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Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds in Week 11 nail-biting victory

By Matthew McFatridge

Nov 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Malcolm Smith (56) and the Browns defense celebrate after Smith intercepted a pass during the first half against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Malcolm Smith (56) and the Browns defense celebrate after Smith intercepted a pass during the first half against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field after the Browns beat the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns dud: Baker Mayfield playing through injury

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been called many things this season by fans and media members, including tough and resilient. This is mostly due to the fact that he’s playing through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, as well as having several other injuries impact him through the first 11 weeks of the season, including a foot and a knee injury.

Since the Browns announced Mayfield’s labrum injury, however, the quarterback has not been playing well. He hasn’t been able to find his open receivers, has taken too many self-inflicted sacks, and on Sunday, threw two bad passes that got intercepted.

While some praise Mayfield playing through his injuries as “tough,” the fact that his play appears to be suffering due to these injuries is putting his team in bad situations. A truly tough quarterback would look at what his injury-riddled play is doing to his offense, and take a seat on the bench for a few weeks to heal what can be healed.

It didn’t matter on Sunday, as the Lions were unable to capitalize on the Browns poor quarterback play, but as has been shown in games against quality opponents, that can be exactly what causes you to lose a game in blowout fashion. Mayfield playing through the labrum injury is inevitable, but until the rest of his body is healthy, the Browns will likely continue to have an up-and-down season.

Cleveland Browns stud: Jarvis Landry

Jarvis Landry is seen by many as the juice that gets Cleveland flowing, hence the nickname “Juice.” Many Browns fans cite Landry’s arrival as the changing of the culture and the reason the Browns are more respected around the league.

While the winning didn’t really start until a few years after Landry’s arrival, his impact as a playmaker was felt in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. On the first play of the second quarter, Landry took a direct snap and ran 16 yards for Cleveland’s first touchdown of the day, a play that, in the end, may have been exactly enough to help lift the Browns over the Lions after 60 minutes.

After talking with Cleveland.com writer Mary Kay Cabot about not being as involved in the offense as he would like, Landy saw this direct snap touchdown, as well as four catches on the day for another 26 yards.

While 42 total yards may not seem like much, Landry did just enough to both get involved in the game plan a bit more, as well as help lift the Browns to the victory. With the lack of depth at receiver right now for the Browns, Landry stepped up and did what he needed to and helped them get back in the win column, just as any good “culture-changer” should.

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