GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers turned all three of Baker Mayfield's first-half interceptions into touchdown passes. Then, the Green Bay Packers clinched a 24-22 victory Saturday night by picking off Mayfield a fourth time in the final seconds, as the Cleveland Browns' playoff hopes continued to fade.
In his return from the reserve/COVID-19 list, Mayfield became just the third NFL quarterback this season to be picked off three times before halftime, joining Jets rookie Zach Wilson (Week 2) and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (Week 12 vs. the Browns). All three of those throws were off target according to ESPN Stats & Information. And all three led to Rodgers touchdowns, as Green Bay controlled the game despite being outgained by the Browns 408 yards to 311.
Mayfield still had a chance to lead the Browns on a game-winning drive in the final seconds. But he was intercepted for a second time by Packers corner Rasul Douglas trying to find receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones over the middle of the field.
Led by Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, the Browns ran the ball at will on Green Bay. But once again, Cleveland’s inept passing attack proved to be the difference in a loss.
Mayfield was sacked five times. And on passes thrown further than 10 yards in the air in the first half, he completed just one versus the three interceptions. Mayfield also became the first Browns quarterback since Brandon Weeden in 2012 to throw four interceptions in a game.
Mayfield, who missed Monday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders after testing positive for COVID-19, didn’t clear the protocols in time to fly with the team to Green Bay on Friday. So the Browns flew him up privately from Cleveland to Green Bay on Saturday morning.
With the loss, the 7-8 Browns dropped to 13th in the AFC standings.
Describe the game in two words: Painfully predictable. The Browns just can’t win close games -- this was their sixth loss this season by six or fewer points, the most in the NFL this season.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Browns have one of the top corners in the league in Denzel Ward. But Cleveland seemed perfectly comfortable in the first half matching up its other DBs in single coverage on Davante Adams, one of the top receivers in the league. Adams, predictably, torched the likes of M.J. Stewart and Greedy Williams for eight catches on nine targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns, including one just before halftime, in which Adams easily worked Stewart for a 1-yard scoring grab.
Troubling trend: Browns special teams are becoming a disaster. Struggling place-kicker Chase McLaughlin was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday. His replacement -- rookie Chris Naggar, who is fresh off the practice squad -- missed his first extra point try, forcing the Browns to attempt to chase points the rest of the way. Cleveland just cut three-year starting punter Jamie Gillan this week. And the return units have been nothing special all year. The Browns just aren’t good enough elsewhere to overcome mediocre special teams units.