Cleveland Browns Instant Reactions: Baker Mayfield era begins

The Cleveland Browns scored their first win in 635 days and they did it with the help of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield who played brilliantly

It started out looking incredibly bleak, but the Cleveland Browns found life when Baker Mayfield took over under center. After two weeks of watching Tyrod Taylor and the offense struggle, Mayfield got his chance and made the most of it.

It was an unfortunate way to get into the game as Taylor suffered a concussion, but Mayfield stepped up and delivered. Taking over down 14-0 he led them down the field for three points on his drive. The 14-3 deficit at the half didn’t feel as daunting after seeing him rifle the ball like he was. Suddenly, there was life and hope.

Then in the second, he kept chipping away. A turnover led them to another three points, but then Mayfield and the offense found the end zone and made it a two-point game. Then Mayfield took a pass on a trick play from Jarvis Landry to tie things up.

As fate would have it, Mayfield and the offense took the lead late 21-17 off a touchdown from Carlos Hyde and the stellar defense held the Jets off for their first win in 635 days. It’s no coincidence that first win was also the first time Mayfield saw the field.

It also couldn’t have come against a better team as Mayfield was much better than Sam Darnold — who some still thought should have been picked over Mayfield. Baker being the right pick is one reaction to this win, and here are three more reactions to the game that opened the ‘Victory Fridges.’