Browns’ offensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 8

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 8 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

• The numbers weren’t impressive statistically for Baker Mayfield, but this was a game where you had to watch the game with the eye test. With the exception of an erratic first throw of the game, Mayfield’s accuracy was pretty sharp, and he looked confident in the pocket. As much as his receivers helped him against the Bengals last week, they were a disservice to him in Week 8, dropping 20% of his passes. That took at least 11 points off the board, and with those numbers in mind, we could’ve had a different ballgame.

• Mayfield used his legs to his advantage and took a few shots along the way, rushing 6 times for 29 yards.

• It seems crazy because even though Kareem Hunt averaged 4.7 yards per carry, there were numerous times were I looked at his runs and thought, “Oh my god, if that defender misses, he’s gone for the races...” followed by an “oh, never mind,” as the defenders executed the tackle. Nick Chubb has that better subtle nature to his running and powering through tackles, but I also feel like Hunt is a little banged up.
• Hunt still played 86% of the snaps in the game; however, Andy Janovich was only in for 6 snaps.

• I don’t want to knock Jarvis Landry too much; I never do, because I know he always gives full effort, and some of the catches he was asked to make had a high degree of difficulty or involved him taking a big hit. Nonetheless, he had his hands on three of those passes that would have been big plays — a first down or a touchdown — and he couldn’t haul them in.
• One annoyance for sure would be anyone who pointed to Rashard Higgins’ stat line in this game and used it as a reason for why the team missed Odell Beckham Jr. If the weather conditions were normal, I have no doubt that Higgins would have carved up the Raiders’ defense.
• KhaDarel Hodge returned from injury and played 69% of the snaps. Rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones was back to being limited to just 4 snaps.

• After the tight ends stepped up last week against the Bengals, they were a sore spot against the Raiders. Harrison Bryant had a fumble on the Browns’ first series — you never know, with how they were rolling on that opening drive, maybe it could’ve been a touchdown and changed the game.
• And then after the Raiders scored their touchdown, David Njoku had a chance to make a catch in the fourth quarter. With a catch and run, he could have gotten the team into field goal range, and who knows — maybe he breaks a tackle and goes the distance. Crazy things can happen in slick weather. But he dropped the pass, Cleveland punted, and the Raiders took a two possession lead.
• PFF ranked Bryant and Njoku with grades of 51 and 50, respectively.

• Joel Bitonio was the Browns’ highest-graded offensive player with a grade of 87.1 by PFF.
• Chris Hubbard (79.0) and Jack Conklin (70.3) also received decent grades.
• PFF said that Jedrick Wills didn’t allow a single pressure all game. However, he still finished with a grade of 47.4, probably due to the number of penalties he incurred. He was charged with an offensive holding call and two false starts.
• Mayfield was not sacked during the game and only took one quarterback hit.