After a week of celebrating with a win of the Bengals, the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield were served a piece of humble pie in defeat against the Texans.
Baker Mayfield‘s three interceptions translated into 13 points for the Houston Texans, who coasted to a 29-13 victory against the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium Sunday.
Mayfield, played the worst game as a professional when it comes to turning the ball over. Through the air, he completed 29 of 43 passes for 397 yards. He had a touchdown, but the pass to Rashard Higgins didn’t come until garbage time, with 2:58 remaining and the Browns trailing by 22.
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Mayfield’s first interception foreshadowed what was to be a long day for the No. 1 overall pick and the rest of his Cleveland teammates, by putting the nail in the Browns’ coffin with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter.
Mayfield was intercepted by Zack Cunningham, who returned the pick 38 yards for a touchdown, putting Cleveland down 17-0.
Mayfield’s next two interceptions resulted in field goals, leaving the Browns trailing at halftime, 23-0.
The game ends a boisterous week from Mayfield, who waged war on former coach Hue Jackson through social media and the press after leading the annihilation of the Bengals in Week 13.
With Mayfield and seemingly, the entire Browns team brimming with confidence entering the contest, many card carrying members of the Dawg Pound though an upset was entirely possible.
Meanwhile, Mayfield’s accuracy, Deshaun Watson got the upper hand again, just as he did in college when his Clemson team knocked Mayfield’s sooners out of the 2017 College Football Playoff semifinals.
Watson was 22 of 31 for 224 yard and a touchdown. He also ran six times for 31 yards.
• The Browns committed four turnovers overall, while forcing none. It took 12 games, but the Browns finally failed to force a turnover. Gregg Williams’ team ranked second in the NFL in takeaways entering the contest.
• Gregg Williams basically needed to win the rest of these last five games to have a shot at keeping the coaching job permanently.
He didn’t, with the Browns losing convincingly.
Most concerning was Cleveland inability to stop the run. Being unable to do so opened up the game for Watson and the Texans’ offense, who were able to take the foot of the gas in the second half with a 23-point lead.
• As for Kitchens, this contest marked a huge offensive letdown following the Browns’ dismantling of the Bengals last week. Houston’s defense ranks much better than the dead-last Bengals, but Cleveland was just downright bad today.
• I thought “Hue Jackson mistakes” haunted this team more than ever since the head coach was dismissed over a month ago.
Some things that come to mind: The holding on Greg Robinson that negated a touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway. Additionally, Callaway coughed up the ball moments later on what should’ve been a sizable gain.
Defensively, two defensive holding calls on T.J. Carrie on the same possession, which occurred in the second half with the Browns still hoping to claw their way back into the contest, were costly.
Overall, the Browns were penalized six times for 45 yards.
• Nick Chubb had just nine carries with 5:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. No secret why. He didn’t run because the Browns trailed by so many points.
This team isn’t good enough to come-from-behind, especially when asked to overcome three-touchdown deficits.
Chubb usually plays a big role when this team does win. Mayfield’s pick-6 made it impossible for the Browns to run or utilize play action because they were down 17.