3 toughest quarterback matchups for Cleveland Browns in 2020
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns toughest QB matchups this season
What’s the most important position in the NFL? Not many would argue anything different than quarterback. Since 1999 the Cleveland Browns have been searching for “their guy” at quarterback, and 29 times have wound up empty-handed.
Multiple years the team has had a tremendous defense, but halfway through the season, they have given up because the offense can’t stay on the field.
Baker Mayfield showed tremendous promise as a rookie in 2018. After the team started the season 0-1-1, which should have easily been 2-0, Mayfield was called upon to replace Tyrod Taylor vs. the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Keep in mind, the Browns had not won a game since week 16 of the 2016 season vs. the San Diego Chargers.
Mayfield and the Browns would enter halftime down 14-3, but 11 unanswered points in the third quarter would lead the Browns to their first win in 19 games. The Browns would finish 7-8-1 for the year but were contenders in nearly every game and had a shot at the playoffs through Week 16 where their season ended on a Mayfield interception as he was leading the team to a game-winning field goal opportunity.
The Browns drastically improved their roster for the 2019 season, which included the addition of star wide receiver Odell Beckham. While many slotted the Browns for their first playoff appearance since 2002, the season would not go as planned. A stagnant offense and often confused head coach would lead to a disappointing 6-10 record and cost the head coach and general manager their job.
Newly hired general manager Andrew Berry and first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski join the team during the toughest times of the last 60 years. Practices, preseason games, and face to face time has been more limited than ever because of COVID-19, but Stefanski has been adamant from the beginning that it wouldn’t be an excuse for losing.
While it feels like the Browns are finally ready to turn the page, a lot will derive from Mayfield returning to his rookie form. Not only that, but the Browns will also have multiple tough matchups vs. top quarterbacks in 2020. Here are the three toughest matchups for next season.