CLEVELAND, Ohio — Baker Mayfield defeat Patrick Mahomes twice in college or university, but hopes to even his NFL file in opposition to him to 1-1 on Sunday in the divisional spherical of the playoffs in Kansas Town.
“He’s gotten me so considerably in the league so I have to see what I can do,’’ Mayfield said.
Mayfield was referring to the Chiefs’ 37-21 victory in excess of the Browns on Nov. 4, 2018, in Freddie Kitchens’ very first sport as the enjoy caller soon after Hue Jackson and Todd Haley ended up fired.
It was Mahomes’ 1st triumph over Mayfield immediately after shedding to him twice when he was at Texas Tech and Mayfield was at Oklahoma, 63-27 in 2015 and the file-shattering 66-59 Sooners victory in 2016 in which the two QBs merged for 1,279 yards passing, most in university soccer heritage.
“For starters, you could go into the physical attributes that Pat has – he has all the things you could maybe want,’’ Mayfield claimed Wednesday. “His arm strength is unbelievable, but just the distinctive arm angles and matters he is ready to do – I know persons discuss about his no-glance passes and all of that – but to be able to modify his arm angle, you can see why he was this kind of an remarkable athlete in baseball and basketball, as perfectly.
“He’s just able to do points that a good deal of quarterbacks can not do. He sat out rather substantially the whole to start with rookie yr and just took every thing in. Patrick is very smart, intelligent buying up that program. You can just convey to fellas want to engage in for Patrick, but when he’s on prime of his video game like he is mentally, that pushes those men even extra.”
Heading into Sunday’s rematch, Mayfield acknowledged Mahomes’ efficiency in that epic 66-59 shootout was the ideal he’s at any time found by a QB. Mahomes accomplished 52-of-88 makes an attempt for 734 yards and 5 TDs.
“Honestly, no, I have not,’’ Mayfield stated. “Just the efficiency and stunning plays, it was enjoyable to watch. It is always been entertaining to hold up with Pat.”
He is familiar with he’ll in all probability have to do just that all over again on Sunday to beat the Chiefs, who went 14-2 this time and finished No. 1 in full offense. They have been also No. 6 in factors scored and Mahomes concluded third in the NFL with a 108.2 score, throwing 38 TD and only 6 INTs.
“We had to score every single solitary generate in the 2nd fifty percent to earn that game,’’ Mayfield reported. “I know we scored ideal before halftime. I did a fifty percent-bootleg to the ideal, threw a touchdown to (previous Oklahoma WR) Nick Basquine ideal in advance of halftime. We experienced to rating each single travel in the 2nd fifty percent just to win for the reason that Pat threw the ball 80-some thing moments and experienced 800 yards all-intent by himself. It was an unbelievable activity and unbelievable environment. Just the again and forth is something that I will not forget about.”
Although Mayfield seeks to even the NFL file, Mahomes — 1-2 in the head-to-head matchup because 2015 — is going for the overall tie.
“Obviously, it is amazing to get to engage in against him in these a massive match, in the playoffs and stuff like that,’’ Mahomes reported in his presser Wednesday. “Known him for a long time due to the fact I was a senior in large faculty and to be capable to participate in on this phase is going to be specific. I suggest, he went to Oklahoma, I went to Texas Tech, so he obtained the far better of me in university, so I’ll test to do my greatest to earn in the NFL.”
Chiefs limited conclude and Cleveland native Travis Kelce revealed that Mahomes put in his bye week finding out movie to put together for whoever they could possibly participate in and was ready when the information strike.
“You can inform that he’s been executing his homework for the earlier week and a half,’’ Kelce claimed. “Sure enough, as shortly as we discovered out on Sunday who we have been playing, he was ideal there and had a entire notebook ready for the Cleveland Browns. Appropriate now we’re in the method of figuring out the recreation prepare. Like I said, what Pat does the best is communicating what he’s viewing and how he feels we will need to assault the protection. All of those discussions are extremely related through the sport.”
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Denzel Ward, activated off COVID-19 reserve on Wednesday, understands what he’s up versus in Mahomes in his first activity again after two months off.
“He’s of course an fantastic expertise,’’ he stated. “He has the arm power. He can make each individual toss on the field. He’s smart. He is all the things you want in a quarterback.”
Ward will be on the lookout for the difficult throws, but also check out not to see ghosts.
“He’s finished some things that you commonly do not see in the NFL, just the variety of throws that he’s creating, no glimpse-passes and all of that,’’ he stated. “He’s a great player.”
With Mayfield flipping the switch the 2nd fifty percent of the season, Sunday guarantees to be a thrilling quarterback duel. In his final 9 games, he’s thrown 14 touchdowns and a person interception, and has been automatic in the purple zone, scoring TDs practically 75% of the time. In truth, profootballfootballfocus.com has him rated larger than Mahomes due to the fact Week 9.
“Baker is the chief of our football crew, and we’re all rallying behind him,’’ mentioned Ward. “We believe that in him and he believes in us so we’re all participating in for a person an additional.”
Mayfield was dynamite for the duration of Sunday’s 48-37 victory in excess of Pittsburgh, rallying the group to 13 2nd-50 percent points following Ben Roethlisberger pulled to within just 35-23 in the 3rd quarter.
“I think [it’s] the passion that he has for the game of soccer, and fellas feed off of that,’’ Ward claimed. “They clearly see it as a result of his play, as a result of his enjoyment of other men scoring and creating plays and just the adore for the game.”
Chubb was generous in his praise of Mayfield, his 2018 draft classmate.
“Baker usually has that underdog mentality, and I’m confident that is in his intellect right now,’’ Chubb claimed. “He would like to go out and verify himself even additional. He’s winner. Which is his state of mind. He’s powerful. He loves the match. He’s also just a cool male. You can communicate to him about something, and he’s really down to earth. He is just a loveable guy. All people would like to be all over him. That is just who he is.”
Chubb acknowledged that Mayfield’s fiery nature is contagious.
“He’s fun to be close to,’’ he explained.”He can make coming to apply exciting, even at moments when practice is not enjoyment. You appear at him and he’s likely to be the exact same man, the similar chief, the very same individual and the person that you will need him to be in the course of that minute.’’
Andy Reid appreciates that Mahomes may have his match on Sunday.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Reid reported on a convention simply call with Browns conquer writers. “He did a wonderful occupation in college or university. He’s driven. He would like to be excellent, and so that is how he goes about his business enterprise. He absolutely sure does a pleasant task with it. He’s built huge strides, and I just like his angle.”
He’s not anxious in the slightest about four of Mahomes’ 6 picks this year coming in his very last three video game, including three in a victory more than the Dolphins.
“He experienced a couple in there I know, and I’m not much too nervous about it,’’ he claimed. “He’s in all probability just striving to make some issues happen suitable there. I just cannot get too in depth on it. We are Ok. I am not way too apprehensive.”
Kevin Stefanski was similarly effusive in praise of Mahomes, the 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP very last period.
“You’ve all observed it,’’ he mentioned. “We’ve all viewed it. He’s a special player. He can make each individual perform and can make it from the pocket or outside the pocket and can transfer in the pocket and obtain time. A seriously excellent athlete. He’s a exclusive player. Once again, I imagine any person who’s a admirer of this match acknowledges that.”
It may well not be a 66-59 shootout, but linebacker B.J. Goodson anticipates a incredible exhibit by the two QBs.
“They’re both two terrific rivals,’’ he reported. “Therefore, I see it getting a opposition from start to complete, especially concerning all those two men.”
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