CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my Browns halftime notebook with the score 14-14 against Houston.
1. When Baker Mayfield threw an interception in the second quarter, it appeedrs rookie receiver Anthony Schwartz messed up his route. It appeared that way on the replay, and it also was clear coach Kevin Stefanski had a few direct words the third-rounder from Auburn after the play.
2. Jarvis Landry left early with a knee injury and was out for the rest game. No details on the injury were available. It was a shaky first half for the young receivers. Along with Schwartz’s mistake on the interception, Donovan Peoples-Jones caught a pass for 14 yards, was hit hard, and lost a fumble.
3. Browns wideouts caught only three passes in the half. Landry was hurt on a nine-yard catch. Peoples-Jones had a 14-yarder and fumble. Rashard Higgins caught a pass for 14 yards.
4. The efense looked confused for much of the first half against Houston, especially when facing some of the misdirection plays and fakes triggered by QB Tyrod Taylor. The 32-year-old Taylor was doing his best Lamar Jackson imitation, throwing on the run and keeping the defense off-balance.
5. The Browns’ 2018 opening day QB, Taylor was 10-for-11 for 125 yards. He ran for a 15-yard TD and threw a 22-yard TD screen pass for Phillip Lindsay. The pass to Lindsay dumfounded the defense with the misdirection and was wide open.
6. The Browns’ first TD was scored by … Andy Janovich? Yes, a fullback on a 1-yard run. Janovich had only two carries all last season.
7. The fans were in their seats early making serious noise when Houston had the ball. Meanwhile, they were pin-drop quiet when the Browns were on offense. The fans proved they could take coaching from Stefanski, who asked the home crowd to do just that.
8. The defense was still playing much of the soft coverage used in K.C. Houston’s best receiver is Brandin Cooks, who usually has been covered by Denzel Ward. But Ward was playing about eight yards away from him. Cooks easily caught two passes for 18 yards in the first quarter.
9. Mayfield was 11-of-13 for 125 yards. He also ran for a 5-yard TD. He was under pressure at times, being sacked twice. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined to carry the ball 13 times for 72 yards.
10. Mayfield was effective throwing to the tight ends. David Njoku, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant combined to catch seven of eight passes for 85 yards. It seemed as if they were always open.
11. Taylor didn’t play in the second half as he hurt his hamstring.