Browns’ offensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 16

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

• The more I get to see Baker Mayfield throw the ball, the more frustrating it is becoming how he has not adapted to throwing the ball in different ways. Too many times, it is the same low line drive, which can be a good throw at times. But at other times, those balls allow the trailing defender to knock a pass away, or for a defender at the line of scrimmage to knock the pass down.
• Mayfield was fortunate not to have a screen pass picked off, as replay review said the ball hit the ground.

• One play defined the game against Baltimore: 3rd-and-1, with a 6-0 lead and two minutes to go in the half. Run the ball twice to get a first down, and who knows — maybe we’re talking about playoff chances in Week 17. Instead, Freddie Kitchens called a halfback pass that led to a loss of 7 or 8 yards.
• I love creativity; it is one of the things that intrigued me so much last year about Kitchens. But those creative plays worked; because if you call those, you’d better be pretty sure your team has an advantage on it. I’m guessing Kitchens didn’t fathom in his wildest imagination that three defenders would immediately be on Hunt in the backfield, but that says something about the call, doesn’t it?
• Dontrell Hilliard got hurt after taking a hit on a catch; D’Ernest Johnson must have received a couple of snaps because of that.

• My thought on the Odell Beckham taunting penalty? I freaking hate that stupid first down signal that he’s been doing all season. It does nothing to get me excited, and I’ve thought, “It’s only a matter of time before one official thinks it is taunting or something.” Yes, receivers get away with that crap all the time and it did feel like Beckham was singled out, but still...
• At least Beckham caught a touchdown pass on a fade. Hooray for the first successful fade of the 2019 season!
• Jarvis Landry had some nice grabs early on, but his day kind of goes down as a footnote after the loss.
• Once again, Rashard Higgins was not in the receiver rotation, in favor of Damion Ratley and KhaDarel Hodge.

• Ricky Seals-Jones made a nice seam catch to set up a fourth quarter touchdown, but then dropped a two-point conversion. When he came out of his break on that play, he didn’t snap his head around quick enough, and therefore his hands weren’t quite ready for the hot pass coming to him.
• Demetrius Harris caught a touchdown pass. Once again, David Njoku was a healthy scratch.

• The Browns allowed 1 sack and 5 quarterback hits.
• Justin McCray served as a sixth lineman for 15% of the game.
• Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller both received praise from PFF for their work at the guard positions: