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This is going to be one Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns will want to forget.
After going 7-8-1 during the 2018 NFL season, expectations were dramatically raised for first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens and the Browns heading into 2019. With franchise quarterback Mayfield — the 2018 draft’s first overall selection — and Odell Beckham Jr. in the fold, the Browns thought they would be a scoring machine.
In fact, that is not how it went in Week 1. Actually, Mayfield and Cleveland were a scoring machine, but for the wrong team. Mayfield threw three fourth-quarter interceptions to the Tennessee Titans, who won by a whopping 30-point margin, 43-13. The bout was sealed with a pick-6 by former New England Patriots cornerback and two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Butler.
It was a frustrating scene for Mayfield and the Browns, who have playoff aspirations this time around – the first time in some time.
Per NFL Research, Mayfield’s 30-point margin of defeat is the largest as a starting quarterback in the NFL or college. Baker Mayfield is a former Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Oklahoma:
The @Browns' 30-point margin of defeat is the largest for @bakermayfield as a starting QB in the NFL or college.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) September 8, 2019
The Titans, meanwhile, scored five touchdowns — three via the air from quarterback Marcus Mariota — and two made field goals from Cairo Santos to add up to 43 points. It was hardly the league’s highest score on the day — Lamar Jackson and Baltimore Ravens tallied 59 — but it was well enough to take down the not-so-mighty Browns.
The Browns will head to the Meadowlands in New Jersey to take on the New York Jets on Monday Night Football for Week 2. The Jets are coming off a heartbreaking Week 1 loss to their division rival Buffalo Bills, who scored 17 unanswered points to win by one point.