PUSKAS: What if Jackson would’ve left sooner?

Maybe if Jackson had left sooner …

Random thoughts while wondering where the Browns would be today if Jimmy and Dee Haslam had cut loose Hue Jackson at the end of last season:

MAYFIELD’S HEIGHTS

How much more does anyone need to see of Baker Mayfield before we decide the Browns have their quarterback of the next decade?

Mayfield made two huge deep throws in a 26-20 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. One went for 66 yards to Breshad Perriman and set up a touchdown. The other went for 51 yards and TD to Jarvis Landry, who was well-covered, but Mayfield threaded the needle.

Those passes provided more evidence that Browns general manager John Dorsey made the right call in selecting Mayfield with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. The former Oklahoma star throws a better deep ball than any Browns QB since a young Bernie Kosar was throwing to Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan and Reggie Langhorne.

But consider Mayfield’s critical third-down pass to Perriman after the Browns had stopped the Panthers on downs at the 3-yard line. On second-and-11 from the 2, Mayfield dropped back and rolled right, biding his time as the routes developed.

Finally, with time running out, Mayfield delivered a bullet to Perriman for 15 yards and a first down at the 17. That play allowed the Browns to take more time off the clock and not have to punt from the shadow of the end zone.

It wasn’t likely to make the highlight shows, but that was a pressure-packed NFL throw when the Browns needed it most.

Mayfield finished 18 of 22 for 238 yards and a TD. His numbers would have been even better had Rashard Higgins not dropped a pass that would have gone for a 31-yard TD late in the first half.

TARGET PRACTICE

It’s probably just a coincidence, but rookie wideout Antonio Callaway was targeted only once against the Panthers after he fumbled just before he would have scored on a long catch and run last week in a 29-13 loss at Houston.

Callaway caught the only pass thrown his way Sunday, but it went for no gain.

Running back Nick Chubb led Browns receivers with six targets and four catches, but just 17 receiving yards.

Landry had three catches for 57 yards, including his acrobatic second-quarter TD reception. Landry also ran twice for 54 yards as offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens added a wrinkle to the offense. One of Landry’s runs was a 3-yard TD on the Browns’ opening drive.

SHOULDERING THE BLAME

Panthers QB Cam Newton came into Sunday’s game nursing an apparent shoulder injury and it seemed to show. Newton was 26 of 42 for 265 yards, but his longest completion of 40 yards came on a short pass that DJ Moore turned into a big play.

In fact, most of Carolina’s pass completions were on underneath routes. Newton misfired badly out of the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal trying to hit Jarious Wright from the Browns’ 3 with 2:35 to play.

The Panthers got the ball back one last time at their own 35 with 1:04 to play and no timeouts, but Browns safety Damarious Randall clinched the victory with an interception when Newton missed Devin Funchess by plenty.

Fifteen of Newton’s 26 completions went to tight end Ian Thomas or running back Christian McCaffrey.

AGAINST THE NUMBERS

The Browns won despite having just 12 first downs to the Panthers’ 22, getting outgained 393-348 in total yards, losing time of possession (33:50-26:10) and turning the ball over twice. Carolina did not turn it over until Newton’s interception on their final series.

Twice, Browns receivers fumbled after completions. Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly forced both turnovers.

Higgins caught a pass in the left flat for a 5-yard gain late in the first quarter and fumbled at the Browns’ 17 after a Kuechly hit Four plays later, McCaffrey scored the second of his two touchdowns.

Landry caught a pass from Mayfield to open the third quarter, but was careless with the ball and had it poked free by Kuechly.

FADING HOPES

The Panthers (6-7) lost their fifth in a row and saw their fading playoff hopes take a serious hit. They entered Sunday a half-game out of the second NFC wildcard, but two of their last three games are against the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints.

ON THE RISE

The Browns (5-7-1) are now 3-2 under interim coach Gregg Williams, who replaced the fired Hue Jackson. Williams now has as many wins in five weeks as the Browns’ head coach as Jackson had in two-and-a-half seasons.

MORE MAYFIELD

The Browns rookie QB has thrown a TD pass in each of his first 10 NFL starts.

The only other players to accomplish the feat are Kurt Warner (1999) and Brad Johnson (1996-97).

PLAYING THROUGH THE PAIN

Browns center JC Tretter has been playing with a severe right ankle sprain for weeks. He did not participate in some of the pregame drills and at one point in the third quarter he struggled to get off the field before dropping to his knees.

Tretter did return to the game.

UP NEXT

The Browns visit the Denver Broncos on Saturday night.

HALFTIME SHOWING

Girard quarterback Mark Waid and wide receiver Nick Malito hooked up on the field one last time to win the Cleveland Browns High School Quarterback Challenge during halftime festivities. Waid’s 55-yard completion to Malito earned the Girard High School athletic department $500.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.