5:21 p.m.-Baker Mayfield: Cleveland Browns 'don't need to reinvent the wheel' to cure offense's woes
BEREA, Ohio -- Converting turnovers into points has been a problem for the Cleveland Browns all season, and it is something they have set out to change, starting with this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
The Browns are spending their practices and meetings honing the small things that will allow them to finish drives in the end zone early in games.
“The thing around here is we do not need to reinvent the wheel,” Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “We need to perfect our craft.
“You look at the good teams around the league. They work hard at what they do, and they become very, very good at it. We have what we have. We do not need to try to change too much. We just need to get better at what we are doing. There is not a secret recipe for success besides working your [butt] off with what you have.”
One of the first things Mayfield wants to do is make sure the Browns are not playing behind the sticks.
The Browns committed 14 penalties for 144 yards in last Sunday’s 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that was not an aberration, as the offense has been plagued by false starts on the first play of drives, as well as down-the-field holding infractions that have nullified long runs throughout the first seven games of the season.
“Have to eliminate the minus plays,” Mayfield said. “We had two penalties -- one penalty on the first drive, one on the second drive, and then, the third drive had a negative run.
“If we do our job, we will eliminate those things and we will be in a much better position to take points and any points are good points. We have to feel the awareness. We have to score when we have a chance. We have to do that and be proud to do that.”
Despite forcing a league-high 20 turnovers, including NFL bests with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries and having the best turnover differential (plus-10), the Browns have turned their opponents’ miscues into just 31 points.
Through the first seven games of the 2018 regular season, the Browns have scored just eight points, two field goals and one safety, in the first quarter, which is in stark contrast to their end-of-game production, where they have combined for 108 points in the third and fourth periods.
“One of the things I think we are all looking at very closely on how we can get started much faster and try to take that mentality that we have in the second half and put it in the first half,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “If we can, we feel like we will be knocking on a lot of doors that gives us a chance to win.
“I think that is the challenge. I think that is what we are trying to accomplish and what we are trying to figure out as we continue to move forward. I think our players understand that, too. We have to play better in the first half of games so it gives us a chance in the second half to really, hopefully, run away with some games if we can continue to do what we have done in the second half.”
2:30 p.m.-Cleveland Browns to be featured in primetime on NFL Network at Denver Broncos on December 15
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns are ready for another close-up, Mr. DeMille.
After an early-season nationally-televised game, the Browns will make a second primetime appearance during the 2018 regular season.
The National Football League announced Wednesday that the Browns’ Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver will be Game 2 of an NFL Network doubleheader and is scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m./ET on Saturday, December 15.
The Houston Texans and New York Jets will play in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader.
When the Jets and Browns met on Thursday Night Football on September 20, Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield made his long-awaited NFL debut in the second quarter.
With starter Tyrod Taylor suffering a concussion, Mayfield entered the game, completed 17 of his 23 attempts for 201 yards and led the Browns on four scoring drives, all of which combined to give Cleveland a 21-17 victory over the Jets, much to the delight of the home fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns and Broncos have met in primetime games on three occasions, with Denver holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Two of those three games were played in Cleveland, including the Broncos’ memorable 34-30 come-from-behind victory over the Browns in a Thursday Night Football matchup on November 6, 2008.
All-time, the Browns are 23-32 in primetime games, including a 7-16 mark since returning to the NFL for the 1999 season.
The Browns are 15-16 in home primetime games, but have struggled away from Cleveland, posting an 8-16 record in night games on the road. However, history is on the Browns’ side, as they won their only other Saturday night game, a 24-20 decision over the Houston Oilers in Houston on December 23, 1989.
1:40 p.m.-Baker Mayfield: 'Probably not playing for Cleveland Browns' only way to draw flags on head hits
CLEVELAND -- What will it take for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield to draw a penalty for a hit above the shoulders that the National Football League and NFL Competition Committee have spent plenty of time trying to legislate out of the game in recent years?
Unfortunately, Mayfield is not optimistic about drawing penalties on defenders, even if he does take a hit in the helmet, just as was the case in last Sunday’s 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
“Probably not playing quarterback for the Browns,” Mayfield quipped during his weekly Wednesday press conference.
According to a report from ESPN’s Pat McManamon late Tuesday, “The NFL recognizes that Jordan Whitehead should have been penalized” for hitting a quarterback who had given himself up by initiating a slide or using his helmet to hit another player.
Other reports stated Wednesday that Whitehead is expected to be fined for the hit on Mayfield.
“After the fact, it doesn’t really matter,” Mayfield said. “That’s just one of those things that in the moment, you’ve got to be able to call that.”
Near the midway point of the fourth quarter, the Browns faced a second-and-26 from the Cleveland 24-yard line. Mayfield took the shotgun snap, and when no one was open, he pump-faked a throw to the right to freeze the defense, sprinted up the right hashmarks and across the Buccaneers logo in the middle of the field for a 35-yard gain.
At the end of the play, Mayfield appeared to give himself up and initiate a slide that would have given him an added level of protection. However, Whitehead led with his helmet and drilled Mayfield right in the ear hole.
.@bakermayfield turns on the jets!#CLEvsTB pic.twitter.com/cRkV0LKl08
Initially, a flag was thrown. However, after a brief conversation with his crew, referee Shawn Hochuli picked up the flag saying that once Mayfield left the pocket, he became a ball-carrier, and therefore, it was legal to hit him in the helmet.
“I didn’t hear it at the time because I was so fuming mad, but to hear the ref say he’s allowed to be hit in the head, I though that’s why they put in the rule, but we’ll see,” Mayfield said.
Understandably, Mayfield took exception to the hit, and after springing up to his feet, got in Whitehead’s face and let him know it was not enough to keep him down.
“That’s the type of energy and fire that I try and bring to the game,” Mayfield said. “I don’t know. Good reaction because it was a big play. We converted and we moved the ball down the field. We played well in that second half because we were clicking on all cylinders.”
Calls and non-calls aside, Mayfield believes if the Browns do what they have worked on in practice, officials will not have an impact on the game.
“It’s easy to point and blame certain calls in the game, but if we’re scoring points, we can take the refs out of the game,” Mayfield said. “We can eliminate all those things to where we’re not counting on having a good call. We can do the things right to where none of that really betters.”
11:25 a.m.-BROWNS BEGIN WORK IN STEELERS WEEK
BEREA -- The Cleveland Browns have gotten Steelers Week underway with practice at team headquarters in Berea.
The Browns are set to renew their AFC North Division rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh Sunday. The two teams opened the 2018 regular season with a 21-21 tie at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Sunday, September 10.
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