Mayfield delivers victory for Browns
For the first time in 635 days, the Browns found a way to win.
Baker Mayfield showed them how.
The No. 1 overall pick replaced injured starter Tyrod Taylor and sparked the Browns, who got two 1-yard touchdown runs from Carlos Hyde and beat the Jets 21-17 on Thursday night in Cleveland for their first win since Dec. 24, 2016.
And so ends the Browns’ 19-game winless streak, the NFL’s second-longest since the 1970 AFL-NFL 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. The Browns passed on taking Darnold in the draft and instead chose Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma.
Mayfield finished 17-for-23 for 201 yards in a little more than a half after coming in after Taylor suffered a concussion.
Jones says his absence from practice was “just precaution.” He says he “felt some tightness” in Sunday’s 31-24 win over the Panthers.
The Falcons also held out running back Devonta Freeman (sore right knee), linebacker Corey Nelson (calf) and defensive ends Takk McKinley and Derrick Shelby, who have groin injuries. Nelson was hurt in Wednesday’s practice.
Freeman did not play against the Panthers.
He’s made every field goal and extra-point attempt, helping the Bengals remain unbeaten.
The seventh-year kicker has settled into the job after beating out fifth-round draft pick Jake Elliott last year, prompting the Bengals (2-0) to offer the contract extension through 2020. He signed it on Tuesday.
Bullock is one of 11 kickers in the NFL who have yet to miss.