Browns top Jets 21-17 for first win in nearly two years

It wasn't quite the Butt Fumble, but still: Thursday night wasn't a great one for fans of the New York Jets.

The Jets relinquished a 14-point first-half lead to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, eventually falling to the home team 21-17. The Browns' victory was their first since Dec. 24, 2016, when they defeated the San Diego Chargers 20-17. Over 635 winless days, Cleveland had failed to prevail in 19 straight games, the NFL's second-longest winless streak since the AFL merger in 1970, per The Boston Globe. In Week 1, the Browns managed a 21-21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which technically ended their losing streak at 17 games.

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield entered the game for Cleveland in the second quarter after starting signal-caller Tyrod Taylor exited with an injury, with the Browns trailing by two touchdowns. Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, threw 17-23 for 201 yards and caught a two-point conversion to seal Cleveland's win. The Jets were led by a rookie of their own under center in Sam Darnold, but Darnold completed just 15 of his 31 passes and threw two picks.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Cleveland fans were understandably a little excited after their team finally, finally picked up a victory:

See more footage of jubilant Browns fans here, or check in on sad Jets fans here.