Cleveland Browns: Stefanski, Mayfield have to prove themselves in Week 17

It’s put up or shut up time for the Cleveland Browns leaders

The Cleveland Browns have had a remarkable season, and had any fan been asked if they’d been happy with a win and you’re in playoff scenario, you wouldn’t find a single one who would say no.

A loss on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going to be resting some starters, however, would be detrimental to the progress that has been made this year. Essentially, Week 17 is a “put up or shut up” game for both Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield.

To some, that may seem like an overreaction. Going from zero wins just three years ago, and coming off six wins in 2019, getting double-digit wins and missing the playoffs by one game is a nice step forward.

While that is true, what really comes from a 10 win season where a team misses the playoffs? Yes, the Browns can, for the first time in what seems like ages, go into the offseason with hope for the future. They have a solid coach, quality players on both sides of the ball, and stability on all leadership fronts.

Missing the postseason, however, doesn’t do much for the future of this team. Missing the playoffs by one spot would put the Browns drafting with the 18th overall pick in the first round. In 2019, they selected 10th overall after only getting six wins. Four extra wins, no playoff games, and a mid-round draft pick in 2020 is not exactly what was in the plans at the midway point of the season when the Browns were in prime position for a playoff spot.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Baker Mayfield have shown much progress from their Week 1 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, and have delivered hope to a fan-based starved for it. Mayfield has shown that he truly can be the face of the franchise for the long term, and Stefanski has proven that he can make a game plan to hang with just about any team in the league

The Cleveland Browns must win Sunday, not only to have a clear shot of getting into the playoffs, but to also show the world that these aren’t the Cleveland Browns of old. Stefanski and Mayfield are here to prove themselves and prove that the Browns are no longer pushovers.

A loss to the backups of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a wound that can be overcome, but it’s still one that could sting for quite a while if the Browns miss the playoffs.