The Cleveland Browns took a step toward turning around their disappointing season with a 19-16 win over the Bills at home on Sunday
The Cleveland Browns came into Sunday’s game in desperate need of a win and, while their 19-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills was full of mistakes and missed opportunities, they’ll gladly take it.
Baker Mayfield, the much-maligned sophomore quarterback, finally discovered what he needs to do to lead the Browns to victory: throw the ball to his two playmakers. Jarvis Landry caught nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, while Odell Beckham, despite finishing with just five catches and 57 yards, was targeted a season-high 12 times.
It all added up to a win over the 6-3 Bills as the Browns (3-6) kept their slim playoff hopes alive. Mayfield threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-touchdown game of the season, while not throwing an interception after coming into the game tied for the NFL lead with 12 through the first eight games.
That this game was even this close, with the Bills having a 53-yard field goal to tie, is revealing of the Browns so-far disappointing season. After Mayfield threw a touchdown to Landry on the opening drive, Landry was called for taunting and forced kicker Austin Seibert to attempt a 47-yard extra point, which he pushed to the right. On the second drive, running back Nick Chubb brought the Browns to the Bills one-yard line with a 24-yard run. The Browns then had eight opportunities to punch it in for a touchdown, kept alive by two Bills penalties in the end zone. They left with no points and a fragile 6-0 lead.
On the first drive of the second half, Mayfield was sacked by Tremaine Edmunds in the end zone for a safety, tying the score at 9-9. Kept alive in the game, the Bills took the lead on a quarterback sneak by Josh Allen in the fourth quarter.
Taking possession with 5:21 left and trailing by four, Mayfield had the Browns season in his hands. He responded by going 7-8 on the drive for 61 yards. On a second-down play from the Bills 31, he lofted a perfect pass just out of the reach of Bills defensive back Levi Wallace and into the arms of Landry for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, he connected with Rashard Higgins in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:44 remaining.
A loss at home on Sunday would’ve meant the end of the Browns season. They are still three games under .500 after ending a four-game losing streak, but their remaining schedule keeps open the possibility of pulling off a playoff push. They still have two games left against the 0-9 Cincinnati Bengals, two against the 4-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, and matchups against the Arizona Cardinals and 1-7 Miami Dolphins. They’re only remaining game left against a team with a winning record comes in Week 16 when they host the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns already beat the Ravens this season, a 40-25 win in Week 4.
Four teams since 1990 have made the playoffs after starting the year 3-6, the last being the 2012 Redskins. It’s still a big hole to climb out of for the Browns, but Sunday’s win is at least a start for a team that came into the season with so many expectations.
