Cleveland Browns: Does Baker Mayfield change expectations for 2018?

After the first two and half games of the season, the Cleveland Browns did not seem ready to compete for a playoff spot, but does Baker Mayfield starting change that?

The Cleveland Browns will announce that Baker Mayfield is the starting quarterback following Monday’s practice after he helped lead a 14-point comeback over the New York Jets.

Mayfield provided a spark to the offense that the Browns needed. During the first two games, the Browns offense could not take advantage of opportunities to score points. But against the Jets, the Browns were moving the ball at a rate that has not been seen this season.

If Mayfield can continue to provide the spark to the offense like he did Thursday night, the Browns become a much more competitive team than they were when Tyrod Taylor was the starting quarterback.

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The Browns defense has been one of the best defenses in the NFL, keeping Cleveland in games even when the offense was struggling. If it weren’t for the performance of the defense, Cleveland would have started the season 0-3.

But thanks to the defensive effort and Mayfield’s spark in the second half against the Jets, the Browns now look like a team that can win some games this season. However, Browns fans can not get ahead of themselves and say that Mayfield starting instantly helps the Browns compete for a playoff spot this season.

Yes, the defense has been outstanding this season. Offenses have had some success moving the ball against the Cleveland defense, but the Browns have been able to create turnovers. But if the Browns are unable to create turnovers, opposing offenses have been able to get down the field often enough to score points.

Short drives by the Browns offense caused the defense to get back on the field faster than the unit would need to catch their breath on the sidelines. But not a rate that would cause the defense to give up the yards that they have.

The Browns offense should be able to control the time of possession with Mayfield under center. When Taylor was at quarterback, defenses were not threatened enough by his arm, so they would load the box and stuff the run.

Once Mayfield took over as quarterback, the Browns were able to establish a running game and Carlos Hyde had his best game in a Cleveland uniform. That trend should continue for the rest of the season, helping the Browns defense stay on the sidelines longer than they have.

But the biggest question with Mayfield under center is if he can continue to play as well as he did Thursday night. Mayfield was taking chances and pushing the ball down the field. His accuracy was top notch, creating opportunities for his receivers to make a play on the ball.

However, it will be interesting to see how long it takes for defenses to pick up any of Mayfield’s trends, making it harder for Mayfield to make the throws that he did Thursday night. There are going to be growing pains with Mayfield playing, it is just a matter of time until it becomes evident.

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So until Mayfield shows that he can continue to have success for a couple more games, let’s not get outrageous and have lofty expectations for the Browns. Let Mayfield grow, and see where the team is at in two or three more games before changing the season’s expectations.

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