Few people were more critical of Baker Mayfield early in the season than Rex Ryan, but the former coach is officially starting to come around. In fact, he now thinks the Browns are going to reach the playoffs for the first time in over 16 years.
The Browns improved to 5-6 with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday, and Ryan said on ESPN’s “Get Up” Monday morning that they are going to reach the postseason because of their weak schedule over the final five weeks. He entertained his colleagues by deadpanning that Mayfield is “underrated.”
"Look … [Baker Mayfield] is underrated as hell."
—Rex RyanIf you know, you know pic.twitter.com/9QAEAYrI3d
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 25, 2019
“Who’s gonna beat ’em?” Ryan asked. “Pittsburgh, with Duck Hodges or some goose playing quarterback? … I’ve never seen an easier schedule.”
Ryan was serious with his prediction that the Browns will make the playoffs, but he was being sarcastic when he called Mayfield underrated. While Mayfield has played well lately, this is the same Rex who said earlier in the year that the former first overall pick is “overrated as hell,” so he was playing off of that. That said, Mayfield has thrown just one interception in his past four games and has played much better as of late.
Mayfield responded with a great zinger the first time Ryan called him overrated, so he probably doesn’t care that Rex is jumping on the bandwagon now. He’s focused on trying to get to at least 9-7, and the Browns face the Steelers, Cardinals, Ravens and Bengals twice to close out the year. It’s not out of the question that they will only lose one of those games.
