Baker Mayfield caps a rough first half against the Cardinals with a touchdown pass. Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Baker Mayfield completes huge Hail Mary before halftime

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 10/17/21

The Cleveland Browns struggled in the first half Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but a halftime Hail Mary might be just what they needed to kick-start a comeback.

The Browns trailed 23-7 and had the ball at their own 41-yard line with time about to expire in the first half. That’s a particularly unlikely spot from which to execute a Hail Mary, but Cleveland had to try. Baker Mayfield dodged a sack and heaved one up, and managed to find Donovan Peoples-Jones in the end zone on the fly.

HAIL MAYFIELD!!!!! #Browns

: #AZvsCLE on FOX
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Kr1f55hJQT

— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021

Full credit to Peoples-Jones for the leaping catch. It’s also really poor defense from Arizona, as the wide receiver was somehow able to slip into the end zone undetected with room in front of him to for Mayfield to deliver the throw.

There’s no doubt Mayfield has the arm strength to pull something off such as this. The bigger question is why the Cardinals weren’t more prepared to defend it. It could haunt them if they can’t see the game out in the second half.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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