Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Instant takeaways from Browns’ 37-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs …

1. Off and limping: Having lost the war among themselves -- causing the firings of coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley -- the Browns are now facing the war of attrition. Early in the game, they lost cornerbacks E.J. Gaines (concussion) and Denzel Ward (hip) to go along with deactivated safety Damarious Randall (groin). Then they lost linebacker Christian Kirksey (hamstring). This is not to say the game would have been much more competitive, but the injuries made it hopeless against the Chiefs’ scoring machine. The Chiefs scored early and often in dealing a 37-21 defeat to kick off the Gregg Williams interim coaching era. The fourth loss overall for the Browns dropped them to 2-6-1. The Chiefs are 8-1. The rematch of rival college quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes was no contest – not because of Mayfield but because of Mahomes’ outstanding supporting cast of playmakers and the state-of-the-art Andy Reid offensive system. Mahomes was 23 of 32 for 375 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted on a throw-it-up ball on the last play of the first half and had a rating of 129.0. Mayfield was 29 of 42 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted at the 4:29 mark of the fourth quarter with a chance to make it a one-score game. Mayfield's rating was 94.4.

2. Local stars: All five of Kansas City’s touchdowns were scored by Northeast Ohio high school stars. Running back Kareem Hunt (Willoughby South High School) had three on a 50-yard catch-and-run and runs of 1 and 10 yards. Tight end Travis Kelce (Cleveland Heights High School) had TD receptions of 11 and 13 yards. The second catch was a great grab over Jabril Peppers on a laser throw in the end zone from Mahomes.

3. Baker out and back: Mayfield was removed from the game late in the third quarter when the medical spotter called for concussion evaluation. Mayfield was hit in the helmet by safety Ron Parker while tackle Chris Jones was holding up Mayfield after a sack was whistled. Parker could have been called for a late hit or helmet-to-helmet hit, but no flag was thrown. Tyrod Taylor came in for three plays. Mayfield returned after the third quarter intermission and threw a quick slant to Duke Johnson on his first play for a 5-yard touchdown.

4. Unstoppable: The Chiefs had only four possessions in the first half and scored touchdowns on the first three. For the half they had only three third downs – and they converted two. They gained 25 yards on a third-and-19 and 9 yards on third-and-4. The last third down resulted in a Mahomes interception by Denzel Rice on the last play of the half when he was chased to the right sideline and threw the ball up for Tyreek Hill.

5. Kitchens magicians: There were obvious changes in the offense brought by new coordinator Freddie Kitchens. Mayfield threw the ball more outside pocket. On one possession, seldom-used receiver Brashad Perriman had two runs and two passing targets (both incomplete). Running back Nick Chubb was a workhorse on the third possession. Chubb ran eight times for 40 yards, including a touchdown from 3 yards, and had one catch. Also, the Browns officially were 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions in the first half, converting from 1 and 2 yards. They intended to go for it a third time, and induced defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi to jump offsides for the first down there. Interim coach Gregg Williams elected to go for two points after every touchdown on the day. The Chiefs stopped them every time. ssed both times.

6. Big break: With the Chiefs threatening to run away with this one after pulling ahead, 21-9, the Browns caught a huge break on their ensuing possession. On third-and-7 from the Browns 45, edge rusher Dee Ford destroyed right tackle Chris Hubbard, strip-sacked Mayfield and recovered the fumble. But the officials huddled and flagged Ford for beating the snap for an offsides. Replays showed it a disputable call. Mayfield completed that drive and tacked on a touchdown with :26 left in the half on a 19-yard screen pass to Duke Johnson. On the ensuing two-point try, however, receiver Jarvis Landry injured his right arm being slammed to the ground by cornerback Kendall Fuller short of the goal line. Landry did return for the start of the second half.

7. Big plays: Coaches talk about “chunk” plays. The Chiefs look they invented the term. In the first half alone they had six plays of 20 yards or more. Northeast Ohio native Kareem Hunt had two of them on his first two touches of the ball. Hunt sped 50 yards for a touchdown on a screen pass – on which he stiff-armed Jamie Collins, the only defender to touch him -- and ran 25 yards on his first rushing attempt. For the game, the Chiefs averaged over 8 1/2 yards per play and over 6 yards per rush.

8. Believe it or not: Everybody knows the Chiefs are the top-scoring team in the NFL. Did you know their offensive line on Sunday featured four ex-Browns in the starting unit? Yes, four. Mitchell Schwartz has been the stalwart at right tackle since the Browns let him walk in free agency after the 2015 season. A year ago, the Browns traded 2015 first-round draft bust Cam Erving to the Chiefs. Now he’s their starting left guard and is said to be the heir at center. Regular center Mitch Morse, who is expected to leave in free agency after this season, was out with an injury on Sunday and replaced by Austin Reiter, who was released by the Browns in September. Finally, a replacement starter at right guard the past three games has been Andrew Wylie, who spent two months on the Browns’ practice squad last year.