CLEVELAND – Scribbles in my notebook following the Browns’ 31-15 loss to Baltimore on Sunday:

1. Baker Mayfield on possible coaching changes: “That’s not my decision. Whatever happens, happens...It goes to many more things than just Freddie (Kitchens). We can all be better... There’s no one single thing to blame.”

2. Mayfield knows ownership and the front office will do what it wants. And it would be a shock if head coach Freddie Kitchens is retained. The QB also has to know that.

3. A big reason Kitchens was promoted to head coach was because of his success as offensive coordinator and his relationship with Mayfield in 2018. Looking back, it’s obvious that Kitchens was ill-prepared for the job. He had no idea about the big-picture elements, especially game management.

4. Making it worse, he tried to micromanage the offense as he did when he was offensive coordinator for the final eight games of 2018. As I wrote over the weekend, Todd Monken has been offensive coordinator in name only. Kitchens gives him very few significant responsibilities.

5. I’m writing this while thinking about the Browns’ next coach. The decision simply can’t be made with the QB in mind. That’s why I’m not wild about hiring Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley simply because he coached Mayfield in college...or even because he’s a successful college coach.

6. If the Browns are going to keep strong personalities such as Odell Beckham Jr. and others in 2020, they need a strong, respected NFL head coach. The players screaming at Kitchens on the sidelines at times this season shows the need for a coaching change and a strong leader.

7. When Kitchens was hired, GM John Dorsey stressed the leadership ability of Kitchens. It was often tested this season and the report card looks distressing.

8. Interesting comment from Baltimore’s Jihad Ward to the media after the game: “We don’t care about what’s going on over there (Cleveland). All I can say is they better get it together or people are going to start getting fired.”

9. Mr. Ward from Baltimore is right because with one game left for the 6-9 Browns, it’s too late “get it together.”

10. A year ago, Kitchens stressed the Browns weren’t happy with their 7-8-1 record. They had higher goals, starting with making the playoffs. There will be no playoffs in 2019 and a worse overall record than 2018. The best they can finish is 7-9.

11. A year ago, they were 5-3 at home. After the loss to Baltimore, it’s 4-4. There was a reason the stands were mostly empty by the end of the game. There was a reason the Browns were booed at various points in the game. It wasn’t just the loss to the Ravens. It was the Browns being a worse team than a year ago, period.

12. I’m not going spend time on the dubious in-game decisions made by Kitchens on Sunday. They have been discussed in my game column and many other places. But those are the types of decisions that lead to a coaching change. It’s impossible to defend them.

13. This game and several others demonstrate how the head coach has to be in charge of the entire operation. The defense fell apart this season. The Browns gave up at least 31 points in five games this season. That’s compared to four in 2018. Keep in mind, the Browns added big money players on defense (Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson) to help the line.

14. As the season comes to an end, the Browns have been without defensive end Myles Garrett (suspended) and Vernon (knee injury). Safety Damarious Randall has battled injuries and was suspended for a game after a clash with coaches. He blew a coverage leading to a 39-yard TD pass to wide-open Baltimore tight Mark Andrews.

15. There is one more game for the Browns, probably Andy Dalton’s farewell as Cincinnati’s QB. But my sense is the season ended for the Browns in the 20-13 loss in Pittsburgh on December 1. They have lost 3-of-4 since then. That’s yet another reason Browns fans have a right to feel frustrated and let down.