The Cleveland Browns pulled off a massive upset Sunday, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 29-24 behind a stellar performance from quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Browns entered Week 8 with a 1-6 record, with quarterback Deshaun Watson last in the league in quarterback rating. But Watson tore an Achilles in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals a week ago, opening the door for Winston to start his first game since 2022.
And he responded by outdueling Ravens quarterback and MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, who had led his team to five straight wins before Sunday.
Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first game with three passing touchdowns and no interceptions since 2021.
Watson, on the other hand, had not thrown for over 196 yards in any of his starts this season. Since he joined Cleveland in 2022, Watson has never thrown for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in the same game.
Winston’s performance also came on the heels of the Browns’ trading receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills after Week 6. Cooper was the team’s leading pass catcher before he was traded.
The play of the game came late in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 24-23 and snapping the ball with only a little over a minute left on the clock, Winston lofted a perfect pass from near midfield all the way to the goal line into the awaiting arms of Cedric Tillman for the go-ahead touchdown.
The pass completed Winston’s first fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning drive since Sept. 11, 2022.
The loss dropped Baltimore to 5-3. Jackson threw for 289 yards and two scores in defeat. It was the Ravens’ first losing effort since they fell to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
The Browns improved to 2-6 with the victory, their first since they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 18-13 in Week 2. Cleveland’s 29 points Sunday were its most since Week 7 of last season.
