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Watch: Top five celebrations from the Browns’ 2018 season

Here's a look back at the top five celebrations from the Cleveland Browns during the 2018 regular season.
Credit: Aaron Doster
Veteran offensive lineman Joel Bitonio says rookie Baker Mayfield plays the game the right way and he is glad the fiery signal-caller is the Cleveland Browns' quarterback.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns looked like a team that was having fun over the second half of the 2018 regular season, and nowhere was that more evident than when they found the end zone.

Many of the celebrations were not limited to just one player, as several involved the entire offense, while others were ironic moments from a group of rebels who thought a little bit outside of the box to prove a point to a former coach.

Here is a look back at the top five celebrations from the 2018 season.

5. Higgins goes “Hollywood” with red-carpet walk

Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins is nicknamed “Hollywood,” and he lived up to that moniker in a 26-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on December 23.

After hauling in a 17-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, Higgins decided it was time to walk the red-carpet, and his teammates joined in on the celebration, as they served as mock photographers angling to get the best pictures.

4. Chief Slam

Before there was the runway walk in Cleveland, there was some team-wide antics in Cincinnati on November 25, 2018.

On second-and-goal from the Cincinnati six-yard line, Mayfield took the long snap behind center and lofted a pass toward tight end David Njoku on the right side of the formation. After sealing off a block, Njoku secured the catch at the 11-yard line and turned upfield.

Njoku leapt from the five-yard line all the way to the two before he was wrapped up by a Bengals defender, but with a second effort, as well as some help from center JC Tretter and guard Kevin Zeitler, muscled his way across the goal line for the score.

In appreciation of the support he received from the offensive line, Njoku let guard Joel Bitonio throw down “The Chief Slam” spike in the end zone.

3. The handoff

Former Browns coach Hue Jackson became a special assistant for the Bengals just eight days after his dismissal from the in-state/AFC North Division rival club, and when the two teams met at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, one player in Cleveland’s secondary wanted to say “Hello.”

On second-and-10 from the Cincinnati 25-yard line, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton took the shotgun snap and lofted a pass down the right side of the field. However, Dalton’s pass sailed beyond the intended receiver, Cody Core, and into Damarious Randall’s arms at the Cincinnati 46-yard line.

Randall ran out of bounds at the 44-yard line and greeted Jackson shortly thereafter.

After corralling the takeaway with 9:09 remaining in the second quarter, Randall handed the ball to and greeted Jackson when he ran out of bounds on the Cincinnati sideline.

Jackson patted Randall on the helmet after exchanging a quick handshake with his former player.

2. The stare down

Mayfield let it be known in the days following the first meeting of the season with the Bengals that he was not happy with Jackson for accepting an offer to remain in the AFC North Division after his dismissal from the Browns on October 29.

And just in case those words were forgotten, Mayfield served up a reminder after sealing a 26-18 victory over the Bengals with a 66-yard pass to Njoku with 1:48 to play in the fourth quarter.

Following the completion, Mayfield appeared to stare down and smile at Jackson while looking toward Cincinnati’s sideline, and then, backpedaled his way down the field before taking three snaps out of the victory formation to exhaust the clock.

In leading the Browns to their first regular-season series sweep of the Bengals since 2002, Mayfield completed 27 of his 37 attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Mayfield spread the ball around to nine different receivers, rushed for 16 yards and was not sacked in the win.

In his two games against the Bengals this year, Mayfield was 46 of 63 for 542 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. Additionally, Mayfield rushed for 12 yards on 10 carries and was not sacked in either outing.

1. Time to roast marshmallows

Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry was red-hot for most of the day against the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on December 9, but with temperatures at kickoff hovering around 28 degrees, even he needed to warm up during the game.

After scoring the second touchdown of the game, a 51-yard reception on a pass from Mayfield on a throw just out of the reach of two Carolina defenders, Landry and his teammates gathered around the end zone pylon and pretended to have a campfire.

After that gathering broke up, Landry jumped into the Dawg Pound to further the celebration.

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