CLEVELAND — Quarterback Baker Mayfield was not happy with the 2019 regular-season opener, and he had nearly two extra days to stew over the three fourth-quarter interceptions thrown in the 30-point loss to the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium last Sunday, but the second-year pro put that time to good use.
Despite having to go on the road after a disappointing home loss, Mayfield led five scoring drives and helped pace the Browns to a 23-3 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in front of a national television audience on Monday Night Football.
“Anytime you win on the road, it feels good,” Mayfield said.
“You want to go out on the road and steal a couple victories throughout the season, and it’s a good start for us. It’s great for our mentality going forward. It’s a win, and we’re going to take that and keep that rolling, but at the same time, there’s a lot to learn from this one and to get better from.”
Here is a breakdown of Mayfield’s first road start of the 2019 regular season.
What Mayfield did?
Mayfield completed 19 of his 35 attempts for 325 yards and one touchdown, an 89-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., against one interception. Mayfield found Beckham Jr., who had himself quite the return to MetLife Stadium, with six passes for 161 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.
Analysis
Mayfield is not one to overlook a win on the road, but he is focused on being more consistent, especially when it comes to putting the ball in the end zone. Mayfield was upset with the first two drives combining to cover 98 yards, only to end in Austin Seibert field goals.
Mayfield was 11 of 23 for 162 yards with one sack taken in the first half, and finished the game by going eight of 12 for 164 yards and the touchdown to Beckham Jr.
“We absolutely needed to play better,” Mayfield said. “That’s the biggest thing. Not losing sight that a win is a win, especially on the road, and we needed this one, but field goals early on? We’ll take points, but at the same time, we need to finish those drives. We need to play better. A little frustrating at times. I think I’ll be able to look at this film and get a lot better from it.”
What’s next?
The primetime spotlight of Monday Night Football will transition from the road to a Sunday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland this week.
Led by All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams have a ferocious pass rush.
What are they saying?
“I think I need to be better at checking the ball down, getting completions,” Mayfield said. “I said it last week after watching that tape, completions, getting the ball in our guys’ hands and just putting us in a good position, keeping the chains moving, keeping the positivity rolling.
“Consistency, for us, is the goal. Completions, I think is going to help the consistency and taking what they’re giving us, and that falls back on me. Yeah, I think we’re just scratching the surface.”
Beckham Jr. added, “We didn’t play our best football, but we got the ‘W,’ and that’s all that matters.”