CLEVELAND, Ohio — Chargers coach Brandon Staley praised Baker Mayfield leading up to Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium, and embraced him and spoke to the Browns QB after the Chargers’ 47-42 victory.
Staley looked to be complimenting Mayfield for his performance in the shootout, in which he rebounded from his bad game vs. the Vikings with a 23-of-32 performance for 305 yards, with two TDs without an interception for a 122.5 rating.
The former quarterback for the Dayton Flyers seemed genuine when complimenting Mayfield’s “plant your flag” demeanor and arm talent during the week.
“Every quarterback has a unique style, but his style is that of confidence and fearlessness,’’ Staley said. “He’s a creator. He doesn’t get enough credit for how good of a passer he is. I know, when I was with [Rams head coach] Sean [McVay] last year, we just have so much respect for how he throws the football, too. He’s a very powerful guy. He can really drive the football and can throw it off-platform. I think, just as a pure passer, he doesn’t get enough credit for how good of a thrower of the football that he is.”
Mayfield may have lost the game, but he retained a fan in Staley.
Cardinals’ Kingsbury also complimentary
Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury also had high praise for his former Texas Tech quarterback, who criticized Kingsbury after he left the school. The two have since moved on from that.
“The Browns are loaded,” Kingsbury said, via the team’s website. “They’re as talented a roster you’ll find in the NFL. Kevin Stefanski is an incredible offensive mind. He’s a guy like Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay that does a tremendous job with the quarterbacks – building great weapons around them. Baker Mayfield is playing at a really high level and it will be a huge challenge for us.”
Kingsbury comes to town Sunday with the 5-0 Cardinals, the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL. He brings his dynamic quarterback, Kyler Murray, Mayfield’s Oklahoma successor and close friend.
Murray is one of the league’s hottest quarterbacks and is in the early MVP conversation. He’s fourth with a 113.0 rating and leads the league with a 75.2 completion percentage. He’s No. 3 in ESPN’s QBR at 68.5.
Hunt not worried about OBJ
Kareem Hunt has seen Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. connect enough in practice that he’s not worried about them, despite they’ve connected for just 47 yards over the past two games.
“Odell, he’s a soldier and he’s a beast and he just wants to win and wants to be able to do what he does,’’ Hunt said. “There are some things he did wrong in the game and he did a ton of great things in the game, so there’s nothing for him to be hanging his head on. Odell’s a great teammate, a great person, and I feel like him and Baker will be just fine. Those guys click at practice and everything. I’ve seen it and I’m not too worried about it.’’
Likewise, Hunt stacks Mayfield right up with all of the other red-hot young QBs in the league.
“I believe in Baker,’’ he said. “Baker is definitely one of those big-time quarterbacks, and he can definitely lead us to one of those big [victories]. I’m not worried about that. There’s a bunch of other things we could’ve done right to not even get to that point.’’
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