9 | 8-1

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What we learned from Bills’ Week 10 loss to Browns

What we learned, Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns, NFL Week 10

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Coming into week 10, the Bills had survived several games this season where they did not play well, but found a way to win. Their luck finally ran out in another ugly game Sunday along the banks of Lake Erie.

The Bills faltered on both their final defensive and offensive possessions of the game after coming from behind to take a lead in the fourth quarter. Cleveland went on a 10-play, 82-yard drive to take the lead on a Baker Mayfield to Rashard Higgins seven-yard touchdown pass with 1:44 to go. Josh Allen and the Bills got the ball back with a chance to either drive for a game-winning touchdown or game-tying field goal. Buffalo got to the Cleveland 35, but faltered from there as Allen threw incomplete on a back-shoulder toss on third down. Stephen Hauschka trotted onto the field to attempt a 53-yard field goal that would tie the game, but was both wide and short as Cleveland held on to win, 19-16.

There was a lot to be concerned about following this game for Buffalo, including questions on offense, defense, and with the coaching staff. The Bills offense again failed to deliver enough production to win the game, while the defense again had trouble stopping the run. Sean McDermott and the Bills’ coaching staff also had a rough day as there were game management decisions to question in the final two minutes.

The Bills are now 6-3 and suddenly find themselves falling back toward a gaining pack in the AFC wild card race as Buffalo has now lost two of its last three.

Here are four things we learned from the Bills’ loss Sunday in Cleveland:

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PODCAST: Did the Bills offense hand the Browns a win?

Buffalo Bills podcast following Week 10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Buffalo Bills failed to defeat the Cleveland Browns, falling 19-16 in Cleveland to fall to 6-3 on the season. While at first glance, it’s easy to point the finger at kicker Stephen Haushcka for missing a game-tying field goal, the problem is much deeper, yet obvious.

For months, many of the Bills critics have questioned the Bills offense, with much push back from biased “Billievers” and Josh Allen apologists. If this game doesn’t change those opinions, nothing will. Poor clock management, conservative play-calling and key plays not extending drives were all a major part of this team’s misfortunes in Cleveland.
Daboll has been a figure who, if this Bills season goes south quick, could find himself as the scapegoat when it comes to appeasing the fan base at the end of the season. His play calling has seemingly limited this offenses potential, and does not look as explosive as it could. It has even led many to believe that Josh Allen isn’t the franchise quarterback that the team thought he was.
Fortunately for Buffalo, if there is anything positive to examine, the Bills are not down and out, and have the opportunity to build their cushion as the first Wild Card spot, although there are some teams beginning to catch up.
Billswire Podcast Hosts Matt and Jeremy discuss the Week 10 loss to the Cleveland Browns:

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Baker Mayfield: win over Bills ‘can get us going here’

Browns QB Baker Mayfield believes the Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills ‘can get us going here’

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A composed, measured Baker Mayfield addressed the media after the Cleveland Browns’ 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Wearing a knit cap and an approachable demeanor, the Browns QB described how he believes the win can launch something big for the team.

“We didn’t play perfect by any means,” Mayfield said. “We can still learn from the film and move forward and improve. But having a tight victory against a great team is something that we needed — especially at home.”

Mayfield played well in the win. He completed 26 of his 38 pass attempts, netting 238 yards and two TDs. It was the first game of the season where Mayfield threw for multiple touchdowns. He did not turn the ball over, either.

The second-year QB seemed relieved at the win as he continued,

“We kind of got the monkey off our back with that one. First one, at home, in game nine is not something usually that happens but it can get us going from here.”

The Browns don’t get long to savor the victory. They host the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of four in a row, on Thursday Night Football this week.