“Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Baker’s the man.” Wait, you’re telling us that’s not the opening line to the nursery rhyme? Thanks to last night’s heroics by rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, fans of the Cleveland Browns might petition to make it so. Led by the 23-year-old signal caller, the National Football League’s most woebegone franchise overcame a 14-0 deficit to down the New York Jets, 21-17, earning a victory that snapped a 19-game winless streak and set off an alcohol-fueled celebration inspired by Bud Light’s beer fridges.
Cleveland, the @Browns won. The fridges are open. Go celebrate with a Bud Light. You’ve earned it. pic.twitter.com/RvjJ0WvpyO
— Bud Light (@budlight) September 21, 2018
We covered the interesting promotional idea back in August and again 11 days ago, hoping the long-ridiculed franchise would escape their doldrums as doormats and restore sanity among their followers. In looking at their schedule, we had not expected much success to come their way, no matter how much time under center that Mayfield, this year’s top overall draft pick, would earn, but we are going to pat ourselves on the back since we predicted they would ground the Jets. In front of more than 67,000 fans, the club made us look like Nostradamus, and we could not be happier for the players or their supporters.
We derive our delight not only based on their first win in 635 days, but also from Bud Light’s compelling decision to help backers put an end to their misery with a cold one. Granted, when the Browns fell behind by two touchdowns, we started to feel as if our crystal ball had suffered yet another crack, but Mayfield must have wanted Cleveland’s fanbase to incur a few hangovers and call out of work today so as to review and discuss every play along the comeback trail.
As Bud Light so poignantly put it, when the Browns win, Cleveland wins, so as the feeling of returning to the winner’s column sets in, we definitely know which adult beverage provider has become the favorite among the throngs who head to FirstEnergy Stadium or various bars (two of the Cleveland locations where Bud Light placed the beer fridges) or watch at home.
We WON!!! —-Wait….Oh God. The free beer thing…Ok Cleveland. Stay calm. GO BROWNS!!! @Browns @budlight #CLE
— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) September 21, 2018
The timing of the win could spell excellent news for Bud Light, too. In notching the long-sought triumph only three games into this season, the Browns kept their zealots from agonizing any longer with regards to when they would end the drought and certainly has those diehards hoping for, yes, we will say it, a winning streak. Because they contested a Thursday Night Football game, the Browns are off for nine more days and will close the month with a trip to Oakland to face the Raiders. One has to figure that that span will find fans stocking up on Bud Light as a way to associate the Anheuser-Busch product with good fortune.
This time, though, the Cleveland faithful will have to pay for the suds, but since fans had been wearing the athletic equivalent of beer goggles for 19 fruitless games prior to last night’s tilt, we don’t think they will mind parting with their cash ahead of the Oakland clash. They might even decide to don this shirt while watching their heroes. Congratulations, Cleveland!
We’d also like to note that, while the Browns won the game, the real winner here is Bud Light. We covered the brand’s marketing prowess extensively, and this was another shining example of a creative promotion that managed to capture the national spotlight in a fun and memorable way. Well played, Bud Light. Or should we say, Dilly Dilly.
