The Cleveland Browns earned their first win of the season after defeating the New York Jets, 23-3. With Sam Darnold out this game due to illness, Trevor Siemian started for the Jets.
The Browns’ first drive of the game began with running back Nick Chubb. Chubb forced his way through the tackles with 12 yards after two early rushes. Baker Mayfield tried to keep the momentum rolling. After an early completion to D’Ernest Johnson and Jarvis Landry, Mayfield and the Browns struggled to finish the drive.
Browns kicker Austin Seibert got his first of three field goals at the end of the drive.
After a three-and-out for the Jets, the troubles continued. Jets safety Jamal Adams’s roughing the passer miscue allowed the Browns to continue for their second field goal of the game.
Jets running back Le’Veon Bell earned four yards on a run up the middle when New York got the ball back. After the run, the Jets could not tumble down the field anymore.
In the middle of the second-quarter, Siemian was injured. Luke Falk stepped in and tried to move the offense.
Another three-and-out led to the Browns getting the ball back, and Odell Beckham Jr. made another one-handed catch. With Mayfield sitting in the pocket, Adams had Beckham locked up down the sideline. However, Beckham made something out of nothing.
The catch led to a Chubb 19-yard rush for a 13-0 lead. After a pair of field goals, the teams ended the first half with Cleveland up, 16-3.
Going into the third quarter, the Cleveland Browns scored the first points after five non-scoring drives. Mayfield lit the defense up with one play. Mayfield’s 89-yard touchdown pass blew the Jets out of the air by posting a 23-3 lead.
The fourth quarter ended with no action until ten minutes left. Mayfield attempted to throw toward his number one target, Beckham, and was intercepted by Darryl Roberts. After the interception, a rare fumble from Le’Veon Bell gave the Browns enough time to run off a lot of the clock.
Beckham’s 161 yards on six receptions lifted the Browns to the .500 mark. After this Monday night game, the Browns will play the Los Angeles Rams. The New York Jets will face off against the New England Patriots next week.