Baker Mayfield has perfect mindset after Browns 3-1 start

Baker Mayfield has fallen victim to buying into his own hype in the past. Fortunately for the Browns, he’s staying grounded in 2020.

Plenty of NFL starters would be feeling pretty good about themselves after guiding their offense to a 49-point outburst. Baker Mayfield knows he can’t afford to get too high after the Browns’ victory over the Cowboys. That would be the easiest way for the young quarterback, and his offense, to lose the momentum they’ve built.

In the aftermath of his team’s 49-38 win over Dallas, Mayfield was asked if he knew the last time the Browns had gotten off to a 3-1 start. He quickly responded that his focus would remain on “moving on” to the team’s next game. That’s excellent news for Browns fans hoping to see their favorite team snap their postseason drought in 2020.

Mayfield came into the season as a bit of a question mark for first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff. The quarterback’s sub-par 2019 campaign was a big reason why a coaching change was required in Cleveland. Mayfield’s talent has never been in question, but his mental approach to the game has frequently been a talking point for the young signal-caller.

To the organization’s credit, they’ve surrounded him with a much-improved ecosystem this season. Stefanski is a clear upgrade over Freddie Kitchens. More importantly, Cleveland invested a lot of resources in upgrading Mayfield’s protection in the offseason. The addition of Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills as the team’s new starting tackle tandem has done wonders for Mayfield’s protection through four games.

Mayfield has also done his part to capitalize on the organization’s investment. He’s cut down on the mistakes that really harmed his offense a season ago. Only throwing two interceptions through four games might not seem like a great indicator for success, but it’s a big step forward for Mayfield after a turnover-plagued 2019 campaign. He’s being much more judicious with the risks he’s taking down the field and it’s resulting in a noticeable increase in his offense’s efficiency.

If the Browns continue to win games as the season rolls along, the pressure on Mayfield is only going to mount. The team’s passionate fan base is desperate to finally return to the playoffs. That’s a difficult task in a division that features the Ravens and Steelers, but the expanded postseason might have just enough room for Cleveland to sneak in as a Wild Card.