CLEVELAND — 4 days earlier than Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston was set to make his first NFL begin in additional than two years, he supplied a assured assertion.
“I view this as a possibility to go on the market and be my perfect,” Winston mentioned Wednesday. “And after I’m my perfect, I am an amazing NFL starter.”
Winston backed up that speak Sunday, throwing the game-winning landing within the Browns’ 29-24 upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens to finish a five-game shedding streak. It was Cleveland’s first recreation since shedding beginning quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.
Winston did his half in injecting life right into a Cleveland offense that had been one of many NFL’s worst by seven video games.
He accomplished 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards — a franchise report for a quarterback in a Browns debut — and three touchdowns, together with the 38-yard, go-ahead rating to vast receiver Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining.
“I believed he performed effectively,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned of Winston. “I believed the safety was excellent all day. The fellows actually took the problem of that, and I believed he received by his reads and guys received open. He made good choices. Wasn’t good. He is not going to play good. I am not going to educate good. However I believed he performed effectively.”
Browns QB300+StartsJoe Flacco45Jameis Winston1<<1Jacoby Brissett111Deshaun Watson019>>334 passing yds, 3 TDs Sunday
With Stefanski handing playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Browns had a rhythm and a move it lacked all season with Watson beneath heart. Cleveland (2-6) reached 20 factors for the primary time all season and set season-high marks for passing yards, whole yards and third-down conversion fee.
A passing offense that was disjointed abruptly turned explosive. Winston recorded eight completions and two touchdowns on passes that traveled at the least 15 yards downfield, in response to ESPN Analysis, together with the profitable toss to Tillman. Watson had simply 9 such completions and one landing within the seven earlier video games.
“He introduced nice power,” Tillman mentioned. “Jameis saved telling us that he’ll hold throwing it. He’ll hold coming again to us it doesn’t matter what. He performed nice immediately.”
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Winston, the No. 1 decide within the 2015 draft, was making his first begin since Sept. 25, 2022, when he was a member of the New Orleans Saints. It did not come with out errors and scares. He misplaced a fumble on a sack late within the first half that led to a Ravens landing and put the Browns behind 10-6 at halftime. He twice prevented interceptions on drops by the Ravens (5-3), together with what may have been a game-sealing interception when he overthrew wideout Elijah Moore that security Kyle Hamilton could not corral.
Winston, although, was unfazed, discovering Tillman downfield on the very subsequent play because the Ravens’ blitz was barreling down on him.
“Ken all the time talks about how we’re not going to be conservative,” Winston mentioned. “We’ll be aggressive and never conservative. And that is the best way he preaches as an offensive coordinator. And that is what we confirmed, that is what we exemplified on the market on that subject immediately.”
Winston, recognized for being an animated determine within the Browns’ locker room, addressed his teammates in a passionate pregame speech, emphasizing the necessity to have “unwavering religion.”
And in his first begin as a Brown, Winston was unflappable, right down to his profitable throw.
“I’m sure when I’m making nice choices one play at a time I’m an amazing NFL quarterback,” he mentioned after the sport. “I’m sure of that.”
