QB Baker Mayfield (10.25.20)
QB Baker Mayfield:
On his performance after the first quarter:
“I just got back on track. The ball to (WR) Odell (Beckham Jr.), we knew we were going to have a one on one and wanted to give him a chance. I didn’t do that and left it short and inside. I am probably going to beat myself up about that one for a long time. He is a guy who fights for this team, and in doing that, he got hurt. Prayers and hopes for the best. That one sucks. Just had to refocus and find completions.”
On getting into a rhythm following the slow start to set a Browns record for consecutive completions in a game:
“It is just a necessary mindset of doing whatever it takes to win. Having to watch that first quarter – Stop. Drop. Shut ‘em down. Open up shop. Like, oh no. That’s how Ruff Ryders roll.”
On his mindset going into the game-winning drive:
“(QB) Case (Keenum) and I were talking. We said they left us too much time. We got on the field, and everyone was talking about how we had to get to the 30 for a field goal. I told the guys, ‘Screw that. We are going to win. No need to settle for that. Just go do our job.’ Those guys made unbelievable plays. Obviously, Higgy (WR Rashard Higgins) on the contested catch going up the high-pointing the ball. (WR) Donovan (Peoples-Jones) going up to the line of scrimmage and have a vertical seam called. Number 23 Bengals CB Darius Phillips) got me earlier in the game and I had to get him back.”
On if there was a play that he felt helped really get the Browns offense back on track:
“I think when we came out and scored right away. The mindset of what we were doing, everyone was doing their job and next man up mentality. I don’t think there was any one specific play, but if I had to pick, it might be the back-shoulder throw to Higgy on the third down. It was a crucial third down.”
On if today’s win could be a defining moment for the Browns’ season:
“I think this game could have given this offense confidence to realize we can believe and trust in everybody. We always have a chance if we believe in that. It was the most important game to date because it was the next one. Right now, we are going to enjoy it. We are 5-2. We have a great opponent coming into our house before the bye week next week.”
On bouncing back following criticism after last week’s loss:
“What criticism are you talking about?”
On clarifying national media criticism after last week’s loss:
“Sorry, I don’t know who they are.”
On the QB battle with Bengals QB Joe Burrow:
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. From the games that I watched him play in college and seeing him in person, he is an incredible leader, He elevates his team. You can see it now. I think he is going to be very successful for a long time. It is always fun to watch a guy like that take over. It is fun to watch. Joe is a great player and a great leader, and I told him that.”
On players like TE Harrison Bryant, Peoples-Jones and Higgins stepping up after Beckham’s early injury:
“For starters, also (TE) Austin Hooper having emergency appendicitis surgery, and just the mindset of last-minute having guys step in and do things that they weren’t practicing all week. Obviously, Odell going down mid-game is not great, but we had a ton of guys step up. You never want to have to go through that, but this team is resilient, and our guys showed that today.”
On WR Jarvis Landry and him also playing through rib injuries:
“Jarvis and I love the game of football. There is never a moment where we do not want to be successful. We are extremely motivated, and we do everything with a purpose. Jarvis today did not have the stats that probably showed, but he had so many crucial plays that he made. [Beckham] is his best friend and his brother that went down so to mentally be able to have success after his best friend goes down like that and not knowing the circumstances, hats off to Jarvis. He is a true leader for this team and will continue to be, no matter what the production is.”
On if Landry and he were in the hospital together getting their ribs checked out:
“From a safe distance apart, yes.”
On being 5-2 and if the Browns have something special going, following his comments last week about 4-2 never feeling so much like 0-6:
“I think it was the next game is the most important one. I think we will look back at the film and realize that we can do a lot of things better early on and help out our team overall, but there are a lot of things that we did in the second half to build on – critical plays that were made and guys stepping up. That is the most important part. Like I said a few weeks ago, it is always better to learn from a win than a loss.”
On how a QB establishes a rhythm when things are not going well and timing is off:
“Just getting back to the basics. Finding completions. Trusting my guys. Not trying to do too much I think is the most important part for me. We did just that. Trusted our offensive linemen to block and went through the progressions.”
On Head Coach Kevin Stefanski adjusting the play calling in the second quarter to help him find easy completions and establish a rhythm:
“Yeah, I feel that. Trying to get a little spark going where we can get in a rhythm because it does start with just executing, finding completions and keeping the change moving. Yeah I can feel that, but after that, it was just everybody was in rhythm making plays.”
On his reaction after seeing Beckham go down early and if he talked to Beckham after the game:
“First, it sucks. No words. I would be lying to say that I was not beating myself up about it. To go into halftime and see him, and I told him I love him, and he said, ‘Go be great.’ That was what he left me with to open up the second half. That was something I continued to remember throughout the second half.”
On if today’s win can help ‘bring the fun’ back for him and help him realize that this is how he needs to play:
“Throughout this week, I was reminded by some very key people and very important people in my life that I have support from them no matter what. That was extremely vital throughout the day. Knowing that we were going to out the second half of play for O also goes with that. Keeping the faith and keeping the belief is extremely important. I have made it this far because I had people supporting me along the way, no matter the circumstances. Just to believe in that and know that I have their love and support is always play confident.”
On if he has ever had 20 consecutive completions in a game:
“I do not know. Maybe. I do not know. Not real sure.”
On what consecutive completions do for his confidence:
“That is mentally where I am used to being – I can make any throw, just getting into a rhythm. It starts with protection. Those guys making a ton of plays and protecting the ball so we can make those plays. We have great skill players. It is just all about executing. That is all that matters. This was a good team win. It does not matter how we do it. We are happy about it, but we are on to the Raiders now.”
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