CLEVELAND -- All throughout his career at the University of Oklahoma, quarterback Baker Mayfield was known as a fiery competitor that was the kind of leader who could inspire others to raise their levels of play around him, and that proved to be the case once again for the Cleveland Browns’ rookie signal-caller Sunday.
Despite a defense that was decimated by injuries over the last two weeks, Mayfield led the Browns (3-6-1) to four touchdown drives on the way to a 28-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons (4-5) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Sunday.
“He is just a great leader, and you know no matter what is going on around us or outside noise just the bad stuff that has not gone well for us, he is going to give us all 100 percent and he is not going to let it affect him,” rookie running back Nick Chubb said following the win.
“Guys, we like that we like that in our quarterback and our leader, and he is fiercely competitive. He gives 100 percent every play. Just being on the team with him, everyone just likes it and loves him and loves who he is.”
QB @bakermayfield's top throws from #ATLvsCLE 🎯 pic.twitter.com/2GVe0NIYbx
Mayfield completed 17 of his 20 throws for 216 yards and a franchise rookie-record-tying three passing touchdowns against the Falcons. At one point in the victory over the Falcons in front of the home fans, Mayfield completed 13 consecutive throws to start the game.
In leading the Browns to the victory, Mayfield moved up on the Browns’ all-time lists for passing touchdowns and passing yards by a first-year player.
“I did not know that, and that is what you expect from Baker,” Chubb said. “He does a tremendous job for us coming in here and being a leader stepping up big anytime we need him, and it starts in practice every week. He leads us and does everything right.”
Interim coach Gregg Williams added, “[Very important] for his confidence, and it also goes back to show how he worked this week and the little nuances that he corrected this week was right. That helps the confidence on continuing to push that same way with a few little technique things that he had to do. If you have not played the position, it is the balance of the throwing position. He corrected his balance and was very accurate. It was good to see.”
The Browns converted 19 first downs against the Falcons, and 13 of those came through the air. Additionally, Mayfield led the offense to a four-of-eight showing in third-down situations in the Browns’ third win of the 2018 regular season.
“If you take a step back and watch how he managed the game in the huddle, how he managed the clock, how he managed the check systems and how he managed the overall communication on the offensive side of the ball, a good next step for him, yes,” interim coach Gregg Williams said.
“I believe it is important for the quarterback to have that (confidence), but more important I believe as important –for everybody else to see that he is charge and now the confidence that each person brings to him. They have to bring their own confidence to him."
