Mike Pettine, John DeFilippo and Josh McCown met Wednesday morning at the Cleveland Browns facility.
The three football minds banded together and formulated an outside-the-box way to beat the Baltimore Ravens.
"The plan going in," Pettine said, "is that we may have to throw the ball 50 times."
That they did.
McCown turned in a performance for the ages, a win Browns fans will remember decades down the line. The 36-year-old set the franchise record with 457 passing yards, completed 36-of-51 attempts and also became the first Cleveland quarterback to post three straight 300-yard games. Cleveland's 12 third-down conversions tied a club record.
Some prognosticators labeled the Browns offense as a weakness behind a journeyman like McCown. But now, with McCown firmly directing the show behind center, Cleveland is establishing itself as one of the better passing offenses in the entire NFL – an absolute stunner in league circles.
"I never wrote me off," McCown answered to a question about how vindicating this win was for him personally. "The people in Cleveland never wrote me off."
![Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton walks on the field](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/eweqd4qr1csztkc3twky.jpg)
Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton walks on the field
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown warms up](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/wqu4witjngfxgcsbujao.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown warms up
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![Cleveland Browns wide receiever Taylor Gabriel during warmups](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/g4kw6zx2zmolgikt2bbi.jpg)
Cleveland Browns wide receiever Taylor Gabriel during warmups
![Cleveland Browns defensive back Tramon Williams takes the field for pregame warmups](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/fdndtd9puy1gpgj6ee5d.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive back Tramon Williams takes the field for pregame warmups
![A pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness is emblazoned on the field](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/lw3gtb48ky0ziiitfowp.jpg)
A pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness is emblazoned on the field
![Cleveland Browns wide receiever Brian Hartline warming up before the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/shkfbphfglo7gmos6ieb.jpg)
Cleveland Browns wide receiever Brian Hartline warming up before the game
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown warms up](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/kgps6pddkush5pfnrume.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown warms up
![Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger warms up](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/zcqpicqgbidrfcayv1ej.jpg)
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger warms up
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) lines up behind center Alex Mack as they warm up](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/ow9bahpr2q8wpfai3am8.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) lines up behind center Alex Mack as they warm up
![A member of the Cleveland Browns wears a cap emblazoned with the team name in pink in recognition of breast cancer awareness](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/galh4qi6phpyscehfvil.jpg)
A member of the Cleveland Browns wears a cap emblazoned with the team name in pink in recognition of breast cancer awareness
![Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (71) warms up with teammates](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/nrcdq4ysdmsdmf2c8b8d.jpg)
Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (71) warms up with teammates
![Cleveland Browns run onto the field before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/gjpsg3rup2omlsmizgpn.jpg)
Cleveland Browns run onto the field before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens
![Baltimore Ravens' Lardarius Webb, bottom is tackled by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/unt6ectabctt7rpzgq4q.jpg)
Baltimore Ravens' Lardarius Webb, bottom is tackled by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder
![Cleveland Browns defensive front of LB Paul Kruger, NT Danny Shelton, & DL Randy Starks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/wfydgddjjew7mrlbepjp.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive front of LB Paul Kruger, NT Danny Shelton, & DL Randy Starks
![Cleveland Browns defensive back Joe Haden matches up against a Ravens receiver](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/e7nomlxqxbjlwxmppifk.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive back Joe Haden matches up against a Ravens receiver
![Cleveland Browns wide receiever Andrew Hawkins makes a catch during the 1st quarter](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/pskuadoqaexcwdkxjur4.jpg)
Cleveland Browns wide receiever Andrew Hawkins makes a catch during the 1st quarter
![Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/ag2psmqb4hxixsbdxems.jpg)
Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) throws to a receiver as he is pressured by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/wgvtvuq9ogjromyzevqq.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) throws to a receiver as he is pressured by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil
![Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant makes a hit in the backfield](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/x6ulrz4bfyz2vjxcabml.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant makes a hit in the backfield
![Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner yells out defensive adjustments](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/skoqu9wuxiupedxo2uvd.jpg)
Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner yells out defensive adjustments
![Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson, left, rushes against Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Albert McClellan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/dqzfm71rugmyg7uorpp7.jpg)
Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson, left, rushes against Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Albert McClellan
![Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/sksy3fewehb0z7sshhcf.jpg)
Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
![Cleveland Browns defensive back Justin Gilbert returns a kick](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/kmaqluieori3u7clvgsu.jpg)
Cleveland Browns defensive back Justin Gilbert returns a kick
![Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/ck6wxw5ddwhzxrifejms.jpg)
Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz
![Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/jvtrh9yyylrqx9rduort.jpg)
Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas
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![Cleveland Browns DL Jamie Meder](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/rtmcdxxuvdzep8u45uds.jpg)
Cleveland Browns DL Jamie Meder
![Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/sprezsumyvei2ps5732g.jpg)
Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton
![Baltimore Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk, right, is knocked out of bounds by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder just short of the end zone](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/wnozdj3g3wkdijovijvm.jpg)
Baltimore Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk, right, is knocked out of bounds by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder just short of the end zone
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown scores a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/ibylcfatc4dg2zyrchnv.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown scores a touchdown
![Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) makes a touchdown catch between his legs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/wxqblidrts2tc55qi2oq.jpg)
Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) makes a touchdown catch between his legs
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![Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge, right, celebrates after making a touchdown catch between his legs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/xljrjxtlh2tebgoaffr6.jpg)
Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge, right, celebrates after making a touchdown catch between his legs
![Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell running through a gap](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/gakkfljblsovx52g7db2.jpg)
Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell running through a gap
![Cleveland Browns wide receiver Marlon Moore](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/x1xnjmn2zrdfke44ypq0.jpg)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Marlon Moore
![Cleveland Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/priesyhpcrk8lw9nsdcm.jpg)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby
![Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Solomon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/qvb4dsakp98kcmnzhjnm.jpg)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Solomon
![Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel stand next eachother on the sidelines](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/fhgliu95tqlzjzem3t5x.jpg)
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel stand next eachother on the sidelines
![Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell dives for a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/t1wiyklfr82u6zbvij85.jpg)
Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell dives for a touchdown
![Cleveland Browns wide receiever Andrew Hawkins catches a 2 point conversion](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/browns/emaoagrteguqfdxhzohx.jpg)
Cleveland Browns wide receiever Andrew Hawkins catches a 2 point conversion
The promising observation from Cleveland's win is that McCown's historic achievements were not done by his lonesome. New playmakers are becoming a consistent trend.
On McCown's first of two fourth quarter touchdown passes, tight end Gary Barnidge leapt and caught the scoring throw by using his thighs and his buttocks to trap the ball before it hit the ground. Barnidge is rapidly becoming one of the most underrated and dangerous tight ends so far in 2015 and he feasted on the Ravens defense for 139 yards and eight catches.
"I told him on the sideline that, 'If that's not the No. 1 play of the week, then there's something wrong,'" Pettine cracked after the win.
"A lot of people would've said, 'No. This is not possible,'" Barnidge said of the way Cleveland's been throwing the football with McCown. "But we -- we inside of our building -- we knew we had the pieces that we needed."
The other fourth quarter touchdown was a staple of what McCown has brought to Cleveland: sharp decision making. Trailing 27-22, McCown dropped back, surveyed the right side of the field and decided not to force a pass into coverage. Instead, he dumped off a flare into the hands of running back Isaiah Crowell, who bowled through the Baltimore defense and dove for the 22-yard touchdown.
It wasn't a flashy throw, but it was the right one.
McCown even scrambled for an athletic 10-yard score in the third quarter, a play that sparked the Browns' rally and cut the Ravens' lead to 21-16.
"He's surprisingly mobile for being 50 years old," left tackle Joe Thomas joked.
McCown and the Browns offense carried the momentum into overtime. Barnidge wiggled his way open on a crucial third-and-1, and McCown fired a pass for 19 yards. Cleveland dinked and dunked a few more times down the field to set up kicker Travis Coons for the game-clinching 32-yard field goal.
McCown was very candid in his post-game press conference. It had been nearly a year since he quarterbacked a team to a win, back in 2014 when Tampa Bay topped Washington. McCown heard the chants to play backup quarterback Johnny Manziel, and he's been a part of revolving quarterback situation for most of his career. He even jested about "playing in the UFL, for crying out loud." The 36-year-old's been through it all.
But right now? Heading into Week 6? None of the labels matter. Cleveland has found out it can win AFC North divisional games by riding McCown's right arm.
"We are ready to do this every week," McCown said. "We've got the receivers. We've got the offensive line. We've got playmakers."