3 Keys to victory for the Cleveland Browns in week 11

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Nov 14, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off of the field after sustaining an injury during the second half of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns Key No. 2 – Get Baker going early

Last week’s performance was dreadful by Baker Mayfield. And right now, it’s difficult to differentiate if he’s struggling because of the injuries, or because he still just isn’t seeing the field as well as he should.

And while I don’t want to focus on the long-term plans of the Cleveland Browns and if that involves Mayfield, one thing is almost for certain – he’ll be on the roster in 2022, and there is a good chance he’s the starter. So, we all just need to make the best of it.

What can Kevin Stefanski do to get Mayfield going early? Run the football as he did in the first drive of the game vs. the Patriots. With the hopeful return of Nick Chubb, establish the run early, and you may only need Mayfield to throw the ball 20 times.

Then off the running game, you can get play action. Keep Mayfield clean in the pocket and give him some extremely easy throws.

Any way you look at it, we know what we have with Mayfield. A very good quarterback, who is going to have bad weeks, but can’t be expected to line up in the shotgun and throw it 40 times a game and be successful.

I get that the Patriots took the run game away after the first drive, but the team completely gave up on D’Ernest Johnson. Don’t get me started on the lack of screen passes.

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