Browns’ offensive snap counts, stats, and PFF notes: Week 5

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

• The Browns didn’t put a lot of points on the board Sunday, but it was another well-led game by rookie Baker Mayfield, who showed poise despite throwing an early interception and often being backed up in his own territory.
• There are a couple of things we’ve seen a few weeks now from Mayfield — there are a few balls where he has open receivers at the second level, but the pass is just a tad low for a linebacker to jump and deflect it. Also, while I love how he uses the pocket, sometimes he has been unaware of the rush coming and rolls right into a sack.
• The highest grade on offense (from PFF) went to none other than Mayfield (81.1). The throw in overtime to Derrick Willies after pressure was in his face was awesome. On passes longer than 20 yards downfield, PFF says that Mayfield was “4-for-7 for 90 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 141.4.”

• It’s not often that the snap count percentages surprise me when I see them, but this was certainly the case this week, learning that Duke Johnson played over half the snaps on offense. Nick Chubb played more snaps than any other game this season, although his 3 carries for 2 yards were a season-worst.
• Don’t be sour on the day that Carlos Hyde had. His touchdown streak may have ended, but PFF notes that 61 of his 63 rushing yards came after contact and that he forced five missed tackles against Baltimore.

• Jarvis Landry made an error near the end of regulation. His 17-yard pass converted a first down, and he easily would’ve had the sideline to stop the clock. Instead, he tried to side-step inside, thinking he could fool the defense, and was tackled immediately. Cleveland rushed to the line and clocked the ball, but you basically lost two plays there.
• I don’t know what the Browns should do with Antonio Callaway. For the most part, I still like the routes he is running...but the drops are way over-the-top now.
• Rashard Higgins broke off his route in the first quarter, leading to an interception. He was unphased after that, though, catching two long passes on third down and then having a touchdown grab. Unfortunately, his birthday game ended early due to a sprained MCL that will keep him out indefinitely. Higgins had the 3rd highest PFF grade on offense for the Browns (72.5).
• Derrick Willies answered the bell filling in for Higgins, including the key 39-yard catch-and-run on third down to help set up the game-winning field goal. Rod Streater played 18 snaps, but was blown up on a reverse that tried to utilize his speed — Baltimore was all over it.

• The six catches were a career high for David Njoku, but the play that stands out is the athletic attempt he could not bring in on the sideline. That type of catch is how I envision Njoku being a weapon, but he just doesn’t bring them in enough on gameday. Can we channel him back to that first preseason game?
• Seth DeValve played 9 snaps in his first game back and had a 26-yard reception.

• After a series of solid games by rookie left tackle Desmond Harrison, he was really no match for veteran rusher Terrell Suggs. Per PFF, Suggs “bull-rushed Harrison all game long.”
• The Browns allowed 5 sacks and 8 quarterback hits.
• JC Tretter (77.9) and Kevin Zeitler (68.1) were the Browns’ 2nd and 5th highest graded players on offense, respectively. Rookie Austin Corbett played three snaps.