NFL
Has The Baker Mayfield Era Begun In Cleveland?
Week 3 kicked off with a rowdy New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns game. Although the Browns tied in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they still technically have not won a game in 635 days. That all changed on Thursday Night Football. The rise of the Baker Mayfield era has begun.
The Rise Of Baker Mayfield
Mayfield was a huge success in his first game in the regular season in the NFL. The Browns were down 14-0 and starting QB Tyrod Taylor had gone down with a possible concussion with 1:42 left in the first half. The backup QB’s first throw in the NFL you ask? A slingshot straight up the hash marks in between two Jets to WR Jarvis Landry for 14 yards.
Before Mayfield entered the game, Taylor had caused complete silence in FirstEnergy Stadium.
Mayfield’s first drive was stalled, but points were still put on the board after their new kicker, Greg Joseph, made a 45-yard field goal. Middle of the third quarter, the Browns pulled the unthinkable. Philadelphia Eagles fans might know it as the Philly Special, but it seems that Cleveland fans might switch up the name after Thursday night. They added to the legacy of this play by pulling it to complete a two-point conversion and tie the game.
The first-round draft pick came out and shook the Browns’ stadium in the second half. Mayfield threw more yards in one half (201), than Sam Darnold did the whole game (169).
He caused an uproar, he excited all of Cleveland and brought the Browns back from a 14-point deficit to rally for the win for the first time since Week 16 of 2016 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers. For most quarterbacks, it is hard to put together a game-winning drive. But Mayfield made it look easy. Late in the fourth, the Jets took a three-point lead, but number 6 took the team all the way down the field and running back Carlos Hyde ran it in for his second touchdown of the night to take the lead. And ultimately defeat the Jets 21-17.
The Browns defense came up at the end of the game with two interceptions sealing the game.
Cleveland had the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, and they selected walk-on QB from Oklahoma. Mayfield has a long list of accomplishments with the Sooners. First, he won the Heisman trophy his senior year. He had an average of 330 yards per game with 70.5% completion. He also threw for 4,627 yards in his senior year.
Cleveland also had the fourth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. They selected CB from Denzel Ward, and it did not go to waste. In three games with the Browns, he’s forced a forced fumble, secured a fumble recovery (both against the Jets), three pass deflections and two interceptions.
Will Mayfield Start?
The Browns traded for Taylor from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason and announced that he would start over Mayfield. But now, things could change after Mayfield’s outstanding performance. After the game, head coach Hue Jackson told the media that “I would like to watch the tape.”
It’ll be a big shocker if Mayfield isn’t starting next week when they head to the Black Hole to face the Oakland Raiders. Ultimately, Mayfield changed the whole feel of this game when fans thought it could be over. The rookie QB brought excitement and hope. He changed the atmosphere and changed the outcome of the Browns’ future.
Mayfield stated in his post-game interview “I feel good, we finally put the pieces together a little bit. I’m most proud of that we put it together for the fans at home.”
The Browns are currently 1-1-1.
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of Erik Drost
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