Baker Mayfield rips Titans and critics in huge must-win game

The Cleveland Browns did everything right in their Week 13 rout of the Tennessee Titans, behind Baker Mayfield and his huge day.

The Cleveland Browns won a game that so many pundits thought wasn’t possible, as Baker Mayfield spanked the Tennessee Titans 41-35, behind Mayfield’s huge day. The score made the game seem a lot closer than it actually was, with the Titans putting up 28 points in the second half, but the game was largely over out of the half, and even though Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski called plays conservatively in the second half, they still kept the clocking ticking making it impossible for the Titans to catch up.

The Browns saw Mayfield have a huge day, who threw for 334 yards, on 25 of 33 completions, with four touchdowns, silencing critics who thought he should be benched if they lost. Mayfield even had a reception for a key first down in the first half as well, helping showcase what kind of leader he is. Most of his stats came in the first half, as the Browns went into the locker room up 38-7. Mayfield wasn’t the only one who had a nice game, as Nick Chubb put forth a nice effort, even though he didn’t break 100 yards. Chubb had 18 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, while also putting up 26 more yards on his lone reception on the day.

Capping off other big days were Rashard Higgins, who had six receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown, Jarvis Landry who had eight receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Donovan Peoples-Jones, who had two receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. That said, Peoples-Jones wasn’t truly great, as he dropped what would have been a second touchdown reception on the day and when he returned punts, he ran for more yards laterally than he did vertically.

Lateral yards aren’t counted towards a player’s stats. Kareem Hunt had a rough day running, amassing only 33 yards on 14 carries, and only adding 24 more yards on three receptions.

The defense got torched in the second half. The Browns’ corners gave up countless big plays, allowing for Ryan Tannehill to make the game a one-score affair as the clock wound down to zero. Of all the players, Malcolm Smith and Andrew Sendejo were the big movers. Smith had seven tackles, a sack, and a tackle for a loss, while also stripping the Titans of the football to close the first half. Sendejo once again lead the team in tackles, this time with eight,and had it not been for a bonehead play from his corner, would have had an interception to close out a Titans driving that was making noise.

All in all, this was a great performance with the biggest true issue being Stefanski’s conservative play calling in the second half. If he can get away from that mentality, the Browns are going to be truly dangerous in the playoffs.