Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws on the run during the second half against the Jets in Week 3. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are a lot of reasons to think Baker Mayfield is the quarterback the Browns have been searching for since 1999. Most of them were on display in the two-plus quarters he played against the Jets.

Almost every throw Mayfield made had something to like, such as decision-making or arm strength or accuracy or timing.

"I think his performance is what showed more than anything that he is different than the previous rookie quarterbacks that we have had," Duke Johnson said on Wednesday. "But I still think it is one game -- really a half -- so he still got a lot more to show and a lot more to prove."

Johnson is right. It was just little more than half a game. But Mayfield showed there's a lot from which to build. Two plays stood out as examples of why the franchise thought he was special enough to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

A play in the third quarter and another in the fourth showed off numerous aspects of Mayfield's game, and the poise Browns fans have rarely seen from their rookie quarterbacks.

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PLAY ONE

Here's the scene:

The Browns trail the Jets 14-3 in the third quarter and face a third-and-5 at their own 40. This is Mayfield's second drive of the game and the sixth play of a drive that began at the Browns 5.

Mayfield lines up in the shotgun with Duke Johnson to his right. Antonio Callaway is split wide to the right, and Jarvis Landry (next to the tackle), Darren Fells (slot) and Rashard Higgins (sideline) are lined up to the left.

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(Screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

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Mayfield will have five players running routes on this play.

Johnson runs into the right flat, and Fells does the same on the left. But Mayfield's first read is in Landry's direction. Landry is double teamed off the line of scrimmage, throwing off his route. Also, cornerback Perry Nickerson tries to share Landry's uniform through most of his route (Nickerson was penalized for defensive holding but the Browns declined it).

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(Screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

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Mayfield looks deep to Higgins, and even cocks his arm ready to throw, but Higgins doesn't have enough separation from Morris Claiborne.

Before Mayfield can check on Fells in the flat, he feels the left side of the pocket collapsing, so Mayfield goes into survival mode and tries to find a better situation to throw.

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We are three seconds into this play, which is longer than Mayfield's average time to throw against the Jets (2.82 seconds). At first glance, it might seem like Mayfield should've stepped up in the pocket and thrown the ball, but the overhead view shows that none of the five options was open when Mayfield decided to leave the pocket.

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(Screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

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When Mayfield does his best Eric Metcalf impersonation and hops past Jordan Jenkins to escape the pocket, we've hit the five-second mark of the play.

Even as he narrowly avoids colliding with Kevin Zeitler, Mayfield has his eyes downfield. Callaway is behind his defender on the play, but Mayfield is being chased at this point and sees a better option than throwing an off-balance 50-yard pass.

That option is Johnson along the sideline.

But Johnson falls down.

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(Screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

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At this point, seven seconds into the play, nobody would've faulted Mayfield for throwing the ball away. He was out of options, moving toward the sideline, and Jenkins was closing in.

But Mayfield pulls back his throw, gives Johnson time to get back on his feet, and completes a nine-yard pass for the first down.

In just nine seconds, Mayfield gives Browns fans, coaches and teammates a lot of decisions and abilities to be excited about.

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Here's the overhead view of Baker Mayfield going through his reads before scrambling and finding Duke Johnson for a first down. After two options on the left side were denied, Mayfield found one on the right. pic.twitter.com/09Nz6iGF7s — Scott Patsko (@PatskoScott) September 27, 2018

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From this angle, you can see Baker Mayfield go through his reads, then keep his eyes downfield once he's in scramble mode. pic.twitter.com/LeQqOqGcre — Scott Patsko (@PatskoScott) September 27, 2018

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PLAY TWO

Here's the scene:

The Browns trail the Jets 17-14 in the fourth quarter and face a first-and-10 at the Jets 26 with 5:45 left to play.

Mayfield is under center with Johnson in the backfield, Landry and Higgins are in a bunched formation to the right, and Callaway is split wide to the left.

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(Screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

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Johnson and David Njoku block on this play, so Mayfield has three receivers running routes.

Mayfield's first read is Higgins. The idea is to get cornerback Trumaine Johnson to bite on a short out route. Mayfield gives a pump fake, and Higgins curls toward the end zone, but Johnson isn't fooled.

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We're three seconds into the play and Mayfield is looking for another receiver now that the first option (Higgins) is covered. The pocket is holding around Mayfield as he swings his body to the other side of the field.

He looks all the way to the left for a moment. Callaway is covered near the end zone. Any pass there would amount to a jump ball.

Now Landry comes into view from behind Jets linebackers who have dropped into coverage. He's open and moving to the left. Mayfield's throw bounces off Landry's chest and falls incomplete. (The Browns score eight plays later to take a 21-17 lead.)

This play isn't as long as the first we examined -- just five seconds -- but still long enough to once again show the type of characteristics any team would hope for in a rookie quarterback playing in his first game.

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Another play that shows Mayfield going through his reads before finding an open receiver. Landry dropped this (actually, it bounced off his chest), but, still, a lot to like here from Mayfield. pic.twitter.com/Y2bkY9wE8v — Scott Patsko (@PatskoScott) September 27, 2018

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