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Baker Mayfield: Winning is always most important thing for Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield says there is no goal greater for the team than winning.

The Cleveland Browns have won three of their last four games, and despite being under the .500 mark, at 5-7-1, they are still very much “in the hunt” for a spot in the AFC Playoffs, be it through the AFC North Division or a wildcard berth.

And as preparations for Saturday night’s prime-time game against the Denver Broncos continue at team headquarters in Berea, the Browns are focusing on the task at hand, doing the little things each day that could keep them in the hunt heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

“The most important thing is always winning,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after Tuesday’s practice. “As I said when we were going through a little bit of rougher times, you have to try and find the positive. Now, we have a little bit of momentum, you have to work out the kinks and find the mistakes and work through those.

“You have to iron those out. Right now, we are trying to flip that switch to where we are eliminating the mistakes and moving forward. Build on the positives, that is what we expect. The standard has been set. We need to play like that. Now, eliminate those little things that hurt us and keep the games closer.”

Credit: Scott Galvin
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) tosses the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

Although the Browns remain in the playoff discussion heading into their Week 15 matchup with the Broncos in Denver, without a victory, all of that talk goes away, which is why Mayfield and his teammates have bought into interim coach Gregg Williams’ message of trying to win everything about a day’s work.

“We have to take it one week at a time,” Mayfield said. “This game, obviously, presents a great challenge considering Denver is in that wildcard race as well. If we just take care of business one week at a time, it will handle the rest. We are trusting good things will happen after that.”

Credit: Ken Blaze
Oct 7, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) talks with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, the Browns find themselves in third place in the AFC North, but are mathematically still able to win the division, as they are just two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and 1.5 behind the Baltimore Ravens, who is on the schedule for a Week 17 matchup.

As the wins have stacked up over the last month, so has the confidence and sense of belief within the Browns’ locker room, as the players are embracing the opportunity to change the culture of losing that has permeated the organization in recent seasons.

“As the famous Jarvis Landry quote, ‘It is contagious,’” Mayfield said. “For real. Positivity can go a long way. We need guys to believe in the system, trust it and keep fighting. That was the important thing that we saw in Houston. Even when it was not going well, our guys kept fighting and tried to make it close. That is great for our team.

“The culture thing, I keep harping on that, but we are starting to feel that a little bit and that is important, but we are not satisfied. Like I said after the game, we are not there yet. We are not satisfied, but we are happy with the direction this is headed. That is important to not get lost in it and to still find the positives, but then, now, like I said, we have to find the mistakes and eliminate those, too.”

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