Mayfield leads Browns to 1st win since December 2016

In just his first regular-season NFL appearance, Baker Mayfield accomplished what was beginning to seem impossible.

The No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft entered Thursday night's game against the New York Jets late in the second quarter as an injury replacement for starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and led the Cleveland Browns to a 21-17 win for their first victory in 635 days.

Mayfield's presence in the game seemed to make an immediate impact by rejuvenating his teammates, and fans. The 23-year-old completed his first three pass attempts on a drive that concluded with a 45-yard field goal from Greg Joseph to narrow the Jets' lead to 14-3 at the half.

Related: Sports world reacts to Browns' 1st win in 635 days

Mayfield finished 17-for-23 through the air for 201 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Running back Carlos Hyde scored two second-half touchdowns, including the clincher with 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Joe Schobert and cornerback Terrance Mitchell intercepted Jets rookie starter Sam Darnold on consecutive drives to end the game.

Hyde, who turned 28 Thursday, left the stadium immediately after the game for the birth of his child at a Cleveland hospital.

Taylor led the Browns to a 0-1-1 record through the first two weeks, but was ruled out due to a concussion early in the second half.

Head coach Hue Jackson said after the game he'll have to "watch the tape" before making a decision on Week 4's starting quarterback, according to James Palmer of NFL Network.

That matchup will see the Browns travel west for a showdown against the Oakland Raiders.

The victory saw the chains come off the variety of Bud Light fridges that promised free beer to Browns fans if the team were to win a game this season after going 0-16 in 2017.