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The national season only officially starts next week. But when it comes to Cleveland Browns, they might as well start now.
The Browns could earn a playoff spot for the first time in 18 years with a victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They could also finish an 18th consecutive year at home if they lose and other results are against them as well.
For Baker Mayfield and the Browns, it’s simpler to consider the last week of the regular season only as the first week of the playoffs.
“The mentality here is that we are only one week early in our play-off battle. It is winning or going home, ”said Mayfield, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It simply came to our notice then. We have the talent. We have the scheme. We just have to go there and do it and do our job. And when we achieved success this year, that was the case.
‘Everyone knows it’s winning or going home. It is no longer necessary to emphasize this. You do not have to apply any pressure. It’s just about us doing our job. ”
The Browns would have already scored a playoff spot if they had beaten the New York Jets Sunday. Along with the Steelers return over the Indianapolis Colts, the Browns would have scored a playoff spot. However, a handful of players missing – including four wide receivers – due to COVID-19 suffered a major setback in the 23-16 defeat for the Jets.
The loss did not make Cleveland a guarantee for the post-season for a long time.
COVID-19 issues on Wednesday forced the closure of the team’s facility before the team began training that evening. In their favor is the fact that the Steelers will start Mason Rudolph and play some backup to give some key beginners a break before the playoffs.
Regardless of the circumstances, Mayfield says he is ready for the challenge ahead of getting the Browns into the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
“I’ve had my back against the wall many times in my life,” Mayfield said. “I think I handle that kind of thing right.
‘These are the moments you’re asking for. When you are little, you dream of playing in the games where it means that you have the ball in your hands and that you want to take care of business. ”