Cleveland makes history on offense in a losing effort.
Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Baker Mayfield was much better this week with his performance, completing 71.8% of his passes, and that percentage would’ve been closer to 90% if it weren’t for the last drive where he clocked the ball and was throwing up long/Hail Mary passes.
- A lot of the passes were short-range passes with receivers gaining yards after the catch. But Mayfield also completed downfield passes well too, and his decision-making remained on-point. With the help of the running game, Mayfield helped lead a scoring drive on nearly every drive that he possibly could. On the ones where he didn’t, what else could he do? The first one that comes to mind is the turnover on downs, a pass that he put on the money to Odell Beckham but was dropped. In the second half, two drives stalled back-to-back because of holding penalties that certainly can’t be put on Mayfield.
- Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were outstanding, combining for over 200 yards rushing. It’s a damn shame to see a team run the ball as well as Cleveland did and not have a victory to show for it.
- Per PFF, about 144 of Chubb’s 161 rushing yards came after contact. Chubb and Hunt combined to force 12 missed tackles.
- Odell Beckham saw the most reps at receiver, but was virtually a non-factor on the stat sheet on Cleveland’s explosive day of offense. Granted, I’m sure he drew some coverages — Rashard Higgins was wide open on his touchdown grab because two defenders shadowed Beckham — but that key fourth down drop in the first half looms large. It reminded me of when he dropped a fourth down pass against the Ravens in last year’s opener.
- Donovan Peoples-Jones had his most active day of the season, catching 5 passes for 70 yards.
- Anthony Schwartz had a shot at a long pass down the right sideline. Mayfield appeared to put the ball right on the money in stride, but Schwartz slowed up a tad as he was more busy trying to hand-fight with the trailing defensive back.
- Demetric Felton played 3 snaps and was not targeted.
- Austin Hooper did not see a target during regular action, but caught a shuffle pass over the middle for a two-point conversion.
- David Njoku had a breakout and career day, catching 7 passes for 149 yards and 1 touchdown, including a 71-yard catch-and-run. Njoku has been great for over a year now, and I’d love to see the Browns utilize the mismatches with him more often.
- Harrison Bryant was flagged for one of the drive-killing holding penalties.
- Blake Hance made his first career start and did a very admirable job, especially considering he was going up against Joey Bosa.
- Per PFF, “the Browns’ offensive line played their best game in pass protection, as they combined to allow just three pressures and no sacks.”
- PFF awarded the best pass-rushing grades of the game to RT Jack Conklin and RG Wyatt Teller. LG Joel Bitonio earned the best run-blocking grade in his 100th career start. It was also C JC Tretter’s 100th career game.
- James Hudson came in relief for Conklin at right tackle, who left with a knee injury. Fingers crossed that Conklin’s injury isn’t too serious.
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