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

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

• It’s OK to say that Baker Mayfield had an awful game in terms of accuracy, without having to question whether he’s worthy of being the team’s future franchise quarterback. Mayfield has had a lot of terrific performances over the past year, and yet I saw way too many fans questioning his long-term status with the team. My reaction to reading those takes was, “Where the hell did that come from?”
• Back to the game itself: it was one of the worst games I’ve seen from Mayfield regarding his accuracy, which contrasted what we saw in the first two weeks. I still believed that his decision-making was solid, which is what I’m more concerned with, except for one play in the second half in which he inexplicably decided to try running on third down when RB Demetric Felton was wide open in the flat.
• Even though the Browns’ offensive line has still been very good, I think we’re seeing Mayfield getting just a hair skittish at times, thanks to the left tackle situation.

• The running backs played at a high caliber, yet again. Nick Chubb churned his way for 100 yards rushing, while Kareem Hunt had 69 yards. Funny enough, Cleveland’s two biggest run plays came on “give up draw plays,” the first of which was a 33-yard scamper by Hunt that helped set up the team’s field goal heading into the half.
• Per PFF, “Both backs were effective shrugging off would-be tacklers, as Chubb and Hunt collected 61% and 66.7% of their yards after contact, respectively.”
• Andy Janovich played just 5 snaps, but he also played a rep on the two-point conversion attempt, which he caught in the flat.

• I’d be lying if the “chemistry” issues between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham weren’t creeping into my head again. I’ve made my stance clear before: I don’t think it’s Beckham’s fault, and I don’t place a lot of blame on Mayfield. However, I do feel that Mayfield still doesn’t play as loose mentally when Beckham is on the field.
• The reason you don’t cast Beckham aside is that it’s on Mayfield to get better, because we saw several opportunities on Sunday that could have been touchdowns between the pair. One of them was on the last offensive series, when Beckham continued streaking but Mayfield claims he wanted him to stop in the open area.
• It’s a bit weird that Donovan Peoples-Jones is seeing so many snaps, was the star of training camp, and yet he only has 4 catches for 57 yards on the year.
• Rashard Higgins remains the security blanket for Mayfield, catching 4 passes for 63 yards. It’s telling that when Mayfield throws the ball to Higgins, the ball is sharp and on point.

• Mayfield couldn’t connect with his tight ends either on Sunday. He targeted Austin Hooper five times, but only connected with him once.
• For the second week in a row, Harrison Bryant was wide open on a deep flag pattern, but Mayfield sailed the pass to him.

• Joel Bitonio was the Browns’ highest-graded player with a grade of 90.9.
• Although the group’s effort in the run was praised, PFF says the Browns’ pass-rush was “less proficient in pass protection, allowing 20 pressures — including three sacks.”
• Jedrick Wills limped off again, this time after playing 73% of the game. The surprising aspect this week was that James Hudson, not Blake Hance, replaced him. The reason given was that with Wills not practicing lately, Hudson has had a lot more practice reps and has improved. He did have a false start penalty that prevented the Browns from attempting a 4th-and-2 late in the game.