Let the talking begin about a new attitude in Cleveland. After taking over for a concussed Tyrod Taylor before halftime against the New York Jets, Baker Mayfield helped guide the Cleveland Browns to something they haven’t experience since December 24, 2016. A victory.
Taylor didn’t play well at all — finishing 4-of-14 with 19 yards passing and 22 yards on the ground while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. But that’s probably not going to be enough to keep the starting job.
Once Baker Mayfield entered the game, the Browns looked like a different team. On the night, he went 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) for 201 yards and zero turnovers. He took just one sack for a loss of eight yards. And after guiding his team to a touchdown to bring the game within 14-12, he and wideout Jarvis Landry did this.
Meanwhile, the Jets put just three points on the board in the second half. Still though, the Browns would need a big drive down the stretch — down 21-17 — in the fourth quarter. So what did the No. 1 overall pick do? He took them 85 yards — throwing for 60 of them — while leading a 15-play drive for a go-ahead touchdown.
Sam Darnold and the Jets would get one more chance to win it after Darnold’s late-game interception, but they simply didn’t have enough time.
So celebrate, Cleveland. Celebrate as big as the night the Cavaliers won the NBA Finals. You have a win, and Mayfield looked great. Cleveland faces the Oakland Raiders next Sunday.