Browns First Win Since 2016 Saw Baker Mayfield Make History
It took the efforts of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield to erase the most humiliating record in the history of the Cleveland Browns.
In front of the hometown crowd on Thursday, the 2018 first-round draft pick threw for two touchdowns to lead the Cleveland Browns to a stunning upset over the New York Jets 21-17, and in the process, became the first quarterback to get 14 points in a comeback since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2005, according to ESPN. Registered 17 of 23 completions for 201 yards in the process, Mayfield was instrumental in eliminating a winless drought that lasted 635 days.
Mayfield, who also led the squad down the field close enough for placekicker Greg Joseph to score two field goals, is credited for ending the historic and abysmal streak in a game that looked like the Browns would lose their 20th straight. But starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was injured after being sacked for the third time by the Jets defense with less than a minute to go in the first half.
"I've just been waiting for my moment," Mayfield said after the game. "I'm just getting started."
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The plan among the Browns coaching staff was to ease Mayfield into the action slowly until he got enough experience behind him to lead the team. But circumstances determined otherwise. Mayfield's debut, in Cleveland's third regular-season game, was dramatic from the time he executed his first series of plays: 3 of 4 completions to set Joseph up for the team's first score of the night.
Before signing with the Browns earlier this year, the Heisman trophy winner had already proven he had the right stuff. Back in high school while growing up in Texas, he registered impressive stats, such as throwing for 11 touchdowns in two consecutive games as well as a state championship.
His numbers were just as impressive playing for Texas Tech, including his 2013 debut that saw him throw four touchdowns and cover more than 400 yards when his team beat SMU 41-23. Later with the Oklahoma Sooners, he became the most efficient passer in college football history, as he helped his team all the way to the Rose Bowl earlier this year. Although they lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 54-48, Mayfield still managed a completion record of 25 of 35 for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
Because of Mayfield's efforts, the victory was the first one experienced by Cleveland since Christmas Eve of 2016 when they beat the San Diego Chargers 20-17. It also broke a 19-game winless streak, which included the Browns losing all 18 games during the 2017 regular season, a dubious feat equaled only by the Detroit Lions in 2016 ever since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967.
NEXT: BROWNS HANDLING OF ZAYNE GONZALES SHOWS THE TEAM IS STILL A MESS
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