Cleveland Browns: No more excuses, it’s time to start feeling dangerous again

After last week’s dominant win in Baltimore, the Cleveland Browns have learned how explosive this offense can be at its best. Now there is no more time for excuses—it’s time to start feeling dan6erous.

First came Baker Mayfield, then a 5-2 finish to end 2018, next was a trade for Odell Beckham, and then came the offseason hype. What followed since has been an up and down start to the season.

During the press conferences that followed the first three weeks of the Cleveland Browns season Baker Mayfield and head coach Freddie Kitchens, both stressed what needed to happen for the offense to start clicking. Fans and media alike were pessimistic after watching three disappointing offensive performances.

Week 1 humbled the team as Mayfield tossed three interceptions. Week 2 was an underwhelming win, but it was a win nonetheless. Week 3 showed that the team isn’t as far off as the first two weeks indicated. Week 4 set the standard and built some much-needed confidence.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

So, let’s start with the bad news: The Browns are 2-2 with both losses coming at home. The good news: The Browns left last Sunday leading the division and currently holding the tiebreaker on the Ravens who entered the weekend in second place.

Through the first three games, the Browns scored just 49 points, but against the Ravens found success in both the passing and running game leading them to score 40 points. Featuring more two-tight end looks, similar to last season, Nick Chubb was able to dominant, and the passing game looked exceptional as Mayfield finally found a grove.

Before last Sunday, Mayfield completed more than 55 percent of his passes just once, but it was the game in which he had the three interceptions mentioned above. Baker has spent a bulk of the season under duress; getting sacked 11 times in the first three games, but only once last week, his best game of the season.

That leads me to the best news: Riding the high of a big-time divisional win against the Baltimore Ravens and getting set for another primetime matchup this Monday night, the Browns have seen, and now know the formula for optimum success for Mayfield.

In Baker’s Thursday presser, he explained that Odell Beckham Jr. does much more for the offense than catching passes. When asked how he felt about the impact Beckham makes even with limited targets, Mayfield stated:

"“It is stuff that he can do to affect a defense that I think we did not expect until we really saw it. Now, we really know how we need to gameplan… It is unbelievable what he can do. The vertical stretch and just the body presence on the backside of drawing two defenders. Knowing that, we have to take our shots with him when he is one on one.” — Mayfield via ClevelandBrowns.com"

Directly or indirectly, using Beckham as a decoy worked wonders against Baltimore. Two plays Odell did nothing but run his route, but opened up Ricky Seals-Jones on a 59-yard and a 12-yard touchdown reception.

Odell’s impact was felt again on a crucial drive late in the third quarter when the Browns ran a forward pass triple option. Mayfield took the snap, pitched it forward to Jarvis Landry, who faked a pitch to Beckham that opening a massive hole for Landry to sprint down the sideline for a 30-yard gain that set the Browns up at the one-yard line.

Mayfield and Kitchens have preached patience. Every member of the offense told us it was only a matter of time before they took off during their weekly press conferences.

The time is now! With the expectation that Rashad Higgins and Antonio Callaway will return for Monday night, it’s time to start feeling dangerous again… consistently.