Baker Mayfield has put everything from last Sunday's game in Pittsburgh behind him.
The score, 38-7, is now irrelevant to Mayfield. So is the stat line — 10-of-18 for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Mistakes were made from Mayfield. Mistakes were made from everyone. The Browns have already moved on, and so has Mayfield.
That being said, Mayfield knows he has to play better. The Browns offense is looking to make their return to the same efficient football it displayed from Week 2 to Week 5, when it constructed its first four-game win streak in over a decade, and Mayfield is ready to lead that charge.
"You've got to have a short memory playing quarterback," Mayfield said. "That's for the good and the bad, and especially with the bad. We just have to get back to the basics and find completions, and it's tough when you're in a momentum swing like that and you need to get back on track. But at this position, you have to be able to do that."
Check out the best photos from the Cleveland Browns game against the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday by the Browns photo team
Running Back D'Ernest Johnson (30), Fullback Andy Janovich (31) and Running Back Dontrell Hilliard (25) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Kevin Johnson (28) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (29) and Linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Quarterback Case Keenum (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) and Safety Sheldrick Redwine (29) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Fullback Andy Janovich (31) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Running Back Dontrell Hilliard (25) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Tavierre Thomas (20) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) and Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (29) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65), Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6), Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (29) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and Center JC Tretter (64) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65), Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (90) and Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Kevin Johnson (28) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker Tae Davis (55) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Linebacker Montrel Meander (41) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Porter Gustin (97) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Safety Andrew Sendejo (23) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
The Browns couldn't find much momentum Week 6 at Heinz Field, when they fell into a 10-0 hole early in the first quarter and struggled to generate offensive production for most of the afternoon. Pittsburgh shut down Cleveland's top playmakers for nearly a full 60 minutes, something the Browns haven't come close to dealing with since their Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
But Cleveland hasn't lost sight of how it bounced back after its Week 1 defeat, either. The Browns were full of positives four days later when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 35-30, which included five touchdowns — and a much cleaner performance from Mayfield.
That's the approach again for Week 7, and Mayfield is confident he can rebound in their rematch against the Bengals.
"It's the 'next game' mentality," Mayfield said. "We know we can do better. I know I can do better, and (my teammates) see that."
From a physical standpoint, Mayfield should be simply feeling better, too. He played through an injury to his ribs he sustained in Week 5 that forced him to be a limited participant throughout practice last week. Mayfield said the injury didn't affect him throughout the game and he feels much better this week. It certainly won't hurt for him to have a few more practice reps under his belt as he gets closer to full health.
"I should be able to do a lot more in practice," Mayfield said. "We've got to get back to work."
Even though last Sunday did not go as planned, the Browns are still in a favorable position as the AFC playoff race heats up. A 4-2 record — with two losses against two of the best teams in the conference — is the best record the Browns have had through six games in Mayfield's career, and their next five games come against opponents who have a combined 7-20-2 record thus far.
The Browns will have plenty of opportunities to tally several more wins on their record, but Mayfield is only focusing on whomever the next opponent is.
"No matter what the expectations are on the outside, we have to go in there and handle it," he said. "It is the NFL. There are no gimmes. You have to earn it in this business so we have to handle it that way."
The Browns believe they can "earn it" Sunday by putting their last game behind them as quickly as possible. For Mayfield, that includes working back to full health and continuing to find ways to get the ball into the hands of the Browns' top playmakers.
That's been the mantra of the Browns offense all season, and the results of one game aren't going to change that.
"We have to realize that it only counts for one loss, and the most important game is the next one," Mayfield said. "We have to get back to work and handle it with that mentality."
