The week-long drama surrounding Odell Beckham Jr.'s departure didn't disrupt the Cleveland Browns' offensive flow on Sunday. Baker Mayfield happened to perform just fine with the receiving weapons at his disposal.
Perhaps the soured relationship between Beckham and the team served as a much-needed rallying cry for players, since the Browns needed only 46 plays to destroy the division rival Cincinnati Bengals, 41-16, at Paul Brown Stadium. Confirmation that Cleveland isn't missing their former polarizing wideout.
"If Baker plays terrible and doesn't throw the ball well, we don't know how this thing flips emotionally in their minds," Tiki Barber said during Monday's edition of the Tiki and Tierney show. "He came out and was the leader he needed to be in a non-confrontational way... No matter what happens going forward, he has won this day. He's won this situation with how he handled it, and then more importantly, how he went out and balled enough for his team to win..."
Mayfield was calm, cool, and collected against Cincinnati's defense. Although he completed just 14 of 27 passes for 218 yards, he managed to throw for two touchdowns without an interception, and also recorded season-high marks in passer rating (132.6) and yards per completion (15.5). Following the drubbing, Mayfield told reporters that players "bought in" to the winning message.
On Monday, the Browns officially waived Beckham, three days after the team announced their plans to do so. The three-time Pro Bowler's tenure with the franchise lasted just 29 games, and he amassed 114 catches for 1,586 yards with eight touchdowns. Mayfield didn't change his tune about Beckham or the breakup after the game -- he wished the receiver well, and mentioned how he's only worried about the "guys in our locker room."
Cleveland (5-4) will visit the New England Patriots (5-4) in a marquee Week 10 matchup on Sunday. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Browns currently have a 51-percent chance to reach the playoffs and a 22-percent chance to win the AFC North.
Tiki and Tierney's complete thoughts on the Browns can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.