Browns: Baker Mayfield is poised to surpass Lamar Jackson with win

The Browns and Ravens square off on Monday Night Football, in a game that will thrust both Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson into the limelight.

Monday, Dec 14, 2020, will mark the biggest game the Browns have ever played on Monday night since their return in 1999. It’s not only a major showdown against the team that used to be the Browns, a rivalry that can never die, it’s also a showdown between the two quarterbacks that may best define the 2018 NFL Draft. On one hand, you have the No. 1 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns, Baker Mayfield, who has had to deal with four head coaches in three years. On the other hand, you have the last pick in the first round, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. Both men have faced unbelievable scrutiny and both men will look to prove doubters wrong on Monday night.

Though, only one can.

For Mayfield, it’s been an up and down first few years. Despite breaking every rookie record imaginable, a slightly down 2019 had nearly everyone in Cleveland declaring Mayfield “awful” and “a bust”. People like Dustin Fox and Chris Fedor, two of Cleveland’s more known sports personalities, have referred to him as terrible and someone worth replacing. On a national stage, Mayfield has gotten it from everyone. From Dan Orlovsky saying the Browns were scared to give Mayfield the ball, to Colin Cowherd saying that Mayfield wasn’t a man.

Then you have Jackson, who has heard all that and more. After he was drafted, many wondered why as Jackson didn’t have a great throwing arm. He doesn’t, that’s not an unfair criticism but he’s again facing the same scrutiny after winning the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award for 2019. You’d think the national media would give Jackson some time to find his legs as a player, especially considering how bad the offense has been around him.

Granted, yes, the Ravens are 2-4 in their last six and have not been very good offensively. The Ravens are dead last in passing yards, with fewer touchdowns and more interceptions than the Browns. While the Ravens are the top rushers in the league, the Browns are second and have nearly a whole yard more per carry. Making them ground game far more efficient.

When Mayfield and Jackson meet on Monday night, both men are going to be judged heavily. For Mayfield, he’s got to face off with the 8th best defense in the league in yards given up, and the 3rd best in points given up. Any big game by Mayfield will be multiplied even more so considering who he’s playing against. A big win by the Browns and a big game by Mayfield would have the Browns sitting at 10-3, having avenged their loss to the Ravens in Week 1.

A loss to the Browns would hurt Jackson’s standing even more. The Browns are 19th in yards given up, and  22nd in points given up. Most of that, however, is only as good as it is due to the Browns’ offense being able to keep teams off the field with their long drives. The Browns defense is not as good as their not-so-great stats seem to indicate. A loss to them would ravage Jackson’s reputation far more than a Mayfield loss to the Ravens.

If the Browns can pull off the win, and Mayfield looks great in the process, then it’d be fair to say that the two top quarterbacks from the draft class are Josh Allen and Mayfield. This is a huge game for Mayfield and one that he needs to come through in for his reputation, for this team’s season, and for any hope of winning in the playoffs.