As the season winds down, the Cleveland Browns are staring down the barrel of a great turnaround. Specifically, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield could be on the verge of making history in the Dawg Pound.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has been terrific this season. Since Week 9, Mayfield has thrown 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Cleveland’s new offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens, has unlocked something in Mayfield that has made him a force to be reckoned with as a rookie.
Mayfield has taken over the city of Cleveland and his impressive rookie numbers make it easy to see why. The former Oklahoma Sooner’s infectious personality, on and off the field, has endeared itself to a Browns fanbase that hasn’t seen success at the quarterback position in nearly 20 years. His undying work ethic has only helped to make him even more of a fan favorite in Cleveland.
Now with two games left in his rookie campaign, Mayfield is on the cusp of making NFL history. His 21 touchdowns have already tied him for the seventh-most passing touchdowns for a rookie. That puts him comfortably above Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in their rookie years.
Mayfield is special, and he’s also a player that loves to make a statement. And in front of a home crowd at FirstEnergy Stadium, he will attempt to repeat his first performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mayfield tossed four touchdowns in Week 12 against the divisional rival Bengals, and another game of that caliber would put him just two away from the record of 26.
Then, it all comes down to Mayfield’s Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Mayfield already threw one touchdown pass against the Ravens in Week 5, and that was before he really came into his own under Freddie Kitchens. Of course, wins are paramount for a Browns team trying to finish with a winning record, but Mayfield could set himself apart from the pack in the final two weeks of the season.
Mayfield has been terrific this season, and his possible numbers would be eye-popping should Week 16 against the Bengals go well. Mayfield has a real shot at history this year, and setting the rookie touchdown record would only endear him to the Dawg Pound even more.