Baker Mayfield explains that the team was not familiar enough with the field they were playing on today. (0:33)
OAKLAND -- Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes, but mistakes doomed the Cleveland Browns to more agony and a 45-42 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders.
The Browns led 28-14 in the third quarter and 42-34 with just more than a minute left. It was a game the Browns felt they should have won.
"Absolutely," Mayfield said. "When you make that many mistakes, though, it's not gonna happen."
Editor's Picks 0-for-4: Ugly Sunday for rookies Mayfield, Darnold, Rosen, Allen Four QBs selected in the 2018 draft's first round -- Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen -- started Sunday. All four lost.
Mayfield was responsible for four turnovers in his first NFL start -- two interceptions and two fumbles lost.
One interception, though, came on a bad break by receiver Antonio Callaway, the other when Mayfield flung a deep pass in the final seconds desperately trying to avoid overtime.
He fumbled once when sacked, and a second time when he and JC Tretter mixed up the snap.
Mayfield did throw touchdowns passes on perfect throws to Darren Fells for 49 yards and on a 2-yard fade to Jarvis Landry. He set up another in the fourth quarter with a 59-yard strike to Callaway.
Baker Mayfield tries to escape the grasp of Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin, who sacked him once on Sunday. D. Ross Cameron/AP Photo
But he lamented his errors.
"I'm the quarterback of this team," he said. "It's on me."
The Browns lost despite their highest scoring output since the second week of the 2007 season -- a game Derek Anderson was named starter and scored 51 points.
This loss also came after it appeared the Browns had secured the win by running for a first down with 1:41 left. But officials reviewed the call and determined Carlos Hyde was short, which forced a punt that led to Carr's game-tying drive.
"It had to be a heck of a review to turn that over on third down and short," Mayfield said. "But any time you put it in somebody else's hands, it's not always gonna turn out your way."
In his first start, Mayfield was 21-for-41 for 295 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He missed his third touchdown pass by 1 yard as Callaway was just pushed out of bounds at the end of the 59-yard play. That would have made Mayfield the first quarterback taken first overall to throw three touchdown passes in his first NFL start.
Pat McManamon ESPN Staff Writer
The Browns got two breaks when a quick whistle negated what might have been a big play by Marshawn Lynch and when Martavis Bryant dropped a touchdown pass. But the Browns also made some breaks with a 63-yard TD run by Nick Chubb and a 49-yard TD pass to Darren Fells. Cleveland leads 17-14 at halftime, and gets the ball first in the third quarter.
OAKLAND, Calif. -- This one hurts.
That's what I kept thinking while watching the Browns lose, 45-42, in Oakland.
In overtime.
I kept thinking, "How many times did it seem the Browns had this game won?'
One? Two? Three?
"A few," said Baker Mayfield in a very quiet, mournful voice.
Forget it.
Let's not count the ways, because it gets too depressing.
That's because these Browns are different. They are better. They probably will prove it as the season progresses.
But right now, the Browns are 1-2-1.
Each of the losses is by a field goal.
As rookie Matt McCrane's 29-yard field goal sliced the uprights, the final score screamed: Oakland 45, Browns 42.
As the game ended, Browns defense end Myles Garrett took off his helmet. Then he sat on it. He held his head.
He was exhausted. Discouraged. And probably felt more than a little disbelief.
NO EXCUSES, PLEASE
The Browns defense was on the field for 90 plays compared to 74 for the Cleveland offense.
"We can't use that as an excuse," said Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey. "We can't worry about being tired. We (the defense) needed to step up."
The Browns had leads of 14 and eight points in the second half.
I thought they were in great shape to win with 4:20 left in regulation. That was after Nick Chubb had roared 42 yards for a touchdown and the Browns led, 42-34.
The Georgia rookie also had a 63-yard TD ramble early in the game.
That's why there is reason to be hopeful about the Browns. They have talent. Chubb showed why General Manager John Dorsey picked him in the second round.
There was some talk of the Browns having a first-down call ruled against them late in the game.
But as Jarvis Landry said, "We can't blame the refs...there were so many things."
Landry then mentioned his dropping two passes. I counted at least six dropped passes for the Browns.
ROOKIES ARE ROOKIES
This was Baker Mayfield's first start.
He led the Browns back from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Jets, 21-17, in Week 3. That was 10 days ago, his first game as a pro when he played slightly more than two quarters.
Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley warned a game like this could be coming for Mayfield.
"This is the real test," Haley said Thursday. "I know a lot of people are carving the bust for Canton (Hall of Fame) already...He set the bar high. I don't know that every week is going to go like that went."
This one didn't.
Mayfield fumbled twice deep in his own territory.
Once he blamed a "communication" problem. The other time, he had the ball ripped out of his hand as he dropped back to throw.
Oakland turned both into touchdowns.
He threw an interception off the hands of rookie receiver Antonio Callaway. Oakland turned that into another touchdown.
Mayfield had four turnovers total (two fumbles, two interceptions), and they became three TDs for the Raiders.
Welcome to the NFL.
THERE IS PROMISE
The Browns scored 42 points for the first time since 2007.
Mayfield threw TD passes to Jarvis Landry and Darren Fells.
Mayfield connected on a 59-yard pass to Antonio Callaway that set up a third Cleveland TD.
There is something exciting about Mayfield and what he has brought to the offense.
But there also are the P-words.
Pain is one. Rookies make rookie mistakes.
Patience is another.
The Browns need to groom Mayfield, and that will take time.
But it could be worth it.
HOW THEY LOST
The Browns defense seemed empty and discouraged at the end of the game.
There were major breakdowns in coverage, especially in the end zone.
They couldn't put enough pressure on Oakland quarterback Derek Carr. Yes, they picked off two more passes, but it wasn't enough.
Some of the points are the fault of Mayfield's turnovers. The others are because of defensive breakdowns.
Special teams also had some shaky moments, especially in the return and coverage aspects.
But in the end, the Browns are better.
But they still lost.
And that's why Browns fans are feeling a little empty right now.
