CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns had no shortage of distractions heading into Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, especially after the firings of coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley last Monday.
But the Browns (2-6-1) used the unprecedented midseason changes as a rallying point and had only their second 20-point showing in the last four weeks, albeit in a 37-21 loss to the Chiefs (8-1) in front of the home fans.
“We had to block out the outside noise,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said following the game. “We had to focus in and had to do our job on Sunday. All of the distractions could have been an excuse, but I do not think any of the guys handled it that way.
“They handled it in a professional manner. They handled it the right way. They came out, and we just have to be better. We have to do everything right. We have to focus in. When stuff goes wrong, you have to play the next play.”
Mayfield said “trying to block all of the distractions” was something interim coach Gregg Williams placed a heavy emphasis on during the week of practice.
“We have to stay together as a team,” Mayfield said. “To not use it as an excuse. To get better each week, to realize that there is a lot of ball left in this season, and to see where we can take this thing. Like I said earlier, it is about the culture, and he is continuing to do that. Right now, it is more important than ever.”
Although the Browns made drastic changes with the firings of Jackson and Haley six days before a game and elevated running backs coach Freddie Kitchens to the role of interim coordinator, the players are in full support of the plan set forth by general manager John Dorsey.
“Absolutely, we believe in what he is doing,” Mayfield said. “We believe in the guys that he has brought in here and everything they are about. It is about building culture.
“That is where it starts. He established a culture there (in Kansas City). He brought in the right pieces. You have to get people to believe in that. It doesn’t matter who you have if you have that fixed, then you can go a long way. We are working on that. Like I said earlier, we have to keep getting better.”
Currently, the Browns find themselves three games in back of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the win column and four in the loss category in the AFC North Division standings with seven games left in the 2018 regular season.
To avoid the weight of four consecutive losses waning on his confidence, Mayfield says the process is simple: “you have to go to work tomorrow and have to get better.”
“There were a lot of positives,” Mayfield said. “You have to find those positives.
“You have to build on it to where, eventually, the positives outweigh the negatives and you are not dealing with losses, you are dealing with wins, and then, you are trying to eliminate the negative stuff. Right now, we are at a point where we need to keep getting better at what we are good at and go on from there.”
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