Monday leftovers

The manner in which the Browns knocked off the Minnesota Vikings Sunday got me to thinking. They are taking the expression "winning ugly" to new and misleading heights.

That's two games in a row now the offense has sputtered and been rescued by the defense. Can't remember the last time a Cleveland Browns defense hogged the spotlight like this.

Sure winning is great, but it sometimes covers up blemishes that ultimately crop up and hamper the ability to sustain the ability to win.

While celebrating its emergence as one of the National Football League's stingiest defenses, a troubling and yet vital part of the offense is clearly on the downgrade. It needs fixing in a hurry because the defense can't keep this up the next couple of games against high-powered offenses.

Baker Mayfield is in a three-game slump. It's that simple. He is not the same quarterback who thrilled Browns Nation the last half of last season and the season-opener this year against Kansas City with his throwing accuracy. It is MIA. It should not be ignored because the record is 3-1 with a three-game winning streak. He's not the reason they are.

An outstanding running game and rebirth of the defense have helped keep the Browns remain tied atop the AFC North with Baltimore and Cincinnati. Without either of these attributes, the Browns would probably be 2-2 at best, 1-3 at worst and sharing the basement with Pittsburgh.

Last season, it was Mayfield and the offense that kept the Browns in contention in spite of an awful defense and ultimately a ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2002.

Mayfield, whose confident nature and bold command of the huddle are among his greatest assets, has looked different during that win streak. He seems uncertain where to throw the football. A great example of that occurred during the first possession of the second half Sunday in Minnesota.

Third down and a couple at their 33, the Browns up, 11-7. Mayfield drops back to throw and locks in downfield, completely failing to see rookie running back Demetric Felton sneak out into the right flat. Wide open. The Vikings paid no attention to him. You and I could have completed a pass to him.

The protection finally broke down after what seemed like at least six or seven seconds and Mayfield was sacked. Instead of completing an easy pass and extending the possession, the Browns punted. A blown opportunity. That's not Kevin Stefanski football.

Mayfield seems to have lost his pocket presence, his pocket awareness. He has lost the ability to escape it. He often looks confused, uncertain where to deliver the football. Locating open receivers has been a common problem. And when receivers are open, his throws lately have had a tendency to sail. Others are poorly thrown. His accuracy is AWOL.

Since his terrific game against the Chiefs, Mayfield is a 62% passer with only two touchdown throws and 614 yards, just 205 a game, and he has been sacked 10 times. Narrow that to the last two games, he has thrown for only 301 yards, completing 54.8% of his passes with eight sacks.

He has yet to connect with a wide receiver for a touchdown, his scoring throws going to tight end Austin Hooper and Felton on a screen. The return of Jarvis Landry in a few weeks should help.

After the game, Mayfield's self assessment might be step one toward correcting the situation. "I pride myself on being accurate," he said. "Today . . . I don't know what the hell that was. . . .  I have to pick it up because if I think that piss-poor performance is going to cut it, it's not. . . . I'll get better."

He had better because if he doesn't, the run game and defense will carry them just so far.

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Stefanski tried to absolve Mayfield of any blame by blaming himself. "I've got to do a better job of getting the guys open," he said. A typical selfless move by the head coach of taking some heat for failures. Sorry, coach. Doesn't wash.

Stefanski can take blame for bad playcalling. That's legit. Getting guys open is a matter of drawing up the plays and expecting the players to execute them properly. Which they were doing Sunday, but Mayfield kept missing them. The receivers ran the correct routes.

It's the quarterback, coach. You probably know that. Your quarterback needs a crash course in how to handle trouble in the pocket. It's something he has done before and done well. A good start might be choreographing plays that allow him to get rid of the ball quickly with high-percentage throws.

The thought of Mayfield busting the slump, combined with the ground game and new defense maintaining their excellence, bodes well for the remainder of the season. 

Stefanski's best call of the game was made in the waning seconds of the first half. Third down and 20 from the Cleveland 36, with an 8-7 lead, he dialed up a draw for Kareem Hunt. It clicked for 33 yards to the Minnesota 41. Five plays later, McLaughlin connected on a 48-yard field goal and a four-point lead. 

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It might be time for Stefanski to make a temporary change at left offensive tackle. Jedrick Wills Jr. has played a majority of the last three games on a bad ankle. It's getting worse. He had to leave the Vikings game late in the third quarter.

Rookie James Hudson III replaced him and was flagged for a false start on fourth-and-one at the Vikings 42 as Stefanski's penchant for gambling on fourth down in enemy territory continued. It resulted in one of Jamie Gillan's seven punts. (Six of the Browns' seven second-half possessions ended with punts.)

It was believed the more seasoned Blake Hance would replace Wills should the ankle act up. Based on the limited time I've seen Hudson, he is not ready to step in at the most important position on offense after quarterback and be effective. He is too slow with his kick step.\

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I'm getting tired of screaming at the television screen every time the Browns advance deep into enemy territory only to see Stefanski gamble on fourth down, thumbing his nose at the field goal. "Take the points," I rant. "Take the damn points." The idea is to put points on the scoreboard.

Last season, Stefanski went for it on fourth down 24 times and was successful just eight, a robust 33% of the time. This season, he has gambled on fourth down eight times, succeeding half the time. He is on pace to take the gamble 26 more times.

Guessing that analytics, with which Stefanski is madly in love, suggest there is a higher chance of succeeding than failing on fourth down when the enemy's goal line is in sight. In doing so, he ignores kicker Chase McLaughlin, who is perfect in placements this season, including three field goals from 50 yards and beyond.

With a leg like that and an offense that lately has trouble putting points on the board, Stefanski might want to reconsider and take the points more often.

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Veteran Malcolm Smith deserves a sizable amount of credit for filling in capably at middle linebacker during the absence of Anthony Walker. He led the club in tackles in two games, intercepted one pass and called signals.

Walker, signed as a free agent to help the unit come together cohesively, pulled a hamstring the Thursday before the Houston game and was immediately placed on injured reserve. It is unknown whether he will be ready for the Chargers game Sunday.

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Finally . . . Based on how well he has played in the first four games, I'm beginning to think Jadeveon Clowney was a wise addition in free agency. He doesn't crush the scoresheet, but his disruptive style of play makes it easier for someone like Myles Garrett to flourish. Now all he has to do is stay healthy. . . . Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer sure noticed after the gane. "Those two No 1 draft choices were a pain on our guys," he said. . . . Stefanski, on struggling to score against the Vikings: "I wished we scored (more), but to keep (the Vikings) offense on the sideline was a big part (of the victory)." . . . The Browns owned the football for 35:32, 39:34 and 35:05 of the last three games. That's an incredible 40 more minutes than the opposition, or 60% of the time.  . . . Now I know why the Browns keep Andy Janovich on the roster. The fullback caught an important pass for a successful two-point conversion after the Browns' lone touchdown against Minnesota.