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Browns quarterback Jameis Winston had the most up-and-down game of the season on Monday

Posted on by Taylor Reeves
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston had the most up-and-down game of the season on Monday

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston has been a highlight — both good and bad — since taking over the starting job on Oct. 27.

From his animated pregame speeches to high interception totals to leading multiple touchdown drives in the middle of a snowstorm in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Winston wasn’t always effective, but he was always entertaining.

That was never more true than on Monday night, when Winston threw for 497 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-32 loss to the Denver Broncos. That would have been a great statistic if Winston hadn’t also thrown three interceptions – including two pick-sixes.

Both interceptions, which were returned for touchdowns, were a tough blow for the Browns.

The first came late in the second quarter when Cleveland was hoping for a possible go-ahead score after the two-minute warning. On the seventh play of the drive, Winston – who had led the Browns to the edge of the red zone – was picked off by Nik Bonitto, who returned the ball 71 yards, giving the Broncos a 21-10 lead.

In true Winston fashion, immediately after Bonitto’s score, he led an 11-play drive in less than 90 seconds for a touchdown.

Winston had the chance to play the hero in the fourth round. If Cleveland gains possession with less than three minutes left, trailing 34-32, a field goal or touchdown could potentially have won the game for Cleveland.

But one play after converting a 3rd-and-12, Ja’Quan McMillan intercepted Winston for a 44-yard score that gave Denver a 41-32 lead.

That gave the Broncos a two-point lead late with less than two minutes left. And finally, seven plays later, Winston was intercepted again.

The game was truly a microcosm of Winston’s career.

In 103 games he threw 152 touchdowns but 106 interceptions. The last time Winston played more than 10 games in a season was in 2019, when he threw for a whopping 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns along with 30 interceptions.

It’s fitting that Winston set a unique record on Monday evening. His combined passing yards of 668 yards – including yards thrown to his teammates and return totals by Denver defenders – are the most in NFL history.

“I know I’m better than this,” Winston said after the game. “I just pray that the Lord delivers me from pick-sixes.”

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