He beat the New York Jets, but can the quarterback continue?

For the first time since Christmas Eve 2016, the Cleveland Browns have won a truly honest NFL match with God. They beat the New York Jets on Thursday, mainly thanks to rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, who replaced Tyrod Taylor early in the second quarter after Taylor suffered a concussion. The Browns lost 14-0 when Mayfield entered the field, but he immediately started passing the passes to the receivers and started a comeback that ended with a 21-17 victory. Is it time to get excited? Of course not, it was just a wicut to Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith in party without shirt.

It's tempting to say, "The Browns are back!", But that would ignore the neutral baseline on which the Browns exist. No franchise has lost more than Cleveland in the 21^st century, and their current 1-1-1 record means they are in the middle of their most successful season since 2015. The Browns are not back; they are in unknown territory for their modern incarnation. I mean, when did you see a guy with an orange helmet for the last time?

Mayfield went 17-for-23 and pitched for 201 yards. He even caught a ball in the end zone for a two-point conversion tied in the third quarter.

The Browns chose Mayfield as the NFL draft pick in 2018, but a quarter of Oklahoma was not the obvious choice. He is a little undersized and carries a euphemistic baggage (an intoxication arrest in 2017), but all the measurable parameters potentially show him a star. He impressed through the training camp and preseason, to the point where outside observers like New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees took note. "I think it can be a lot better than me," said the Super Bowl winner last week. "He has all the tools. He is more athletic. He can probably run better. He has a stronger arm.

Mayfield is also an abrupt and charismatic guy, and it's a good interview that showed he was not foolish. If it was not a quarterback, it seems that he would have reason to boast of doing the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. These things have nothing to do with winning or losing football games, but they certainly make it easier to find. For the Browns, it's a hell of a start.

Assuming he gets his head next week, Mayfield will be the 30th^e Starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999. All it has to do to be considered a hit in Cleveland, these are two mediocre seasons. The bar is low, but fortunately for Mayfield, he will not have to raise it alone. The Browns have quietly assembled a young and terrifying defense. Myles Garrett is already one of the league's best rushers in the second year and rookie Denzel Ward has quickly become a playmaker in one of football's toughest positions. If Cleveland manages to win a few more games this year, this unit will earn all the credit you can save.

It's time to remind you of who we are talking about here. A Browns victory is the very definition of the small size of the sample. The team has had only two winning seasons since returning to Cleveland in 1999. Mayfield played well for about half a game. He still has fewer wins in a Browns uniform than Johnny Manziel, the guy that everyone sees as Mayfield's worst scenario. The Browns still have plenty of time to destroy Baker Mayfield, assuming he does not save the franchise before they get the chance. Seeing it can be the fun part, and that makes Cleveland worthy of being observed for the first time in decades.