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Given the playoff expectations that were undeservedly placed upon them prior to the beginning of the year, the Cleveland Browns 2019 NFL campaign has been nothing short of a massive disappoint.
Following a 2018 season that saw #1 overall pick Baker Mayfield electrify a franchise that was in desperate need of a rejuvenating facelift, the former University of Oklahoma product regressed this season under first-time head coach Freddie Kitchens.
After a rookie season that saw the former Heisman trophy winner complete 63.8% of his passes for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions (in just 14 games, mind you), Mayfield’s sophomore season has been markedly worse, as he’s completed 60.2% of his passes for 19 touchdowns and 18 interceptions through 15 games.
However, despite this extremely concerning drop in form, Baker Mayfield did, in fact, set one remarkably depressing Cleveland Browns to record this season.
With his Week 17 start against the Bengals this weekend, Mayfield will become the first Browns QB to start all 16 regular-season games in 18 (!!!) years.
Baker Mayfield set to become our 1st QB in 18 years to start all 16 games, vows to be improved for the next 16
📰 » https://t.co/8hqEbE5gcD pic.twitter.com/idid3cE7sk
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 26, 2019
As we all know, the Cleveland Browns’ haphazard modern-day history of quarterbacks in well-documented, as 28 different quarterbacks have started for the team since Tim Couch started all 16 regular season games back in 2001.
That’s right, in between Couch’s and Mayfield’s respective 16-start seasons, the Browns turned to Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski, Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Thad Lewis, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw, Austin Davis, Cody Kessler, Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan, and Tyrod Taylor to quarterback their team.
No wonder the franchise has been in the dumps since their rebirth.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com