C'mon, it's the Lions

Head coach Kevin Stefanski made it official Friday, the day after Baker Mayfield limped to his scheduled gaggle with reporters. Mayfield, he said, will start at quarterback for the Browns in Sunday's home game against the hapless Detroit Lions. 

At that little gathering with reporters after practice Thursday, Mayfield made a startling admission. "This is probably the most beat up I have been in my career," he revealed. "It's not like it's one particular thing. It's multiple . . . Just a couple of things after another."

In no particular order, those "things" include a fully torn labrum in his non-throwing arm; a non-displaced fracture of a bone at the top of the shoulder of same arm; two knees that have absorbed a pounding all season; and a sore foot. Other than that, he's fine.

"It's been tough, but I don't think anyone gives a damn," Mayfield said. "No reason to get into that. Nobody cares. Nobody wants to feel bad for us. . . . It's all right." Wrong on all counts, but interesting nonetheless.

His head coach certainly cares. Asked how his battered and bruised quarterback looked in practice Friday, Stefanski  replied "He looked good." Will he start? "He will start," he said tersely.

Seemingly makes no difference that his best quarterback will be operating at a distinct disadvantage because of ailments throughout his body. Maybe he figures Mayfield's aches, pains and soreness will disappear after the first snap when the adrenalin kicks in to mask it. 

It has to be assumed Stefanski did not make this decision without consulting with team physicians. Unless he comes up with the perfect game plan that assures Mayfield's uniform will be as clean at the end of the game as it is when he takes the first snap, it's borderline reckless to send him out there.

Think of the consequences. Mayfield has been sacked 26 times in nine starts this season -- at least two in every game except one -- and looked helpless in the pocket far too often. If he takes another big hit -- and he will -- and lands on season-ending injured reserve, then what? Is that worth such a gamble?

The fact Mayfield has been sacked nearly three times a game on average is partially the inability of the offensive line to protect him. The situation isn't not any better with All-Pro Jack Conklin still on injured reserve with a dislocated elbow. A confluence of negatives have put the quarterback in this position.

Stefanski is the head coach, There's nothing in the coaching playbook that says he can't overrule the physicians and tether his No. 1 quarterback to the bench for just this one game before next taking on the Baltimore Ravens in two extremely important back-to-back games. For Mayfield's own good and the good of the team, he needs to sit this one out.

First of all, the 0-8-1 Lions are unquestionably the worst team in the National Football League. The Browns should win this game with no problem whatsoever. So why not give Mayfield another week to heal as much as he can and let Case Keenum handle this one?

Has Stefanski lost confidence in Keenum, who filled in quite capably for Mayfield -- in the early stages of his shoulder problems in week seven -- and helped knock off the Denver Broncos? Isn't that why he was brought to Cleveland, to be ready in the event Mayfield was unable to play?

He did so then with running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt unavailable with calf injuries and led the Browns to a 17-10 victory with reserve D'Ernest Johnson running for 146 yards. Is Stefanski fearful Keenum isn't good enough to do what's best for this struggling football team, one coming off a 45-7 embarrassment against New England? This time, he'd get help: Chubb is back off COVID-19 reserve.

A 100% Case Keenum is clearly a better option than a 60%, if that, Baker Mayfield against the weakest team -- and the only team with a losing record -- left on the Cleveland schedule. The most important man in the organization doesn't think so and unfortunately has chosen to go in the opposite direction. 

Maybe Stefanski took a look at the Lions' statistics and figured he could pull it off with Mayfield. The Lions' pass rush, for example, has dropped opposing quarterbacks just 14 times. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has 13 sacks all by himself. He has been shut out of only one game -- Houston in week two.

The Cleveland defense also will face Tim Boyle, a journeyman quarterback who backed up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for a few years. Boyle is making his professional starting debut with only one NFL game -- four passes -- on his resumé. He fills in for Jared Goff, out with an oblique injury suffered in last week's tie in Pittsburgh.

The stats sheet reflects the winless state of the Lions. And with Goff out, look for plenty of infantry football Sunday with D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams against a Cleveland defensive line that was gouged and gashed repeatedly last Sunday by the Patriots.

With Chubb back, look for Stefanski to get the ground game cranking again -- he called only 18 running plays against New England in 80 snaps -- and alternate him with Johnson, making Mayfield's job a little easier.

This one figures to be a walkover. Yes, Detroit went to Pittsburgh a week ago and tied the Steelers in what probably felt like a victory to the Lions. That won't happen Sunday on the lakefront. Too many Detroit negatives and a bounceback by the Browns portends a satisfying victory. 

The weather forecast calls for lots of rain and temperatures in the 40s, which means an ugly, sloppy, low-scoring game as the Jekyll/Hyde Browns pour a little salve on their wounds. Last Sunday, My Hyde showed up. This time, it will be Dr. Jekyll. Make it: 

Browns 24, Lions 13

(Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be no game story and Monday leftovers this week. Will resume Thanksgiving Day with Mid-week thoughts.)