The Cleveland Browns were supposed to be doomed after Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
They had a short week and were heading into Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos without Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt.
That left Case Keenum under center in a pivotal game with a 3-3 record.
NFL analyst Rich Eisen made an interesting point before the game by saying the Browns were poised to win with Keenum and that a victory would have the Mayfield haters even louder Friday afternoon.
His prediction came true and all Eisen could do was offer up a four-word response.
Hate to say I told you so but…oh screw it.
I told you so. https://t.co/51QNteVcF8
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 22, 2021
He tried to tell us all the truth before it happened.
Eisen Is Absolutely Right
Eisen made the point about how some of Keenum’s best football came in Minnesota when Kevin Stefanski was on that offensive staff.
However, Keenum could not keep it up and that is why he has played for so many NFL teams.
But one win, even against a bad Broncos team, will have so many people both in Cleveland and nationally pondering if the team is better without Mayfield.
That seems like a foolish idea, but the narrative is real and Eisen called it out even before Thursday night.
Mayfield is a polarizing player and fans either seem to love him or hate him.
Case Keenum and Baker Mayfield do not live in the same world when it comes to arm strength.
— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) October 22, 2021
There is no middle ground.
Luckily, Stefanski seems to be a bit more level-headed and has also worked with Keenum before.
So while he knows the veteran’s strengths, he is also aware of his weaknesses.
Mayfield will get his job back when healthy.
Yet that may not be until 2022 if he needs to undergo season-ending surgery on his torn labrum.
If Keenum starts the rest of the way and does well, the anti-Mayfield rhetoric will only get louder as time goes on.
