The importance of Jarvis Landry’s breakout game against the Jaguars

Jarvis Landry has arguably been Baker Mayfield’s favorite target since 2018. With the passing game taking a backseat in the 2020 season and Landry not at 100%, he’s been on pace for his worst year statistically. Despite that and losing his best friend OBJ to a season ending injury, Landry has had a smile on his face each week and continues to block down the field for the explosive running game. Winning is a powerful thing.

We all knew that Jarvis was due for a signature game and it happened against the Jaguars in week 12. He had 8 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown, helping lead the Browns to a 27–25 win. This is important for his stats, sure. But it is even more important because it could be the start of him getting hot at the right time. These final five games are crucial for the playoff run and Jarvis being healthier than he’s been all season will prove to be a huge boost for the passing game and Baker Mayfield. Even though the Browns running game is one of the best in the NFL, you still have to be able to pass the ball effectively in order to compete with the best teams. If Landry and Baker can have games like they did against the Jaguars, it could elevate their playoff chances even more.

We all know that Landry is a great receiver, so it has been tough seeing him only catch a few passes a game the last several weeks. The weather and him playing with broken ribs have definitely been a factor, but the offense needs big moments from him moving forward to contend with the Titans, Ravens, and Steelers. The performance against the Jaguars is a huge step in the right direction for him and the team overall. Kevin Stefanski did a great job drawing up plays to get Landry the ball and it would be wise for that to continue down the stretch.

The Cleveland Browns are 8–3 and very much in the playoff hunt. Gotta keep this momentum going.