It was hardly a one-man show in Cleveland, though. Landry had a strong connection with Mayfield and finished the day with eight catches for 103 yards, including a circus grab at the goal line that helped set up the Browns’ first touchdown. Carlos Hyde rumbled for 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and the Browns’ defense, led by Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, flustered the Jets into enough mistakes to get Cleveland back into a game that at one point seemed like it would be a blowout in New York’s favor.

Darnold, who last week became the youngest quarterback ever to pass for 300 yards in a game, could not do nearly as much against Cleveland’s upstart defense. He completed 15 of 31 passes for 169 yards but did not throw a touchdown and threw two interceptions in the game’s final two minutes. Isaiah Crowell, the former Brown, accounted for the bulk of the Jets’ scoring with two touchdown runs, punctuating one with a lewd celebration that angered the fans in Cleveland.

The Browns’ futility since the franchise’s resurrection in 1999 has been well documented. In 19 seasons, Cleveland had a winning record just twice and made the playoffs just once. Their quarterbacks had the staying power of a drummer for Spinal Tap, their acquisitions nearly always seemed to fail and their castoffs too often found success elsewhere.

But in the first two years under Jackson, they had somehow found a lower level than the N.F.L.’s basement. Coming into Thursday night’s game, the team had gone 1-32-1 for Jackson, including an 0-16 finish in 2017 that resulted in fans holding a parade to celebrate their shortcomings.

Despite some optimism surrounding the team’s off-season moves, the Browns had low enough expectations for the season that Bud Light engineered a promotion in which fridges filled with beer were distributed to bars in the Cleveland area with a promise that they would be opened the next time the Browns won.

It only took three games for Browns fans to drink for free.

“Everyone wants to make this a big moment,” Jackson said in an attempt to play down the significance of the victory. “Winning is outstanding, but we plan on doing this more.”