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Thursday Night Observations

Looks like the Browns chose wisely in the 2018 NFL draft. Rarely do we get to see No. 1 vs. No. 2 heads up in a standalone game early in the year, and it was no contest. Baker Mayfield already looks like a star, while Sam Darnold never attempts a pass more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.

• RIP Tyrod Taylor's season. Mayfield took over late in the first half from a concussed Taylor and never looked back, completing 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards (8.7 YPA) and taking only one sack (Taylor took three on 14 attempts.) Mayfield also made a two-point conversion catch on a trick play.

• Two of the six incompletions from Mayfield were drops on perfect throws (Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway), and one was a blatant uncalled PI, the second one the refs missed during the game. (They also missed a deep ball thrown by Taylor that should have put the Browns first and goal in the first quarter.) Taylor should have had a long TD to Callaway who was wide open down the field, but threw the ball too short, and the Jets DB caught up to knock it away.

• Browns coach Hue Jackson said after the game he'd have to look at the tape to decide who the Week 4 starter would be, but Mayfield's performance forced his hand.

• Carlos Hyde has quietly been a workhorse, putting up a 23-98-2 line on the ground with two catches for five yards. Nick Chubb might get more work as the year goes on, but suddenly this is a viable offense with Mayfield at the helm.

 Landry went 15-8-103, despite the drop, and narrowly missed scoring twice, once being tackled on the two-yard line and another time getting a shovel pass from inside the five. His value goes up with Mayfield under center. He also got an extra point for throwing a two-point conversion to Mayfield.

• David Njoku caught two passes for 36 yards from Mayfield. His value also ticks up as Mayfield goes deeper into his progressions and will find the open man even if he's not the primary look.

• Callaway went 10-4-20, but the volume is encouraging. He's the team's playmaker, complementing the more possession-oriented Landry. Rashard Higgins caught all three of his targets for 32 yards, but seems to be a distant third.

• Sam Darnold went 15-for-31 for 169 yards (5.5 YPA), no TDs and two picks. He moves well and has a strong arm, but didn't attempt many downfield throws and made some poor decisions - he could have been picked one or two more times.

• Quincy Enunwa looks like a monster - he's fast and quick for 6-2, 225, but had only a modest 8-4-57 line. Jermaine Kearse is back, going 6-3-35, relegating Robby Anderson and Terrelle Pryor to afterthought status. Anderson is really on the ropes after fumbling for the second straight week.

• Bilal Powell started the game and ran effectively - 14 carries for 73 yards - but Isaiah Crowell saw slightly more work (16-for-34) and scored both TDs. Crowell also caught two passes for 17 yards while Powell failed to catch his only target. Bottom line, this is a 50/50 timeshare, but Crowell appears to be the goal line back.

• Crowell's and Powell's names both end in "owell." This has to be an historical first for a backfield. Hyde and Powell, thanks to the extra game, are now tied for the NFL lead in rushing TDs with four apiece.

• The new Browns kicker, Greg Joseph, made both his field goals and his PAT, but they were some shaky looking kicks. Kickers only get cut after missing, but if the team valued process over result, they'd probably be looking for a replacement.