Consistently finishing remains Browns problem
The Cleveland Browns are convinced that, with a little luck and a better kicker the first two weeks, they could be 4-0 heading into their game with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, but the cold numbers say they are 1-2-1.
Rookie Baker Mayfield will be making his second NFL start when the Browns play the AFC North leading Ravens, who are 3-1 after smothering the Pittsburgh Steelers and their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, 26-14, last Sunday.
Mayfield turned the ball over four times in a 45-42 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders – once on a botched exchange from center JC Tretter, once on a strip sack and twice on interceptions. That is twice as many turnovers as Tyrod Taylor made in 2 1/2 games, but head coach Hue Jackson has no thought of sending Mayfield back to the sideline, and the players are fine with that decision.
“Baker is that type of guy,” Tretter said. “That’s what we’ve seen through the training camp and through the season. He’s energetic. He’s positive. He’s never going to let a bad play, a bad quarter or anything like that kind of get to him.
“He’s always expecting to make the next play. That’s something the offense, the receivers, the offensive line and the running backs can all feed off of. Understanding that no matter what happened in the past, we’re one play away from breaking it back wide open.”
If there is such a thing, the Browns have already played the easy portion of their schedule. Their first four opponents – the Steelers, Saints, Jets and Raiders, have won a combined six games. Their next four – the Ravens, Chargers, Buccaneers and Steelers again – have won eight times. The Ravens are the best of the group.
“We’ve played some really good teams these first four weeks, and we’re going to play some even better ones as we go,” Jackson said. “I think our players know that we can play with anybody. Now we have to play well enough to win. That’s what we have to do for 60 minutes, 70 minutes or whatever it’s going to be.
“We have to go find a way to go finish these games. I know that’s some of the same cliches that you heard a year ago, but that’s the way football is, especially in the National Football League.”
The Browns have been outscored, 104-102, through four games. They had a chance to beat the Steelers in overtime in the opener, but a field goal try by Zane Gonzalez was blocked. Gonzalez missed an extra point in New Orleans with the score 18-18 and then missed a field-goal try with the Saints leading, 21-18. He also missed another extra point and another field goal in New Orleans.
The Browns led the Raiders 28-14, fell behind 34-28 and regained the lead, 42-34, before losing in overtime.
The game with the Ravens is not likely to be a shootout. Both teams have a swarming defense that pressures the quarterback. For Mayfield, that means expect a heavy dose of Terrell Suggs (2.5 sacks). For Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, it means expecting constant pressure from Myles Garrett (4.5 sacks).
SERIES HISTORY: 39th regular season meeting. Ravens lead series, 29-9. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is 36-23 against the AFC North. He has almost half of those victories at the expense of the Browns. The Browns are 2-17 when facing Flacco.