Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds from Week 2 win vs. Bengals
Cleveland Browns Stud No. 1: Baker Mayfield, QB
Despite not having a full offensive line in front of him with Jack Conklin active but not starting, quarterback Baker Mayfield looked like the player we saw in his rookie season. Yes, the stat line won’t make your eyes pop but it was the overall performance that left an impression.
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All told, Mayfield went 16-of-23 for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But the most important part was that the young signal-caller looked poised, confident and decisive, which is when he’s at his best. Yes, the second-half interception was a bad one where he either got fooled by the coverage or tried to force the issue but it was an aggressive error, which you can live with, especially in a victory.
For the Browns to be the team they hope to be, it all starts under center. On Thursday night, Mayfield looked the part.
Cleveland Browns Stud No. 2: Odell Beckham Jr., WR
In the beatdown at the hands of Baltimore last week, Odell Beckham Jr. was in full focus for the wrong reasons. Despite being targeted 10 times, he had just three catches for 22 yards. That then led to more questions about his future in Cleveland and rapport with Mayfield. Thursday may have put that to bed — for now.
Beckham led the Browns in receiving, catching four balls for 74 yards and a long touchdown that was a thing of beauty. Furthermore, he would’ve had another long reception — perhaps for another score — if not for a missed defensive pass interference penalty.
Maybe it was the matchup but OBJ looked like OBJ against the Bengals. He was explosive, he was able to make splash plays and he was consistent. That, perhaps even just as much as Mayfield, is a good sign for the Browns moving forward.