Jameis Winston breathes life into Browns' offense to end slide - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Four days before Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston was set to make his first NFL start in more than two years, he offered a confident assertion.

«I view this as an opportunity to go out there and be my very best,» Winston said Wednesday. «And when I'm my very best, I'm a great NFL starter.»

Winston backed up that talk on Sunday, throwing the game-winning touchdown in the Browns' 29-24 upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens to end a five-game losing streak. It was Cleveland's first game since losing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending Achilles tear.

Winston did his part in injecting life into a Cleveland offense that had been one of the NFL's worst through seven games.

He completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards — a franchise record for a quarterback in a Browns debut — and three touchdowns, including the 38-yard, go-ahead score to wide receiver Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining.

«I thought he played well,» coach Kevin Stefanski said. «I thought the protection was outstanding all day. The guys really took the challenge of that, and I thought he got through his reads and guys got open. He made good decisions. Wasn't perfect. He's not going to play perfect. I'm not going to coach perfect, but I thought he played well.»

With Stefanski handing play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Browns' offense had a rhythm and a flow it lacked all season with Watson under center. Cleveland reached 20 points for the first time all season and set season-high marks for passing yards, total yards and third-down conversion rate.

A passing offense that was disjoined suddenly became explosive. Winston recorded eight completions and two touchdowns on passes that traveled at