CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 21: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers got away with a clear facemask on Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who later threw an interception.
Mayfield didn’t do the Browns any favors in the first half, throwing two early interceptions which led to Packers scores. Cleveland were already underdogs on the road at Lambeau Field.
Yet, with Kevin Stefanski’s group airing the ball out in the first quarter, Mayfield was a victim of an obvious facemask penalty which went uncalled.
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Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark tried to get a hand on Mayfield, but inadvertently grabbed the Browns’ quarterback’s facemask. While such a decision wasn’t on purpose, it doesn’t change the fact that it was a penalty.
Packers get benefit of brutal missed call
Rival NFC North fans are used to the Packers receiving the benefit of the doubt from the officiating crew. Whether that’s actually true, or it just seems true due to a consistent standard of success, is up to interpretation.
Mayfield’s abysmal start to the contest hasn’t helped matters, and is surely the real reason for Cleveland’s frustration early on. The Packers are among the most dominant teams in the NFC — they do not need any extra chances thrown their way.
Aaron Rodgers started the contest by breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for most passing touchdowns. No. 12 is now No. 1 in the Packers’ history books, at least in one department. Favre even congratulated Rodgers for the feat, something that seemed unthinkable during the Hall-of-Famer’s playing days.