Mayfield, Chubb power Browns past Falcons 28-16: Five Takeaways

2) The Best of Baker

With the Browns very much out of playoff contention, the remainder of season has become about the development of Baker Mayfield for many Browns fans. If that’s you, Mayfield’s performance against the Falcons was as encouraging as it gets.

The No. 1 overall pick started the game a perfect seven-for-seven passing in the first quarter and the seventh completion was that 28-yard touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins. His completion streak climbed to 12 before halftime as he tossed a second touchdown as well, that time to Nick Chubb. He’d complete his 13th straight pass on the Browns first possession of the second half to make it a (wait for it) … Baker’s dozen. But like all good things it came to an end on his 14th pass attempt on a first-and-10 play from the Falcons 15. That drive ended with Mayfield hooking up with Duke Johnson for a touchdown regardless, his third of the day. So through two and a half quarters, Mayfield was 14-of-15 with three touchdowns.

The rookie could honestly do no wrong today. A perfect example of that was on the the first play of that third TD drive, Mayfield was stripped dropping back to pass and actually picked the ball up and gained six yards on the play. He ran for 20 yards. Threw for 216 yards and completed all but three of his 20 passes on the day to nine different receivers nonetheless. It was easily his most brilliant performance of the season. So for those measuring Mayfield’s development the rest of the way, his outing today should leave you salivating.

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