Browns: Minor debate over Baker Mayfield win stat

The Browns may finally be able to dub a Baker Mayfield as the winningest on this current home’s soil but when they can is up for debate.

This isn’t a bad debate to have. Since the opening of First Energy Stadium (Cleveland Browns Stadium) in 1999, there hasn’t been much to celebrate. The Cleveland Browns have had just two winning seasons and one playoff team since 1999. Through it all, the team ebbed and flowed with a string of quarterbacks who had no business suiting up on Sundays, let alone starting on home soil. That’s why after 2009, Derek Anderson, with just 10 wins, was the all-time winningest quarterback in First Energy Stadium history.

Then came Ben Roethlisberger to ruin our fun. Roethlisberger ended up having more wins at the Browns’ current stadium than any other quarterback since it opened in 1999. While he doesn’t get to claim credit for being the All-Time winningest quarterback on Browns’ soil since the team was founded in the ’40s, it’s still not a record any Browns fan wants to share with a Steeler quarterback.

This is where Baker Mayfield comes into play, as well as a little debate. Depending on who you ask, Mayfield is either tied with Roethlisberger or has unseated Roethlisberger as the winning quarterback in First Energy Stadium (Cleveland Browns Stadium) history.

The reason the stat is marred in a bit of uncertainty is because of how we define how quarterbacks get the win. If we subscribe to the notion that its the quarterback who starts the game gets credit for the win, then Mayfield is tied with Roethlisberger for first at 11 wins. If we subscribe to the notion that it’s the quarterback responsible for the win even if he comes on in relief, then Mayfield is first with 12 wins.

Why the confusion regarding Mayfield? He subbed in during the Sept. 20, 2018 game against the New York Jets in Week 3, after then starter, Tyrod Taylor went 4-14 for 19 yards and was benched. Mayfield led the Browns to a win that day, though did not start. So it all comes down to how you grade out who gets the win. Local media are saying that Mayfield tied Roethlisberger’s record, while the national media is saying the record is now Mayfield’s.

Personally, it’s easy to subscribe to both ideas, as they both have merit. It makes sense that Mayfield is the all-time winningest quarterback at First Energy Stadium but whether you think it’s who starts or who finishes, the Nov. 1 game against Oakland could put this confusion to bed for good.