Cleveland Browns studs and duds from Week 2 victory over Bengals

Stud: Baker Mayfield

This was the exact game Baker Mayfield needed. The legend of No. 6 was born on Thursday Night Football in 2018 when he came in for an injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 3 of his rookie season. Mayfield led the Browns to their first win in 635 days on that night and in the process, gave free beer to the good people of Cleveland.

Now, he entered another Thursday night game ready to make a statement. Following their frustrating loss to the Ravens, the questions about Baker were coming fast and furious. There were doubters coming out in full force but he slienced them with a very efficient night.

Mayfield looked much more in control and was very decisive with his passes. He finished the night going 16-of-23 with 219 yards with two touchdowns, one of which was a beauty to Odell Beckham, Jr. on a deep ball. However, not everything was perfect as he did have a costly intentional grounding penalty and a bad interception while trying to force the ball to Harrison Bryant in the second half.

Of course with Mayfield, you have to take some of those risky passes — it’s just what he does. And while the interceptions are painful, the fact is, the moxie he was playing with had a lot to do with the Browns putting the game out of reach.