Cleveland Browns vs. Raiders Predictions: Baker Mayfield wants win No. 1 as starter

Writer: Mike Lukas

The oddsmakers have the Oakland Raiders favored to beat the Cleveland Browns by 2.5 with an over/under of 45 in Week 4, and CBSSports.com’s final score prediction is Raiders 23, Browns 20.

Must suck to be so wrong.

Not their fault – maybe they didn’t watch what happened when Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield took the field last Thursday night in front of 73,200 fans and 5.2 million U.S. households.

Maybe the ‘experts’ were incapable of detecting the massive energy shift that occurred in Browns players (and fans) just before halftime when Mayfield entered the game after starter Tyrod Taylor left with a concussion.

Everyone in Cleveland, on the other hand, totally sensed it.

It’s exactly what Browns fans had been waiting, pining for.

Up to the moment of his injury, Taylor’s play was uninspiring. He had only completed 48.8 percent of his passes (41-for-84) and was rated 63.7 over his 2 ½ winless games. Under his dull leadership, the team only averaged 20 points per game, tied for an unimpressive 21st in the league.

And then *pop* Mayfield enters the game and everything shifted.

When he completed his first three passes – zip zip zip – and took the team down the field for a score, every Browns fan knew things would be different for now on. In Mayfield’s first half (and two minutes) of NFL football, he completed 73.9 percent of his passes (17-for-23) for a passer rating of 100.1.

And more importantly, he won.

The Browns experienced their first win in almost two years and the players and fans noticed the palpable difference between then and now.

Simply put, Taylor’s had since March to convince his incredibly talented teammates that they’re winners, but he couldn’t do it.

Mayfield did it in just 32 minutes.

The oddsmakers and CBSSports.com predict Oakland will squeak by Cleveland on Sunday because they assume the Browns will struggle on the road and Mayfield will struggle against a team that actually game plans for him.

Must suck to be so wrong.

Do the ’experts’ really think that the Khalil Mack-less Raiders, who’ve only had three sacks this season (worst in the league) are suddenly going to find magic and get after fast-passing Mayfield? Do they suspect that a Raiders team who’ve only had one interception all season will suddenly be able to pick off Mayfield’s laser-tight throws?

It’s more likely the Browns defense, who’ve had 9 sacks this season (tied for 7th best) will get after Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, whose numbers under pressure are where he falls short with just a 32.1 passer rating over 24 rushing attempts.

According to ESPN, Carr’s current 39.1 quarterback rating (QBR) is ranked 24th out of 31 qualified NFL passers, a big part of that having to do with the 5 interceptions he’s thrown (tied for most in the NFL). Do the ‘experts’ really believe the Browns defense, tied for third-most picks (5) won’t have a ball-snagging field day in Oakland?

Mayfield is a winner, and with him under center, the Browns are winners, too. The ‘experts’ who’re picking the Raiders to win on Sunday must assume that the old Cleveland Browns will be showing up in Oakland.
Must suck to be so wrong.

Final score prediction: Browns 30, Raiders 16