All it took for the one-win Browns to shatter a four-game losing streak was a simple personnel change.
It just so happened to be the easiest decision Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has made all season. Polarizing quarterback Deshaun Watson went down in Week 7 with a year-ending Achilles injury, causing Cleveland staffers to call on 10-year veteran Jameis Winston for the fifth time this season.
In Week 8, he made his first start for the Browns and proved why he deserved to be under center all along. Winston led Cleveland to the wire against Super Bowl contender Baltimore in Ohio, pulling off an upset 29-24 win against the Ravens.
Here are Winston and Watsons' stats, including how the Browns set season highs in yards and points after a decisive quarterback change on Sunday.
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Jameis Winston stats today
It wasn't long before the 30-year-old former Saint and Buccaneer smashed two disappointing Cleveland stats from this year. In the win, Winston became the first Browns quarterback this season to have over 300 passing yards in a single game. He also helped the team score over 17 points for the first time in 2024.
Here's how the quarterback did against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens:
- Attempts: 27
- Completions: 41
- Pass yards: 334
- Carries: 2
- Rush yards: 2
- Int: 0
- Sacks: 2-13
- Passing touchdowns: 3
- Rushing touchdowns: 0
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Jameis Winston vs. Deshaun Watson stats
Despite Watson's role as the team's starter most of the season, Winston's numbers already look strong. Winston should add to his numbers moving forward, as Watson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Here's how the two size up through the 2024 campaign.
| GP | CMP-ATT | PASS YDS | CMP% | PASS TDS | INT | SACK | CAR | RUSH YDS | TD | |
| Deshaun Watson | 7 | 137-216 | 1,148 | 63.4 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 31 | 148 | 1 |
| Jameis Winston | 6 | 33-53 | 417 | 62.2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 |