CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The end to Sunday’s game was abrupt and unexpected, just like Baker Mayfield has described the end of his time as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback.
A 58-yard field goal, kicked with 8 seconds remaining, decided the Browns’ 26-24 win against the Carolina Panthers. But this game carried meaning beyond just a season opener, and beyond a player’s standard revenge game against his former team.
Mayfield, selected No. 1 overall by the Browns in 2018, started for the Panthers because his former team determined that he could not lead the way to a championship. The quarterback Cleveland has pinned its Super Bowl hopes to, Deshaun Watson, was not present because he will not be eligible to play until December as he serves an 11-game suspension for violating the N.