12:03 pm | December 23, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
CLEVELAND — With 4:53 left in the third quarter, the Cleveland Browns led 23-0 and Baker Mayfield was shown on the video board in each end zone.
Sitting on the bench wearing an orange parka, Mayfield gestured with his left hand, leading the home team in cheers. Two weeks after Mayfield had lamented not having more fans in the seats, the Browns sold out their home finale and the home team sent them home with a party.
The team that had struggled so badly the previous many seasons continued its feel-good finish with a dominant 26-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals that only became close in the final two minutes.
The win gave the Browns their first sweep of the Bengals since 2002 and first sweep of an AFC North opponent since 2007. Cleveland improved to 5-2-1 at home and moved to .500, the first time the Browns have been .500 or better at this point of a season since 2007. A win in the season finale at Baltimore means the Browns would finish with a winning season for the first time since 2007.
Sunday’s game was close for a quarter but then the Browns turned it into a festival.
Mayfield completed 27-of-37 for 284 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions – a rating of 121.9. Mayfield moved within two of the rookie record for touchdown passes held by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. Nick Chubb ran for 112 yards to move within 28 of 1,000 for the season. And Jarvis Landry provided the spark point with a 63-yard, second-quarter heave to Breshad Perriman off a reverse.
As the day wore on and the music blared, the fans stayed and enjoyed an in-game party like they have not felt in a long time in Cleveland.
Their team had won its fifth in six games.
It had moved to 7-7-1.
It had a quarterback making precision throws with pinpoint accuracy.
It had an offensive coordinator using all sorts of misdirection and interesting calls.
It had a receiver hopstepping his way to a 63-yard completion.
It had ignited a celebration on Lake Erie borne not only of the revival shown in 2018, but of the hope for 2019.
After so many years of struggle and a winless season that launched a “Perfect Season Parade” in arctic weather last January, the Browns gave their fans an NFL team that can play with anyone and had embarrassed a rival.
At long last the Browns have escaped their lonely, frustrating wandering in the hinterlands of losing.
Sunday, Cleveland welcomed back its NFL team.
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