6 reasons Baker Mayfield’s first trip to the end zone was awesome

The Cleveland Browns went to trickery to get a game-tying two-point conversion against the New York Jets in their streak-busting win Thursday night.

The play was a direct snap to running back Duke Johnson, who pitched to wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who found quarterback Baker Mayfield all alone in the end zone. And while it wasn’t a touchdown, it was the first trip to the end zone of Mayfield’s career:

It was actually the Browns’ second attempt at the conversion. Their first try was wiped out due to a penalty, meaning Mayfield’s catch was their backup choice. The conversion tied the score up at 14-14, and the Browns — FINALLY — went on to win 21-17.

The Browns getting their first win since December 2016 was great enough. But this play was awesome for a few reasons.

The Landry-to-Mayfield connection wasn’t a touchdown, and it was a Carlos Hyde rushing touchdown that immediately preceded it.

But even though it wasn’t a touchdown, it was still Mayfield’s first trip to the end zone and he did it with a dang reception. That’s pretty wild.

When Mayfield entered the game near the end of the second quarter, the Browns offense was lifeless. The Jets were leading 14-0 and Tyrod Taylor completed just four of his 14 passes for 19 yards.

Mayfield immediately completed his first three passes for 47 yards and led the Browns back from the deficit to a tie before the end of the third quarter. They went ahead in the fourth quarter on a 75-yard drive that ended in another Hyde touchdown.

There was also a bit of magic along the way. When Mayfield fumbled in the second quarter, offensive lineman Joel Bitonio scooped it up and made a play out of it, even if it didn’t count. When Mayfield was sacked and fumbled again on a two-point conversion, a pair of penalties gave Cleveland another shot.

Mayfield completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards for the game. Although he did not account for any touchdowns, the Browns scored all 21 of their points with Mayfield under center.

Things were just going right for Cleveland since Mayfield came in, and that’s not something that’s usually said about the Browns.

Considering their recent struggles, that’s not a small thing for the Browns. They lost last week to the Saints when Zane Gonzalez missed four kicks, including two extra points and a potential game-tying field goal.

They released Gonzalez the next day. The new guy, Greg Joseph, was perfect on one extra point and two field goals, though he did make it a little harrowing with his chip shots that had a bit of hook to them.

It was a touchdown in the Rose Bowl, with six seconds left in the first half. And he caught it on the other side of the field.

That’s two consecutive games, games that counted, where Mayfield’s been a receiver too.

“Keep in mind the last game I played I caught a pass too,” Mayfield said in an interview with NFL Network.

And another big difference ...

There are no lefty QBs in the NFL right now, and the last player to throw a left-handed touchdown was a receiver:

Jarvis Landry is also a receiver who throws with his left hand, which is part of what made the play here such a smart one since the southpaw helped get the ball exactly where it needed to be.

If you thought it looked like the Eagles’ tricky play touchdown in the Super Bowl, you were right.

“It may or may not have been the Philly Special,” Mayfield said on NFL Network after the game.