David Kenyon
The surprise debut of Baker Mayfield helped NFL Network enjoy a surge in ratings during the Cleveland Browns’ victory over the New York Jets.
According to NFL Media’s Gil Brandt, the streak-breaking win for Cleveland gave the station its highest-rated Thursday Night Football contest in three years.
Last night's #NYJvsCLE had 10.3 million viewers in the game's final 6 minutes, and was @nflnetwork's highest-rated and most-watched exclusive TNF game in more than three years.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) September 21, 2018
Mayfield’s emergence following a concussion to Browns starter Tyrod Taylor had football fans flocking to their favorite device.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft swiftly moved Cleveland into field-goal range on his first possession. Mayfield eventually led a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, finishing the night 17-of-23 for 201 yards.
Head coach Hue Jackson didn’t immediately anoint Mayfield as the starter going forward, but that’s the obvious conclusion.
And every NFL broadcast station — from its own network to CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC — must be excited about the ratings bump Mayfield is destined to provide.
