CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield was waiting in the wings for his opportunity to play, and that chance came on the prime-time stage against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday night.
With starter Tyrod Taylor suffering a concussion in the first half, Mayfield entered the game, completed 17 of his 23 attempts for 201 yards and led the Browns on four scoring drives, all of which combined to give Cleveland a 21-17 victory over the Jets on Thursday Night Football.
“I have to go do my job,” Mayfield said of coming into the game in the second quarter. “Don’t overthink it. Live in the moment. It is that time. I have to command the offense. I have to command the team. I have to bring a spark and give us a chance to win. That is my job, so that is what I was focused on.
“I have just been waiting for my moment. I have been patient. I have been in a good opportunity, put in a good situation with the guys around me -- veteran QBs and great coaches that I can learn from. I was never whining or complaining about playing time. I just want the team to win, no matter what the cost is.”
PHOTOS | Rookie QB Baker Mayfield leads Cleveland Browns to win over New York Jets
Prior to Mayfield entering the game, the Browns’ offense sputtered through the first half, as Taylor struggled to find any kind of a rhythm and completed just four of his 14 attempts for 19 yards before the concussion brought his night to a premature end.
Not one to shy away from the moment, Mayfield came out firing and completed back-to-back throws for a combined 31 yards, and after being stripped of the football on a sack, came back and threw a 16-yard completion to wide receiver Jarvis Landry on the ensuing play.
Mayfield went on to lead three more scoring drives, including two that were punctuated with rushing touchdowns from Carlos Hyde.
With the Browns trailing the Jets by three points, 17-14, with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Mayfield engineered a 15-play drive that travelled 75 yards.
Despite a touchdown taken off the scoreboard when Landry was flagged for an illegal block, Mayfield showed confidence in the young veteran receiver when he found him for a 12 yard gain that got back all of the penalty yardage and then some.
“I have always been a guy to keep positive energy on the sideline,” Mayfield said. “The most important play is the next one no matter what happens. Before the game, getting guys in the right mindset and confident, you play well when you’re confident.
“People can say cockiness or whatever, but there are results when you play with a confidence and you believe in yourself. That is what I always try to do with my guys and it’s what I’ve always done. I just tried to carry that over when I was in.”
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