CLEVELAND — Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield saw Russell Wilson’s touchdown run and decided to do his best impersonation on the ensuing drive, as on second-and-nine from the Seattle Seahawks’ 10-yard line, he rushed for a touchdown over the middle of the field.
With tight coverage against the receivers and tight end, the middle of the field was wide open and after going through his progressions, Mayfield tucked the ball and sprinted 10 yards for the touchdown, which extended the Browns’ lead over the Seahawks to 14-6 with 4:43 to play in the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Mayfield’s touchdown run against the Seahawks was the first of his young NFL career and capped off a 10-play, 69-yard drive that took more than four minutes off of the first quarter clock.
In addition to the 10-yard touchdown run, Mayfield completed six of his eight attempts for 62 yards on the Browns’ first two drives of the game against the Seahawks.
On the second scoring drive, Mayfield was five of seven for 53 yards.
Mayfield’s 10-yard run was his longest rushing attempt this season. He has gained 10 yards on five rushing attempts.
Through the first five-plus games of the 2019 regular season, Mayfield has completed 96 of his 169 attempts (56.8 percent) for 1,309 yards and four touchdowns against eight interceptions.
On the opening drive of the game, Mayfield led a successful three-play, 23-yard drive that running back Nick Chubb capped off with a seven-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the first quarter of action.
The opening touchdown drive was set up by a 74-yard kickoff return from running back Dontrell Hilliard.