NEW ORLEANS — Jameis Winston showcased a beaming smile as he exchanged warm embraces with his former teammates from the New Orleans Saints, raising his arm to acknowledge the supportive crowd at the Superdome as he exited the field. His return to the venue was notable, particularly after the Saints secured a 35-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns, who struggled in the fourth quarter after managing to tie the game in the third. Despite the disappointing outcome for his team, Winston’s individual performance stood out as he threw for an impressive 395 yards and two touchdowns while avoiding any interceptions in this emotional return.
Winston reflected on the game, stating, “We did some good things, but every week you do good things. We have to find a way to finish drives so we can end up celebrating.” Cleveland’s record now sits at 2-8, marking a stark decline following last year’s successful 11-6 finish. The Browns’ troubles escalated in the latter part of the game when Taysom Hill executed a crucial 33-yard touchdown run on a direct snap, giving the Saints a lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. Following that, a notable 53-yard punt return by Dante Pettis set up a 1-yard scoring pass from Derek Carr to Juwan Johnson. Hill then sealed the victory with a stunning 75-yard run in the closing minutes.
Winston expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the Superdome crowd after his four years spent with the Saints, even though he primarily served as a backup. He was determined to achieve a better outcome this time, taking the helm for his third start in place of the injured Deshaun Watson, who is sidelined with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Last week, Winston faced struggles against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he was intercepted three times and sacked six times during a 27-10 defeat. His performance on Sunday marked a significant rebound, generating his highest passing yardage since his Tampa Bay days in 2019.
Winston’s highlight came in the first quarter when he improvised to connect with Jerry Jeudy for an 89-yard touchdown. He later displayed precision while throwing a 30-yard pass to Elijah Moore in the end zone during the third quarter. A successful two-point conversion tied the game momentarily, but the momentum quickly shifted away from the Browns afterward. Jameis’ attempts to penetrate the Saints’ defense deep into double coverage were unsuccessful, leading to punt situations and a culmination of penalties and sacks disrupting subsequent drives. His final opportunity to score landed out of bounds when attempting a fade pass for Cedric Tillman late in the game.
New Orleans’ special teams coach, Darren Rizzi, acknowledged the threat Winston posed, stating, “Jameis is going to all of a sudden and take those shots down the field. We did a really good job defending a couple of those in the second half.” Winston achieved a personal milestone when his throw to Jeudy became the longest completion of his career.
Despite accumulating 443 yards of offense, the Browns managed only two touchdowns. Offensive guard Wyatt Teller commented on the team’s struggles, saying, “A hundred yards of offense you’d think is roughly seven points. So when you have 400, you’d think you’d have at least 28 points and be good enough to win. We just didn’t execute, and we didn’t finish.”
Kicker Dustin Hopkins faced a challenging day, missing crucial field goals that could have shifted the score in the Browns’ favor. He failed to convert a 51-yard attempt that would have allowed Cleveland to take the lead, and later missed two additional attempts, including a 27-yarder that went wide left. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski underscored the need for improvement, stating, “He needs to make those kicks. He knows that.”
The Browns’ defense also faltered, allowing Hill to set career highs in rushing yards (138) and touchdowns (three), primarily using direct snaps to exploit weaknesses. Defensive end Myles Garrett lamented the team’s inability to follow their game plan, asserting, “It’s just not doing what we’re supposed to do,” while also noting that they knew the significance of stopping Hill.
Cleveland’s struggles were compounded by injuries, as left tackle Dawand Jones suffered a fractured left leg in the first half, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Jones was starting as a replacement for Jedrick Wills Jr., who is currently recovering from a knee injury. Stefanski expressed concern for Jones, emphasizing that he had shown promise on the field before the injury occurred. Overall, the game marked another tough chapter for the struggling Browns as they look to rebound in the weeks ahead.