Will the Cleveland Browns Outscore Their Opponent in Week 5?

The Cleveland Browns went into US Bank Stadium and shut down the Vikings offense in Week 4. Cleveland got out of Minneapolis with a win to stay in a tie with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North, but Baker Mayfield and the Browns’ offense looked completely out of sorts. Cleveland scored just 14 points in Week 4, and that’s probably not going to cut it against the explosive Chargers offense in Week 5.

According to BetMGM’s NFL betting lines for the Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers game, the Chargers are one-point favorites. Was the Vikings game an aberration for Mayfield, or do the Browns have a quarterback issue? Read on to find out how the Cleveland offense can help the Browns win in Week 5.

Baker Mayfield Needs To Be More Accurate

Mayfield completed 45.45% of his passes on Sunday in Minneapolis, his lowest single-game completion percentage since 2019. Mayfield missed a wide-open Odell Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter on what would have been a 62-yard touchdown pass.

Mayfield got away with his ugly performance because his defense completely shut down the Minnesota offense, but he can’t count on that every week. So for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns, the hope is that Mayfield and Beckham Jr. improve their chemistry after another week of practice leading into Browns vs. Chargers in Week 5.

Odell Beckham Jr. And Baker Mayfield Aren’t on the Same Page

When Odell Beckham Jr. returned from his ACL injury in Week 3, it appeared as though he and Baker rekindled their chemistry immediately. Beckham Jr. was targeted nine times and caught five for 77 yards in his season debut against Chicago.

Against Minnesota, however, Beckham and Mayfield couldn’t get it going. Beckham finished with just two catches on seven targets.

The Browns are 3-1 and appear to have a lockdown defense that can win in a hostile environment. However, if the Browns want to remain atop the ACF North and challenge the Ravens for the division title, they’ll have to find a way to get Beckham Jr. going.

Cleveland’s other top receiver, Jarvis Landry, is on the IR with a knee injury. That leaves Rashard Higgins and rookie Anthony Schwartz as the Browns’ second and third options. Higgins is a capable receiver, and Schwartz is a speedster with potential. Still, neither is ready to lead a high-powered offense the way Beckham Jr. can. Beckham Jr. has been getting open, so it will be on Mayfield to get him the ball in Week 5.

Looking Ahead to Week 5 for the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns’ offense may have struggled in Week 4, but it won’t have to do much if the defense can continue to play as it did against the Vikings. However, Justin Herbert and the Chargers have been lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so the defense will have its hands full.

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