CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield went the first half of the 2019 regular season without throwing for multiple touchdowns in any game, and in seven of those contests, he committed at least one turnover.
But as the Browns have gotten back to winning games, Mayfield has maintained possession of the ball, not throwing any interceptions or losing any fumbles over the last three weeks, including multiple touchdown performances in wins over the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Obviously, it starts with not turning the ball over -- knock on wood with that,” Mayfield said. “Just taking care of the ball. Putting our guys in the best position to win. Getting the ball out quicker. Extending plays when we have to, but ultimately, just doing my job of being a distributor, getting the ball in their hands and letting them make the plays.
“We are all doing our job better because we are more focused on doing the little details right. It starts with me. We need to continue to improve each week.”
Against the Bills, Mayfield completed 26 of his 38 attempts (68.4 percent) for 238 yards and two touchdowns against no interceptions. Mayfield followed that up by going 17 of 32 for 193 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score in last Thursday’s 21-7 victory over the Steelers.
In the win over the Bills, Mayfield had his highest completion percentage and quarterback rating (102.7) of any game this season.
“Baker, I think, is coming into his own again,” offensive lineman Joel Bitonio said. “He had some unlucky turnovers, I would say, early in the season and that kind of carried over a little bit, but he is kind of looking like himself.
“He made a few plays with his feet, he made some throws, he even ran the ball in that one time on the QB sneak, so it is some life, some good things we have seen from him, and I know he is extremely focused right now and he has continued to take that next step each week.”
Running back Nick Chubb added, “He’s a fighter. He’s a competitor. I’ve seen it all the time with him. When things aren’t going good, he’s going to be the one to step up and make a play to change things around. I have full confidence in Baker and what he’s doing. He’s a very special player.”
While happy with the production as of late, Mayfield has said multiple times that the offense is nowhere near where the Browns want to be at this point of the season, but he recognized the solid progress made in the last few weeks.
Mayfield is very much looking forward to building on that success, starting with Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
“We have improved a little bit each week, but like I said after the game, we still have a lot of room to improve,” Mayfield said. “I think that is the best part about it is even though we have had success and we have won two in a row, none of that matters. We have to improve. We have to do our job each time we get out there.
“It has been pretty key that my role distributing the ball, getting the ball out quick and putting it in the right spots. Anytime you can have your feet and your eyes lined up in tune, it is good for me. It is getting the ball out, so it is good for our guys, too.”