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The Baker Mayfield Report: Cleveland Browns QB struggles with turnovers in loss to San Francisco 49ers

Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield continues to struggle with turnovers, as he had three in Monday's 31-3 loss at the San Francisco 49ers.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had a game he, his teammates, coaches and fans would rather forget when they took on the San Francisco 49ers on a Monday Night Football game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The Browns (2-3, second place in the AFC North Division) surrendered 275 rushing yards to the 49ers (4-0, first in the NFC West) and managed 180 yards of total offense on the way to their third loss of the 2019 regular season.

“I’m not hitting the panic button,” Mayfield said following the loss. “We know the problem.

“We know we have to be better. We just have to be better, and when you play a great team, you have to eliminate mistakes. You just have to. We know exactly what we need to do. We need to play well. We need to do our job each and every play and not lose sight of the goal at hand to be able to do that each week.”

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Here is a breakdown of Mayfield’s second home start of the 2019 regular season.

What Mayfield did?

Mayfield completed only eight of his 22 attempts for 100 yards with two interceptions, the second of which came on a deflection on a pass that hit wide receiver Antonio Callaway both in the hands and the chest before former Browns defensive back K’Waun Williams secured the takeaway and returned the ball 51 yards to the Cleveland 49-yard line.

Also, Mayfield had two fumbles, one of which the 49ers recovered during the first half, and was relieved of duty by fellow Lake Travis High School alum Garrett Gilbert late in the fourth quarter.

Including the two interceptions Mayfield tossed against the 49ers, he now leads the NFL with eight through the first five games of the 2019 season.

Credit: Tony Avelar/AP
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, center, sacks and forces a fumble by Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second half at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Monday, October 7, 2019.

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Analysis

While Mayfield made his share of mistakes, the Browns’ offensive line did not give him much room to operate, as he was under duress the entire night by a fierce 49ers pass rush, led by Nick Bosa and their four other first-round picks from previous NFL drafts.

Mayfield was sacked four times for 42 lost yards, two of which were registered by Bosa and the former Ohio State Buckeyes standout mocked the Browns’ quarterback with a planting of the flag celebration to his sack on the final play of the second quarter.

“I’ll be alright,” Mayfield said. “It’s just the general nature of that game. It’s just a physical game, so I’ll be good.”

Browns coach Freddie Kitchens added, “I thought he was taking too many hits unnecessarily.”

Credit: Tony Avelar/AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander, left, and K'Waun Williams during the first half of a Monday Night Football game in Santa Clara, California on Monday, October 7, 2019.

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What’s next?

Mayfield and the Browns will have to turn the page quickly after playing on Monday Night Football because the Seattle Seahawks, another NFC West Division team, is coming to Cleveland with their offense playing a high level through the first five weeks of the season.

The Seahawks enter Sunday’s game 4-1, a half-game in back of the 49ers for the top spot in the NFC West.

Credit: Gail Burton/AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

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What are they saying?

“So much of the quarterback has to do with the things around him, just like every week,” Kitchens said. “Last week, he played good because the guys around him played good. The quarterback can’t do it by himself.

“This is the reason why football is the ultimate team game. It takes all 11 guys. If one guy doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do, then you have an unsuccessful play, and that goes for all positions.”

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