Anmelden » Baker Mayfield capitalized on Denver’s depleted cornerback corps

Cleveland Browns past the Broncos 17-16 on Saturday night http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-iman-marshall-jersey , keeping alive their slim hopes of ending the NFL’s longest playoff drought.Mayfield’s 2-yard TD toss to Antonio Calloway with just under 12 minutes left provided the winning margin for the Browns (6-7-1). They snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Broncos (6-8).Improving to 3-28 on the road over the last four seasons, the Browns still have a shot at their first winning season since 2007 and even their first playoff berth since 2002 thanks to their first win over Denver since 1990.Calloway’s touchdown made it 17-13 and came with safety Justin Simmons in coverage because the Broncos were down five cornerbacks.The Broncos responded with a 13-play drive that ate up more than seven minutes, but coach Vance Joseph inexplicably sent in kicker Brandon McManus for a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Cleveland 6 with 4:35 remaining.TEXANS 29, JETS 22EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Deshaun Watson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins with 2:15 left, lifting the Houston Texans to a 29-22 comeback victory over Sam Darnold and the New York Jets on Saturday night.After Darnold and the Jets took their first lead of the game on Elijah McGuire’s 2-yard touchdown run, Watson and the Texans (10-4) answered right back.A holding call on cornerback Morris Claiborne on third down prolonged the drive, and Watson completed passes of 20 and 3 yards to Demaryius Thomas and 7 yards to Hopkins to get to New York’s 14. Watson then found Hopkins streaking down the left sideline and launched a pass that the receiver somehow came down with despite being tightly covered by Claiborne.Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 40-yard field goal made it 29-22 with 54 seconds left. Darnold and the Jets (4-10) had one more opportunity to try to tie — or win — but Houston held on. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The highlight of the Atlanta Falcons‘ first week of organized team activities has been Devonta Freeman’s return to the field.“It’s been a long time,” said coach Dan Quinn.Freeman looked explosive in Thursday’s practice, the first OTAs session open to reporters. Having Freeman again flash his dual-threat skills at running back is good news for the Falcons’ hopes of returning to the playoffs.Knee and groin injuries limited Freeman to only two games last season . The Falcons had a long list of season-ending injuries Trace McSorley Jersey , including both safeties and both guards, but losing Freeman had perhaps the biggest impact on the team’s fall to a 7-9 finish.Without Freeman, the Falcons’ ground game was stagnant , ranking only 27th in the league. The Falcons’ other top running back, Tevin Coleman, signed with San Francisco as a free agent, so it was important to see Freeman in his No. 24 red jersey lining up beside quarterback Matt Ryan this week.“It’s awesome,” Ryan said. “Free is such a dynamic player. … He looks great.”The Falcons are still waiting for starting safeties Ricardo Allen (torn Achilles tendon) and Keanu Neal (knee) to complete their comebacks from 2018 injuries. Both worked on a side field with trainers but could be ready for training camp.Freeman, 27, emerged with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2015 and 2016. He had a combined 127 catches those two years Ed Oliver Jersey , making him even more valuable.Freeman has struggled to stay on the field since signing a five-year, $41.25 million contract before the 2017 season. At the time it was the NFL’s richest contract for a running back. The deal’s total value still ranks third for his position, behind Todd Gurley ($57.5 million) and Le’Veon Bell ($52.5 million).The big contract brought great expectations, making two straight years of injury woes even more frustrating. He missed two games in 2017 following his second concussion of the year, including one in the preseason, and also was slowed by a knee injury. He was limited to 68 yards rushing in two games in 2018.Freeman’s trademark smile was back on Thursday, when he said the joy in football has returned.“It felt good just to be out here running around and having fun,” he said. “This is fun. Just having fun running around brought back memories of when I was a kid, playing in the middle of the field. It was fun.”Football wasn’t fun for Freeman last season. He suffered a bruised right knee in the season-opening loss at Philadelphia, forcing him to miss three games. Then he landed on injured reserve with the groin injury.“It was tough,” Freeman said. “At the time I couldn’t see the blessing that God had for me. But it was definitely tough not being able to go out there and compete and battle with my brothers. Just seeing all those guys http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-cody-ford-jersey , every time I watched a game, it was like ‘Man, that was a missed opportunity for me.’ I definitely took it to heart. I learned a lot from it, though.”Freeman has not been restricted this week but said “I’m still getting better.”Freeman’s grin made his coach also smile.“It’s been awesome having Free back on the field and be back to having him look like himself,” Quinn said, adding “to see the energy that he brings has been good.”NOTES: OTAs are voluntary. Among players not participating: WR Julio Jones, DT Grady Jarrett, OLB Vic Beasley Jr. and LB Deion Jones. Quinn said he has been in contact with each of the four. He said Julio Jones and Deion Jones “are still working on some rehab.” He said Beasley is training on his own and is expected by minicamp. Jarrett signed his $15.209 million franchise tag which prevented him from signing elsewhere as a free agent. He set career highs with six sacks and three forced fumbles last season. Julio Jones missed OTAs and the mandatory minicamp last year before reporting for training camp with a promise from the team his contract would be reworked this year. Those talks are ongoing.