Baker Mayfield makes debut for Browns, gets off to scorching hot start against Jets
The Browns rookie was on fire in the first half against the Jets
After spending most of the first half calling for the Browns to put in Baker Mayfield, fans in Cleveland finally got their wish.
With the national spotlight on the Browns' game vs. the Jets on Thursday, the rookie quarterback made his NFL debut and all he did was lead the Browns to an improbable comeback win for the team's first victory in 635 days. For most of the first half, Tyrod Taylor was under center for the Browns, but after suffering a head injury late in the second quarter, Browns coach Hue Jackson was left with no choice but to put in Mayfield.
The No. 1 overall pick entered the game with just under 1:45 left in the first half and he immediately did something that Taylor was unable to do: He led the Browns on a scoring drive.
Mayfield came out firing and competed his first three passes for 47 yards, which was especially impressive, because Taylor had only been able to muster a total of 19 passing yards during his six possessions on the field.
Tyrod Taylor in the 1st half:
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 21, 2018
4/14 for 19 yards in 6 drives
Baker Mayfield in the 1st half:
3/4 for 47 yards in 1 drive pic.twitter.com/OsUKz8cSew
Mayfield's first completion of his career went to Jarvis Landry for a 14-yard gain on first-and-10.
.@BakerMayfield's first career throw...
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2018
First Down #Browns!#NYJvsCLE
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ImslLbNhSz
In the 1:19 that he was on the field in the second quarter, Mayfield led the Browns on their only scoring drive of the first half. The rookie quarterback drove his team 39 yards down the field, which set up a 45-yard field goal by new Browns kicker Greg Joseph.
Here's a look at every pass that Mayfield threw in the first half.
The #1 overall pick just led the @Browns to their first points of the night.@BakerMayfield's first career drive! #NYJvsCLE #Browns
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2018
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/IkadTnUsSr
At halftime, the Browns announced that Taylor wouldn't be returning to the game, and at that point, it became the Baker Mayfield show. Mayfield led the Browns back from a 14-3 halftime deficit to a shocking 21-17 win.
Although Mayfield had a solid first half, he was even better in the second half, going 14 of 19 for 154 yards. With Taylor in the game, the Browns scored zero points, with Mayfield in, they lit up the scoreboard. Thanks to the comeback, it's likely that we've seen Taylor play his final down in Cleveland as the team's starting quarterback.
For more on the win, and all the action from Cleveland, click here for our recap from the game.
















