The Cleveland Browns can sum up their week in one word: survival.
They managed to overcome key injuries, COVID-19 issues and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The last one proved to be the biggest hurdle.
Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry took advantage of their best game-day weather in a month and led the Browns to a 27-25 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday that kept them squarely in the AFC playoff picture.
“It definitely was one where you see the grit of a team,” guard Joel Bitonio said. “You don’t get a practice all week really, the defense was really decimated with guys missing and we had one true practice on Friday and we had one of our farther travel games of the year.
Mayfield threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and could have had two more. Landry finished with eight receptions for 143 yards and his first score of the season. Nick Chubb chipped in 144 yards rushing and a touchdown. But the trio needed help down the stretch to dispatch of the surprisingly tenacious Jaguars.
Mayfield threw behind Kareem Hunt in the flat on a third-and-1 play late, and Hunt failed to pick up the first down on the ensuing down. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski probably should have kicked the field goal and gone up two scores.
“We made it hard on ourselves there at the end,” Stefanski said. “We can be better, but it’s a good team win and the guys fought and knew they would have to get that one.”
Jacksonville had a chance to tie. James Robinson‘s 4-yard run made it 27-25. That’s because Marrone took an extra point off the board in the third quarter and attempted a 2-point conversion following an offside penalty.
The Browns improved to 8-3 for the first time since 1994, when they were 11-5 under Bill Belichick. It’s their most wins in 13 years.
Mayfield and Landry gave the Browns some much-needed balance for the first time in weeks. Mayfield threw for 122, 132 and 204 yards the last three outings while dealing with howling wind, sideways hail and pouring rain in Cleveland.