The previously winless New York Jets have now managed to string together a real life winning streak after taking down the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland in consecutive weeks. With the Jets edging a short-handed Browns team in Week 16 at MetLife Stadium, Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield almost led the AFC North franchise back from a double-digit deficit on the road.
However, Mayfield was unable to secure the comeback for the Browns as the veteran signal caller fumbled on the one-yard line late in the fourth quarter, which ultimately solidified the Jets' second win of the 2020-21 campaign.
Even though the Browns were hampered in a major way due to COVID-19 on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, NJ, Mayfield still took the brunt of the blame during his postgame press conference.
Baker Mayfield took only one question during his postgame Zoom call. Completely owning the loss — “I failed this team” — this is what else he had to say: #Browns pic.twitter.com/PxSjbLglID
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 27, 2020
“There’s no excuse,” Mayfield told Browns reporters. “Plain and simple, I failed this team. I put three balls on the ground, two of them that they recovered and then the other on the fourth down. Just hold onto the damn ball. Plain and simple, I have to hold onto the damn ball. I failed this team. We had exactly what we needed to win this game. And I didn’t do enough. That’s it.”
Even though Mayfield and the Browns are an impressive 10-5 on the season heading into Week 17, the final week of the 2020-21 regular season, Cleveland has yet to officially clinch a playoff berth with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers up next. It is also worth noting that a comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts gave the Steelers this year's AFC North crown on Sunday.
The Browns will be fired up for their game against the Steelers, though the start time for the game has not been announced. Pending the outcomes of other Week 17 games, that contest could be the biggest for the Browns in nearly 20 years. Baker Mayfield knows that if Cleveland can make the playoffs with a win, he will need to be ready to put this Jets debacle behind him.
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