Browns’ offensive snap counts, stats, and PFF notes: Week 3

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 3 game against the New York Jets.

• What a debut for Baker Mayfield! I recall one bad decision, and that was when he tried to fire a strike to Jarvis Landry in the back of the end zone on his first drive. The throw would’ve been right on the button, but he didn’t see the crossing safety (who missed the interception). Mayfield had two legitimate drops, and one or two others that could have been caught.
• Pro Football Focus did a full post on Mayfield’s day. He received the Browns’ highest grade on offense with an 84.3. Whether he was kept clean, under pressure, blitzed, or not blitzed, Mayfield still excelled in his passer rating.

• Ron Jaworski looked at the PFF stats to help break down the differences between Baker Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor by the numbers. Over the first two games, my support for Taylor starting the whole year had dropped dramatically. I still thought he would remain the starter, but I definitely had an attitude of, “We wouldn’t be getting worse results with Baker, so what are we waiting for?” Taylor’s first half effort against the Jets was abysmal, and he deserved to be benched even if the concussion didn’t happen.

• You have to feel happy for Carlos Hyde, who rushed to the stadium after waiting to see if his baby would be born. He delivered two touchdown runs and was consistent throughout the game in churning out yardage.
• The rep utilization remained identical as the previous two games. Duke Johnson only had 2 catches, but nearly had a critical error when he fumbled in the fourth quarter trying to fight for more yardage by the sideline. Somehow, Rashard Higgins alertly fell on top of the ball despite there being a lot more Jets in the area.
• Nick Chubb got his couple of carries, including one that set up the Browns for a 1st-and-goal from the 1 yard line on their final scoring drive. Chubb’s big error actually came on special teams; his whiff in protection allowed a punt to be partially blocked. The Jets converted it to six.

• For the first time this season, a receiver out-snapped Jarvis Landry. Although Antonio Callaway only had 4 catches on 10 targets, I still love the potential I see from him. There were several plays he absolutely burned the Jets’ defense with ease, but Tyrod Taylor missed him for an open touchdown. He did have a drop on a perfect sideline throw from Baker Mayfield, and also failed to attack the ball on a comeback route that led to an incompletion.
• Jarvis Landry had one drop, but other than that, what a gamer. He bleeds orange and brown and is delivering with his play. Cleveland almost got him his first touchdown reception on a shuffle pass in the fourth quarter at the 1 yard line, but the Jets sniffed it out. Earlier, he threw the ball calmly to Mayfield for a successful two-point conversion.
• Per PFF, Landry was covered by seven different defenders and had at least one catch against each of them. “Landry’s 1.92 yards-per-route-run from the slot currently ranks him 13th among all wide receivers with at least 20 snaps taken from the slot,” said PFF.
• Rashard Higgins did the job he need to do — 3 targets and 3 catches, with no drops.
• Damion Ratley saw his first rep of the season, while Derrick Willies also managed a snap somewhere. New receiver Rod Streater was inactive.

• I know it was only two catches, but his two grabs for 36 yards are exactly what I want to see out of David Njoku. He can beat those linebackers at the snap, and with Baker Mayfield’s quick release and good ball placement, he can put the ball right where only Njoku can get it.
• Orson Charles saw an uptick in action. Baker Mayfield wanted him to come back to the ball on a sideline pass he was rolling out on, but Charles wasn’t able to hold on to the pass.

• The Browns allowed 4 sacks and 12 hits on the quarterback.
• Per PFF, Kevin Zeitler and Desmond Harrison were among the Browns’ top 5 offensive players from this past Thursday.