Browns' Baker Mayfield on Improved Play: I Ask Myself 'Would an Idiot Do That?'

Channeling Dwight Schrute is apparently responsible for Baker Mayfield getting his 2020 season back on track.

"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, then I don't do that," Mayfield told reporters Sunday when asked about what triggered his personal turnaround.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback finished 25-of-33 for 334 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-35 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

The Browns have now won four straight games following their Week 9 bye. During that span, Mayfield has thrown for 928 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions.

His final stat line is somewhat deceiving in that most of his damage came in a first half in which Cleveland led 38-7. The team slowed down significantly in the second half.

The Browns didn't feel like a 5-3 team after they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8. Mayfield completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes and finished with 122 yards in that game. In general, his performance had improved compared to 2019 but still left something to be desired.

Now, Cleveland is leading the field in the AFC wild-card race at 9-3, and Mayfield is looking more like the passer who set a rookie touchdown record in 2018. 

"Don't be an idiot" has turned out to be sage advice.