The Browns Needed This Win, Regardless of How They Got There

The Cleveland Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills, securing their first victory since they beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road. Nothing about this game was pretty and they had some ugly moments, but they found a way to come together and get the win in the end.

Nothing about the Cleveland Browns victory over the Buffalo Bills was pretty. It was the type of game these two teams have been accustomed to playing over the last two decades - Low scoring, down to the wire with some unbelievable moments, both great and abysmal. This game proved a testament to the Browns keeping themselves in the game, giving themselves an opportunity to win it and coming through in the end.

When a pair of opportunities at the goal line only yielded three points, the Browns put themselves in a position to lose this game. The Bills took the lead and forced the Browns to come back in the fourth quarter. There were some bad drives, awkward play calls and some miserable execution at points in this game, but they didn't turn the ball over, they didn't get called for penalties in the second half of the game and they were able to find their way into the end zone at the end.

The Browns offense largely ran through Nick Chubb and the newly activated Kareem Hunt, both making critical plays at points. But when it came down to the final play, it was about Baker Mayfield reuniting with an old friend in Rashard Higgins. Isolating Higgins to the right, Mayfield let him screw the defender into the ground and found him on the money for a wide open touchdown to take the lead.

The Browns needed this. Mayfield needed this. Hopefully the coaching staff realize they need Higgins. This win isn't a panacea for all of the problems on this team. They still have issues to work out, including their ability to operate near the goal line as well as in the secondary in the passing game, but they can exhale and enjoy the fact they won this game.

They have an incredibly quick turnaround playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, but at least for today and maybe until Thursday, the Browns aren't walking around feeling like everyone is searching them out for blame. Now, they just have to continue with what they were able to do effectively and build on it, hopefully able to gain confidence and improve.