CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Are you okay?
What a game. What an opening game for the Cleveland Browns, as they pull one out in the most dramatic fashion that you could ever imagine and win it by a final score of 26-24 over the Carolina Panthers.
It ends that long drought of the Browns not being able to win on Opening Day — 17 in a row. The last time they had won one (and the only time they had won one since coming back into the NFL) was back in 2004. That's a long time ago, but today they did it.
But how they did it? Talk about making it hard on you and me and on themselves. They wrote the book on that today.
This would've been one of their most devastating losses since coming back onto the field in 1999. Now, I know they've had some doozies, but this would've topped it all.
A game that they had under control. Really, in the first half, they should've blown the Panthers away. Their defense was stifling on Baker Mayfield just beating him up, but offensively, they left a lot of big plays out on the field.
Still, they were ahead, very comfortably moseying their way through three quarters. Then, that defense that was so elite and powerful through three quarters started to make some huge mistakes. Baker Mayfield got red-hot (I'll give him his due), throwing for a touchdown, running for a touchdown, and leading his team down for what looked to be a game-winning field goal to put the Browns behind.
But the Browns, without any timeouts and just over a minute to go, got the ball back. I'll give them their credit: They got down the field, knowing full well the magic line was to get to the 40-yard line of the Panthers so they could give their rookie kicker, in his first regular-season NFL game, a chance to win it from 58 yards away.
And, he did it. He did it all afternoon long. He had three chip shots early, and he made those without even working up a sweat. But 58 yards — for the winner, for the game, to wipe away what would've been a critical, crushing loss — he nailed it, with plenty to spare.
The Browns can thank him, and thank the Browns' front office for drafting him in the fourth round out of LSU. Cade York has become an instant Cleveland hero.
Now, is there work to be done as we get set for the home opener next week against the Jets? Yes, there is. Jacoby Brissett was very emotional after the game, but not very good during it. He really had a tough time processing things — getting the team lined up in time, missing open receivers in the first half, etc.
Still, through all of that, he made enough throws (in particular to Donovan Peoples-Jones) to make big plays on third-down conversions. In the end, he had the ability to get the Browns downfield when they had to with no timeouts left to give York the opportunity to win it.
So, they are 1-0, and we can put all of that bad history behind us. It's on to the home opener next week against the Jets.
Once again, for the Browns to become a really good team, they have to learn how to win. When they're ahead, they have to learn how to end the game. They allowed the Panthers to get back in this one, and it really almost came back and haunted them.
But, let's end on a happy note: They win. We're coming home with a game ball and a great young kicker, the first great kicker the Browns have had since the Phil Dawson days.
Hail to Cade York!