Mayfield ends Browns’ misery
No. 1 pick leads comeback against Darnold, Jets to end 19-game winless streak
CLEVELAND — For the first time in 635 days, the Cleveland Browns won.
Baker Mayfield showed them how.
The No. 1 overall pick replaced injured starter Tyrod Taylor and sparked the Browns, who got two 1yard touchdown runs from Carlos Hyde and beat the New York Jets 21-17 on Thursday for their first win since Dec. 24, 2016.
“I’ve just been waiting for my moment,” Mayfield said. “I’m just getting started.”
And so ends Cleveland’s 19game winless streak, the NFL’s second-longest since the 1970 AFLNFL merger.
The Browns (1-1-1) trailed 14-0 in the first half before Mayfield came in for Taylor and led four scoring drives while winning an unexpected matchup against Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. Cleveland passed on taking Darnold in the draft and instead chose Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma.
Mayfield finished 17-of-23 for 201 yards in a little more than a half after coming in when Taylor suffered a concussion.
Darnold had one last chance, but was intercepted by Terrence Mitchell with 11 seconds left.
When the final seconds ticked off the clock, Cleveland fans, who had endured a 0-16 season and waited nearly two years to see their Browns win, erupted in celebration.
Around the city, refrigerators stocked with Bud Lights were finally unlocked, and there figured to be
more than a few beverages consumed in the hours ahead.
This was just one win, and while it was an ending, it also felt like a beginning — because of Mayfield.
“Dilly, dilly to the Cleveland fans,” Mayfield said, using the beer’s commercial slogan. “It’s not the only win we’re going to celebrate.”
Browns coach Hue Jackson, who got just his second win in 35 games as head coach, wouldn’t commit to Mayfield as the starter after the game, but Jackson referred to Mayfield’s performance as “his coming out party” several times.
For Darnold, a promising start ended with his second loss in three games. He completed 15 of 31 passes for 169 yards, but threw two picks late in the fourth as he tried to rally the Jets.
“I feel like I’ve got to play better and make better reads,” Darnold said. “I need to be more decisive. We’ve got to make them pay and put the ball in our playmakers’ hands.”
Isaiah Crowell had two TD runs for the Jets (1-2).
Newly signed Browns kicker Greg Joseph made field goals of 45 and 27 yards after being signed just three days ago.