The Cleveland Browns suffered a 45-42 overtime loss on Sunday that their rookie quarterback is pinning on himself.
Baker Mayfield said the defeat was on him after turning the ball over four times, to the tune of two interceptions and two lost fumbles.
“I’m the quarterback of this team,” Mayfield said, via Pat McManamon of ESPN. “It’s on me.”
Mayfield was always going to invite scrutiny with four turnovers, but one of the interceptions came on a heave at the end of regulation, so it didn’t quite have massive repercussions. It could be argued that he kept Cleveland in the game, throwing for 295 yards and two touchdowns in addition to the two picks.
Of course, Browns fans will argue that they’d have won the game had the referees simply been able to do their jobs. It’s a fair argument, but it’s probably best that Mayfield wasn’t leaning on it.
