3 stats in which Cleveland Browns may see improvement in 2021
By Sam Penix
2. Passing attempts
If the Browns want to win the Super Bowl, they’ll need to throw the ball more. Cleveland ranked 28th in the league in passing attempts per game, which just is not conducive to beating the best teams. Cleveland may have the best RB stable in the league, but they also have one of the most expensive wide receiver rooms as well. Passing is significantly more efficient than running, and as the Browns allowed Baker Mayfield to do more (and as he grew more comfortable in the offense), he thrived.
Mayfield’s play over the first six games was bad. There’s no sugar-coating it, and the Browns had to rely on their run game to stay in the playoff hunt. Then, as a natural result of comfort coming with increased snaps, Mayfield settled in, and his play from Week 7 on was rivaled by only Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes.
PFF grade ranks from Week 7 through the Super Bowl, excluding Week 16:
— Sam Penix (@Sam_Penix) March 13, 2021
1. #Browns Baker Mayfield - 93.2 pic.twitter.com/ZSTZ8sdSPV
That’s pretty good company to be in. Maybe Mayfield doesn’t keep up quite that level of play, but there is every reason to expect his development to continue. A big part of that is throwing the ball more, and adding Odell Beckham Jr. and Anthony Schwartz won’t make life any more difficult.