Baker Mayfield threw for a touchdown and rushed for another to lead the host Cleveland Browns to a 31-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Mayfield completed 19 of 21 passes for 213 yards and Nick Chubb added 95 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Browns (1-1), who bounced back from a season-opening loss at Kansas City.
Tyrod Taylor completed 10 of 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown for the Texans (1-1). He also rushed for a score before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
The Browns took a 7-0 lead with 9:56 remaining in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Andy Janovich, but Houston responded by scoring 14 straight points.
The Texans tied the game with 5:18 left in the first on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Phillip Lindsay. Houston grabbed a 14-7 lead with 8:32 remaining in the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run by Taylor.
Cleveland took over from there, first tying the game with 1:18 left until halftime on a 5-yard touchdown run by Mayfield.
With 7:59 left in the third quarter, Mayfield hit Demetric Felton for a 33-yard touchdown pass that gave the Browns a 21-14 lead.
Cleveland then took a 24-14 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin with 4:43 remaining.
Houston fought back, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 24-21 with 11:32 remaining on a 2-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Davis Mills to Brandin Cooks.
Cleveland answered, going up 31-21 with 5:52 on a 26-yard touchdown run by Chubb.
Houston drove down to the Cleveland 23-yard line in the final minutes, but Joey Slye missed a 41-yard field goal before the two-minute warning to end any chance of a comeback for Houston.
Cleveland wide receiver Jarvis Landry sustained a knee injury on the opening drive and didn’t return.
–Field Level Media