Cleveland Browns: Despite loss, Baker Mayfield proved himself

Baker Mayfield and the Browns lost the game, but won in a different way

The Cleveland Browns fell to the rival Baltimore Ravens 47-42 in what just might be the game of the year for the 2020 NFL season. Despite their defense providing the approximate resistance of a wet paper bag, Cleveland’s offense mounted multiple fourth-quarter comebacks spurred by a brilliant performance from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has all but re-established himself as the team’s franchise quarterback and one of the league’s best passers since Week 7.

Mayfield threw a bad interception on the Browns second drive of the third quarter. Aside from that, he was excellent, and was the sole reason the team was even in that game. In fact, the Browns win the game if Cody Parkey doesn’t miss a field goal and an extra point. Mayfield didn’t receive much help from his wide receivers, as none of them were able to generate any separation against man coverage.

Still, Mayfield was able to complete 28 of 47 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran another in himself. He may not have been as dominant as he was against the Tennessee Titans in Week 13, but that’s to be expected given the opponent and the gusty Cleveland conditions.

Mayfield wasn’t sacked once, but he was under pressure throughout the game. He was outside the pocket quite often, and made some great plays on the move, including a fourth-quarter touchdown to Rashard Higgins on fourth down.

The end-of-the-half sequence that began with the game tied at 14 and the Browns with the ball at just under two minutes left and ended with the Ravens up seven at halftime was devastating. Baltimore then went down the field on their opening possession of the second half to make it 28-14. That’s a devastating deficit to the most dynamic rushing offense in the league. After the Mayfield interception, Cleveland was again down two scores with just four minutes to go in the third.

Browns teams of old would have folded in both of those situations. But this team is different. This team clawed its way back via Mayfield’s arm to take a one-point lead with six minutes to go, and then tied the game again with one minute remaining. Mayfield led Cleveland on four touchdown drives throughout the second half, against what is considered one of the NFL’s elite defenses.

Throughout his seven-game tear this season, Mayfield was criticized for beating up on bad defenses. So naturally, he had one of his best games against a top-tier one.

Moral victories aren’t the kind you want, and Kevin Stefanski wants no part of them. But it’s impossible to ignore the major positive that came out of this game, and that’s how good Baker Mayfield has become. And the best part is he’s just getting started.