Cleveland Browns: 3 Overreactions to Week 1 loss vs Chiefs
By Nick Swanson
Second Overreaction – Baker Mayfield still needs work
Okay, everybody let’s calm down before we get to commenting and actually read the rest of the slide, shall we?
Baker Mayfield played very well for a majority of the game. He looked poised in the pocket and made good decisions throughout.
He did what was expected of him and even exceeded expectations at some points. He helped draw out the plays that Kevin Stefanski had drawn up, he even had an incredible head fake on a handoff to Nick Chubb that helped draw the defense away. He played very well and at very close to, if not, elite level for the first three quarters.
When the fourth quarter rolled along, he started getting antsy along with the rest of the team and that was the downfall of the Browns. He managed to remain composed for some rough parts, but he had an absolutely brutal sequence at the end of the game.
He underthrew Browns tight end David Njoku on a crucial third down play to get the first down and ended up throwing it five yards short and in the dirt while Njoku was coming back to the ball.
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On the very next play, Baker is getting pressured and instead of taking a sack and calling the timeout or spiking the ball, he throws the ball, while horizontal with the ground with a defender around his ankles, and it gets intercepted to seal the game for the Chiefs.
Baker played very well throughout the game but just couldn’t get it done on that last drive. He’s still young and has plenty of room to learn and grow so this isn’t the end of the world but it is something to look out for.
Mayfield has been known to be easily pressured, especially in his early years, but that has gone away significantly as he’s matured in the league and under Stefanski. You can’t completely eliminate these errors but with more time he’ll be just fine.