By Adam Schabel
The Cleveland Browns won a game.
They won their first game in 635 days with their last win coming on Dec. 24, 2016 vs the San Diego Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. That win was so long ago that the Chargers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles before Cleveland won another game.
The Browns made national headlines last season, but not for a good reason. They went 0-16. They failed to win one game last season.
Browns fans now have hope as they finally grabbed a win for the first time in a very long time.
The Browns came close to winning in their week one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On a rainy, windy and raw day in downtown Cleveland, the Browns and Steelers tied at 21. The Browns were a field goal away from winning the game; however, kicker Zane Gonzalez had his potential game-winning field goal blocked in overtime.
In week two, the Browns and Saints were tied with under a minute left in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland lost on a last second field goal.
The Browns entered week three with an 0-1-1 record. That was the best start the Browns have had since 2004.
The city of Cleveland was buzzing, and there was a feeling that this could be the week that the Browns would finally get a win. They hosted Sam Darnold, the number three pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
It was a defensive battle to start off the game as the Browns and Jets punted the ball back and forth to each other. The Jets got their offense going and took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor was in the midst of a dismal performance before suffering a concussion and leaving the game midway through the second quarter. He was playing so poorly that Browns fans frequently booed and called for Browns rookie quarterback and number one overall draft pick, Baker Mayfield, to take the field.
Browns fans got their wish.
It was the moment a lot of fans had been waiting for since the night the Browns drafted Mayfield on April 26, 2018. It was “Baker time.”
Mayfield did not disappoint. He led the Browns on a scoring drive in the second quarter, and Cleveland converted a field goal to make the score 14-3 Jets at halftime.
In the second half, Mayfield came out firing.
Browns rookie defensive back Denzel Ward created a turnover by stripping the ball from a Jets receiver deep in Jets territory, and Cleveland had to settle for a field goal.
After a Jets punt, Mayfield then led the Browns on a seven play, 69-yard touchdown drive that took just two minutes and 49 seconds to complete. Cleveland found themselves within two points at 14-12.
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