Before the game, Jameis Winston gave an emotional speech to his Browns teammates, urging them to have faith. Now, they do.
Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass—his third of the game—to Cedric Tillman with just 59 seconds left, leading Cleveland to a surprising 29-24 win over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, ending a five-game losing streak.
This was Winston’s first start in over two years, stepping in for injured starter Deshaun Watson. He helped the Browns (2-6) achieve an unexpected victory against their AFC North rivals during a tough week.
“It felt amazing,” Winston said, after passing for 334 yards.
This victory came just days after Watson’s season ended due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Browns and their fans were also mourning the death of their beloved play-by-play broadcaster, Jim Donovan, who passed away Saturday after battling cancer.
After the game, coach Kevin Stefanski told the team he would give the game ball to Donovan’s family. “This one’s for Jim,” Stefanski said.
The Browns had to fend off a late comeback attempt from Jackson, who moved the Ravens (5-3) to the Cleveland 24-yard line in the final moments. Jackson managed to avoid sacks but threw two incomplete passes into the end zone, with the last one aimed at Zay Flowers as time ran out.
When the game ended, Jackson slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration, marking the end of the Ravens’ five-game winning streak with this unexpected loss.
“You can look at the Browns’ record and say that’s a sorry team, but this is the NFL,” Jackson said. He completed 23 of 38 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. “Any week can be your day. We didn’t make the plays. We didn’t make the calls to win the game.”
Winston completed 27 of 41 passes in his first start since September 25, 2022, when he played for New Orleans. The 30-year-old stepped in for Cleveland’s offense this week after Watson got injured and showed much-needed leadership.
Winston accomplished what Watson couldn’t: the Browns scored their highest points this season, and he passed for over 300 yards, a feat Watson hasn’t achieved in his 19 starts with the team.
“He was very confident in the huddle. He was talking the whole time. Some of the stuff he was saying was a little bit out there, but he was ready to go,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “Obviously, he threw the ball well — 300 yards, three touchdowns. The game-winner. He brought a lot of energy. He’s been like that since he’s been here, so it was expected.”
Derrick Henry’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:36 left gave the Ravens a 24-23 lead, but Winston, who signed a one-year deal as a free agent in March, got some help from Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton on the final drive.
Winston overthrew Elijah Moore on first down, and Hamilton was in the right spot to intercept but let the ball slip through his hands.
“I started praying instantly,” Winston said. “Oh my God!” Moore exclaimed. “The football gods were with us for sure.”
With a second chance, Winston threw a deep pass to Tillman, who also caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Before Cleveland made its last comeback, Jackson led a six-play, 91-yard drive using both his passing and running skills. Henry capped that drive with a touchdown, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for 10th place on the career scoring list.
Winston’s strong performance — which included a 23-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku — gives the Browns some hope in a season that seemed to be going downhill. Last year, Joe Flacco came out of semi-retirement after Watson got hurt and led the Browns to the playoffs.
Winston isn’t making any promises, though. “A win like this is required to change the season around,” Winston said. “We have a long way to go.”
Dustin Hopkins kicked field goals of 28, 33, and 48 yards for the Browns.
