Despite the fact that the passing game was a no-show again, the Cleveland Browns managed to hold on for a win over the Detroit Lions.
If the Cleveland Browns were playing any other team they would have lost this game without question. Cleveland struggled to do anything offensively and nearly lost to a Lions team that is now 0-9-1. This was more of a game that the Lions lost than the Browns won.
The only bright spot for the Browns in the contest was Nick Chubb. Chubb carried the ball 22 times for 130 yards, putting the offense on his back and carrying the team to victory. It is very easy to think that without Chubb the outcome may have been different.
There is an obvious elephant in the room that has been present all season, another awful performance from Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was terrible from start to finish in this game, completing 15 of 29 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The first interception was on a clear overthrow to Jarvis Landry.
Baker Mayfield overthrows a wide open Jarvis Landry, resulting in an interception @NextGenStats #Browns pic.twitter.com/WySydXPdGG
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2021
The second was when Mayfield failed to identify (again) a defender in between himself and his intended target.
The first career interception for @parkersisland‼️#DETvsCLE | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/sQSFBTA9Pa
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 21, 2021
After the game Mayfield did not participate in the customary postgame handshake and instead walked off the field, proceeding to decline to speak to the media following the game, a violation of NFL protocol.
Baker Mayfield not addressing media postgame. No word on why #Browns
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2021
In a now deleted Instagram story, Emily Mayfield shared a post praising Mayfield’s toughness while criticizing the apparent lack of toughness of others on the team.
Yeah I've had enough of this pic.twitter.com/dr8ECs8NPd
— David Zavac (@DavidZavac) November 21, 2021
Nobody has ever questioned the toughness of Mayfield and if they have they are misguided. The criticisms are in regards to his performance on the field and a very large portion of the season has produced bench worthy play. The fact that Mayfield continues to see the field while he is performing this poorly perplexing and Kevin Stefanski will have to answer for it at some point.
