Before a must-win game with one healthy shoulder and without one haughty receiver, the media shoveled doubts over Baker Mayfield as if they were burying his career — but they were really shoveling fuel into the franchise quarterback’s furnace.
With voices calling him mediocre or worse all week, Baker responded with the highest Pro Football Focus grade for any Week 9 QB. More important, he led the Browns to a 41-point explosion and crucial win over a fellow AFC North team.
But if you were surprised that Baker responded to senseless criticism with (another) crucial performance, then you haven’t been paying attention. Baker’s play during the Stefanski/rugged jawline era reveals a glaring truth: Whenever Baker is doubted the most, he comes through with his best performances and elevates the whole team.
The pattern here is pretty simple. Honestly, I feel like I’m in a time loop:
- Baker has an off game and/or is facing serious adversity.
- Talking heads in the media fall over themselves to bail on Baker and write the epitaph on his franchise QB tombstone.
- Patient Browns fans caution against these overreactions and cite the many times Mayfield has proven himself.
- Baker looks great in his very next game.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Let’s look at a few examples from this season and last season.
September 13th, 2020: With a new head coach, optimism about the new season starts to crest — before hope is dashed against the rocks of the Ravens’ defense. Baker looks unimpressive and his QBR is just 33.2. The media starts burying him, and the Browns’ new season, after one game. Cleveland has the Bengals up next on Thursday night.
What happened next: Baker looks elite (97.6 QBR) against Cincinnati and leads the Browns to victory.
October 18th, 2020: Baker throws an early TD pass — to Minkah Fitzpatrick. The game is over early and Mayfield’s QBR falls to a grisly 5.9. Talking heads rend their garments and declare Baker a fraud.
What happened next: Baker has a fantastic game against the Bengals. After Odell goes down with a knee injury, Mayfield completes 21 consecutive passes (setting the franchise record), hurls five touchdown strikes, and leads a dramatic game-winning drive. He posts an eye-popping 96.6 QBR. I publish an article in the Plain Dealer: “Remember this game when you’re tempted to doubt Baker Mayfield.”
November 29th, 2020: Baker plays well (87.2 QBR), but the Browns barely beat an awful Jacksonville team. Talking heads forecast imminent doom for Baker and the Browns as they prepare to face a red-hot Titans team in Tennessee. Beating the Bengals is one thing, but the Titans are entirely different. Baker can’t lead the Browns to a big victory over a great team on the road, can he?
What happened next: Baker leads the Browns to a big victory over a great team on the road. He goes off for four touchdowns as Cleveland races to a 38-7 lead and holds on for the win.
Noticing a theme yet? Good, I’ll stop with the examples.
Just kidding. Let’s recall some more.
January 3rd, 2021: Baker and the Browns clinch a playoff spot by narrowly beating the Steelers — but Pittsburgh is resting its top players. The Browns couldn’t possibly beat the Steelers at full strength in the first round of the playoffs, especially after Kevin Stefanski and Joel Bitonio are both ruled out?
What happened next: Baker plays well (90.6 QBR) and the Browns take a massive lead that they never relinquish. Cleveland ends Pittsburgh’s season in Pittsburgh and earns the first Browns playoff victory since 1994.
October 3rd, 2021: The Browns win, but Baker has an inaccurate day and a bad QBR (18.4). News breaks that Baker’s shoulder injury during Week 2 resulted in a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. As the talking heads talk themselves into a doubting frenzy, I write a post called “Stop Freaking Out: Baker Will Be Fine.”
What happened next: Baker throws for over 300 yards, two scores, and Cleveland racks up 42 points — but the Chargers win.
October 31st, 2021: The Browns score a measly 10 points and drop an ugly loss to the Steelers. OBJ successfully forces his way out of Cleveland days later. Talking heads unleash harsh criticism on Baker. Mayfield’s left shoulder, his leadership of the locker room, and the Browns’ playoff hopes are seemingly hanging by a thread. Almost everyone ignores Baker’s history against the Bengals (5-1) and the doubters (undefeated).
What happened next: Baker has his best game of the year, the best PFF grade for all quarterbacks this week, and the Browns bash the Bengals. In fact, PFF’s John Kosko reveals that Mayfield (without OBJ) has been the fourth-best QB since entering the league.
Per @JohnKosko3 since Baker Mayfield has joined the league he is the 4th best Quarterback when NOT playing with Odell. #Browns case closed pic.twitter.com/aEZXZGdNDL
— Jeff-LJ-Lloyd (@Jeff_LJ_Lloyd) November 8, 2021
Yes, you read that correctly. (Perhaps a diva who went rogue with his routes didn’t exactly make life easier on a guy playing quarterback with one healthy shoulder.)
So, there you have it: Doubting Baker is a dubious move. This isn’t just a recent phenomenon. Baker did this kind of stuff all throughout college too.
I feel like I’m Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day,” and Ned Ryerson is always around the corner with hot — and inaccurate — takes about #6.
The next time the media hurls slander and silliness at Baker, you shouldn’t be surprised when Baker responds with brilliant play. In fact, the real surprise is that anyone still doubts him.
