Browns’ offensive snap counts, stats, and PFF notes: Week 4

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 4 game against the Oakland Raiders.

• Baker Mayfield was credited with having four turnovers, but this was not the type of game you look at and say “he was turnover prone.” However, it was very costly when the team had a 28-14 lead mid-way through the third quarter, and he fumbled to help completely shift the momentum in Oakland’s favor.
• In terms of decision-making, I thought Mayfield was very good. He also spun out of several tackles and showed some unique arm angles to deliver drop off passes to his receivers. As the game went on, the Raiders started tipping a few of Mayfield’s passes that he was trying to drop over the front seven, including one play to David Njoku that could have went for significant yardage.
• Mayfield only completed 51.2% of his passes, but for whatever reason, both teams had a serious case of the drops. I think you could argue that the Browns dropped 5 passes right in their breadbasket, and then a couple more if you count balls you’d like to see the receiver haul in.

• The hotly-contested play with the officials will be the one where Carlos Hyde appeared to get a first down to seal it. Cleveland ran the ball three times — a decision I cannot disagree with, given the fact that they had an 8-point lead and were trying to get Oakland to burn all three of their timeouts. Man — just imagine if Hyde had gotten a little more push to remove all doubt? He did score his fifth touchdown of the year.
• We finally saw Duke Johnson utilized like he should be this week, thanks to a new quarterback under center. Johnson tried to improvise with Mayfield in overtime on a deep route, but the cornerback played it very well to defend the pass away.
• Well, we can put Nick Chubb in the record books, and it is a record that might not be broken for a very long time. It’s amazing that he only had three snaps total:

• Jarvis Landry’s personal streak of having 5 or more catches in a game came to an end. With so much offense, it’s surprising he didn’t have more production. He had an early drop, and then later on, couldn’t haul in another pass (although I think that ball might have been intended for the deeper receiver). He did pull in his first touchdown of the season on a nice fade to the corner.
• Besides his 59-yard catch-and-run, this was a terrible outing for rookie Antonio Callaway. He dropped passes left and right and kept slipping. On Mayfield’s downfield throw at the end of regulation to try to set up a field goal, Callaway either slipped or didn’t read the ball well, leading to an easy interception. There needs to be a better fight for that ball. A Callaway slip also led to Mayfield’s pick six at the beginning of the game.
• All I can say about Rashard Higgins...man, his route running is so crisp. When he makes his break or his stop, it is so crisp, and that will work very well on plays where Baker Mayfield is trying to time him up.
• Rod Streater made his Browns debut with 5 snaps. Derrick Willies also had 2 snaps. Damion Ratley was inactive.

• It was a rather quiet 5 catches for 52 yards for David Njoku. He dropped one pass in the seam, and that’ll be the play most people remember.
• Backup Darren Fells made a nice downfield catch and then went for 49 yards after a fortunate slip by two Raiders defenders. His end zone celebration was pretty fun too. Seth DeValve was inactive for the third straight game.

• The Raiders registered 2 sacks and 4 quarterback hits.
• C J.C. Tretter snapped the ball early during the Browns’ disastrous stretch, leading to a fumble in Cleveland territory. RG Kevin Zeitler was also beat on the play that led to QB Baker Mayfield’s first fumble.
• Per PFF, LT Desmond Harrison “might not be getting to a Pro Bowl this year, but for a position that was looking like a liability, you’re not hearing his name called a lot, as he holds his own despite the huge step up in competition.”