Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield perfect in first half against Atlanta

In the second game with Freddie Kitchens as the play-caller, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is excelling against the Falcons.

The Cleveland Browns were hoping to see improvement in Baker Mayfield’s performance when they fired Todd Haley and promoted Freddie Kitchens to offensive coordinator.

In Kitchens’ second game as the Browns play-caller, Mayfield is looking more and more confident, and he is making plays all over the field.

In the first half against the Falcons, Mayfield was perfect passing the ball – literally. Mayfield completed all 12 passes that he attempted, throwing for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

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He has also been distributing the ball to different receivers, as he has completed passes to nine different receivers. So far, Nick Chubb, Breshad Perriman, and Jarvis Landry lead the way with two catches each.

Mayfield’s first touchdown showed exactly why the Browns made him the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, as he rolled to his right after being faced with pressure off play-action. As he was rolling to his right, Mayfield threw a strike off his back foot and perfectly led Rashard Higgins in the endzone for a 28-yard touchdown.

For the first time in a long time, Mayfield looks to be comfortable in the pocket. He is not looking for escape routes immediately, and is able to go through all of his reads.

In Kitchens offense, Mayfield is being asked to quickly hit his receivers and not wait for a long play to develop. This philosophy has helped Browns receivers make plays, as Perriman and Antionio Callaway have both made some nice plays off slant routes.

With Kitchens as the play-caller, he is playing to Mayfield’s strengths. He is not forcing Mayfield to sit in the pocket and wait for one route to develop, like Haley had the quarterback do. Instead, he is allowing Mayfield to be a point guard with the ball, giving him multiple options to deliver the ball to.

As Mayfield and Kitchens continue to become more comfortable with the each other, the Browns offense is going to get much better. Against a struggling Falcons defense, Mayfield is taking advantage of their deficiencies.