The Cleveland Browns have yet to play their best football. Baker Mayfield believes they can do even better than they have this year. Likewise, head coach Kevin Stefanski is adamant the team is going week-by-week. Focusing on winning, one game at a time.
The Cleveland Browns Are Yet To Play Their Best, Baker Mayfield Believes
Everyone is aware the Browns haven’t had a winning season since 2007. A year of uncertainties, 2020 has been kind to the Browns. Week 12 was one to remember for two reasons. First, they came so close to losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a struggling team with a struggling quarterback. Secondly, this tiny 27-25 victory put an end to their losing seasons and everyone took notice. Even the high profilers. This alone makes the 2020 Cleveland Browns the best version of the team in quite some time
8-3! Keep going!! #Browns @Browns
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 29, 2020
The Browns Are Not Complacent
Baker Mayfield feels they can get better. “We still haven’t played our best ball yet and I truly believe that. But I feel like we’re improving at the right time. And so for us to continue to improve and find ways to win at this point in the year, I think is the most important thing.”
The franchise knows they have had some close calls. They barely escaped with victories against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jaguars. They’ve had three wins against NFC East teams, the weakest division this season. And they played against teams who couldn’t grind in bad weather.
Stefanski has never been quick to celebrate any victory. He has remained realistic and no one can fault him. “We’re just trying to go to 1-0 each week. We get to eight [wins], and we have a bunch more games to go. We’re really not concerned with the past.” His attitude is admirable.
Their AFC Wildcard Campaign Is Strong
Winning this game while the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts lost, the Browns are in a much more comfortable position. As of Sunday Week 12, the Browns have taken the first of the AFC’s three wild card spots. Just two weeks ago, the Wild Card race really did seem crowded.
The Browns almost tied for the second-longest under-.500 stretch. With five games left to play, sitting at 8-3, they are assured of a .500 season.
They Need Their Star Players
In previous games, they had survived adequately without their best players. This time, they could barely slow down Jacksonville’s quarterback Mike Glennon. They were far from dominant. The Browns need star pass rusher Myles Garrett off that COVID-19 list, especially when he already suffered a knee injury in the weeks prior. And they need Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward to get over his calf injury. Nick Chubb is still a game-saver after he took a screen pass 13 yards which ultimately sealed the win.
Baker Mayfield misfired some easy throws, yet managed to delivered key strikes at other times. Cleveland was close to losing based on two of his overthrows. On the upside, he has now gone four straight games without an interception. Completing 19 of 29 passes for 258 yards, plus two touchdown passes to Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper were enough to let the fans breathe a little easier. He’s given them hope that he can still sparkle on the field.
All in all, the Browns should be proud of themselves for getting this far and never giving up. They’ve proven the doubters wrong. It will be an interesting few weeks.
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