Chiefs 22, Browns 17
Baker Mayfield is The Dude. One of the worst potential outcomes of the 2020 season, outside of missing the playoffs, was not having enough information to make a decision about Baker Mayfield’s future with the Browns. It was a point of discussion all season long, especially in the first half when it felt like Mayfield was often holding back Kevin Stefanski’s scheme from operating at full capacity. His sporadic play, combined with a horrific 2019 season, looked like it was going to present the Browns front office with a very difficult decision regarding Mayfield’s fifth-year option.
That is now a moot point. From Week 9 on, Mayfield played like a top 10 NFL quarterback. He is 7th in the league in completion percentage over expectation at +2.5 and 9th in EPA+CPOE composite. His third quarter interception against the Chiefs was just his second one thrown since the bye. He threw 15 TDs over that same span.
The Browns will pick up his option and most likely sign him to an extension, rubber stamping Mayfield as the franchise quarterback the franchise has been so desperately searching for. With an offseason, full training camp and preseason to further familiarize himself with Stefanksi’s offense, Mayfield should come out humming in 2021. Add in the return of OBJ and perhaps another wideout in the draft, and the Browns offense should be near the top of the NFL next season. What a journey it’s been for Mayfield. And finally, the Browns have their quarterback. — Jordan Zirm
The defense needs, well, everything. On 4th & 1, needing a stop to save their season, the Browns slotted M.J. Stewart on Tyreek Hill. It went about how you’d expect. It was the epitome of Cleveland’s season on the defensive end: the necessitated use of inferior personnel. Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett could only be asked to do so much to keep the Browns afloat on the defensive side of the ball. The Browns simply never had enough above average players to truly compete for a championship.
There were constant miscommunications in the secondary. The linebacking corp couldn’t cover or make any game-changing plays. Even with Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams returning next season, the Browns need a full replenishing of the middle class of their defense. Luckily, they have cap space and a draft to do just that, with Andrew Berry very much needing to hit on his defensive picks in April. The jury is still out on Joe Woods, and his schemes didn’t seem to help his outmanned personnel, but it’s unfair to have a referendum on his coaching ability with what he was given to work with.
The Browns need to make a leap on defense and they have the potential to do it. — JZ
This was not Stefanski’s best work. Kevin Stefanski is a big reason why the Cleveland Browns made it as far as they did — there is no legitimate way to dispute this. His play-calling, his work with Baker Mayfield and overall temperament are significant reasons why with, a few more breaks, the Browns would be a win away from the Super Bowl right now.
But it’s also fair to say that Sunday was not Stefanski’s best game as a head coach. His plan felt a little reserved — perhaps out of a fear of a needless turnover that would give Patrick Mahomes more chances, perhaps just some natural reservation in his first in-person playoff game. In moments like this, where the Browns were underdogs and needed some juice, he had tricks up his sleeve. That wasn’t the case on Sunday.
In particular, the calls on what became the team’s last drive were confusing choices and not aggressive with Mayfield dealing. Why not trust him in this situation?
Challenging Tyreek Hill’s catch was also an avoidable error and cost the Browns what could have been a key timeout. (Stefanski said as much after the game.) Not going for it on fourth-and-nine with four minutes to play — even if defending Chad Henne didn’t seem all too intimidating — also was a bit of a head-scratcher. Overall, this game felt like a learning experience.
And guess what? That’s absolutely fine. Andy Reid, the man on the opposite sideline, had his own history of playoff miscues before he figured it out and won. And there’s nothing in Stefanski’s track record or outlook on football (at least as we understand it) to suggest that this won’t propel him forward in some way.
So was Stefanski at his best on Sunday? No. But this was his first time in this moment, coaching against an elite team with an elite coach. The best is, hopefully, yet to come. — Chris Manning
ICYMI
Stefanski explains not going for it on fourth down
Jed Wills was hurt on the Browns’ offensive snap
Kevin Porter Jr. might be back sooner rather than later
Patrick Mahomes and Mack Wilson tweeted it out
Myles Garrett says no Brown headhunts
The Cleveland baseball team avoided arbitration with all eligible players
Sounds like Baker is definitely ‘the guy’ in Cleveland
One thing to read today
It feels right to link a mock draft here, so here’s one from The Draft Network
Who we are
Chris Manning: Site Manager at Fear the Sword, co-host of the Locked on Cavs podcast, words at places like Cleveland Magazine and Forbes. On Twitter @cwmwrites
Jordan Zirm: Social editor at @TheCheckdown. Formerly of ESPN Cleveland. Words at B/R, SB Nation and UPROXX. Host of The Rebuild podcast. On Twitter @clevezirm
Alex Hooper: Contributor at Fantasy Sports Insight. Former Cleveland Baseball Club beat writer for 92.3 the Fan (WKRK), and contributor at Sports Illustrated, Let’s Go Tribe, and the News-Herald. On Twitter @lexhooper.