Both the Jets and Browns have long histories of crushing the hopes and dreams of their fanbases, but only one of them could do so this Sunday because they faced each other at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets gave it their best shot, but it was the Browns who ultimately wound up at bottom of the barrel. Braelon Allen’s touchdown with just over three minutes left to play put the Jets up 16-12 and head coach Aaron Glenn kept the door open for the Browns to win with a touchdown by kicking an extra point rather than try for a two-point conversion.
The ensuing Browns drive was blown up by a Darrell Jackson sack and the Browns got the ball back after a punt, but the Jets’ pass rush kept quarterback Deshaun Watson from finding plays downfield before he ran out of room on a fourth down scramble. The 17-12 win ends a three-game losing streak for the 2-3 Jets and a three-game winning streak for the 3-2 Browns.
Allen’s touchdown came two plays after the biggest blunder of the day by the Browns. A snap to punter Corey Bojorquez went over his head and the Jets recovered at the Cleveland 23-yard-line. Allen ran for a 22-yard score two plays later and finished the day with 24 carries for 116 yards.
The Browns drive that ended with the botched snap was a major missed opportunity for the road team. After rookie wideout Denzel Boston’s third touchdown of the year put them up 12-10 — Andre Szmyt missed the extra point — linebacker Carson Schwesinger forced a Geno Smith fumble to get the Browns the ball in Jets territory. They picked up no yards on three plays, however, and that was a story of their entire day as it ended with 197 total offensive yards.
Jets first-round linebacker David Bailey’s three sacks had a hand in that and the Jets pressured Watson relentlessly throughout the afternoon. The Browns were not able to stanch the pressure with any consistent success on the ground, so it really was a surprise that they even had a chance at pulling out a win in this game.
The Jets opened the game with a crisp 80-yard touchdown drive that ended with Garrett Wilson catching the ball in the end zone and he remained effective throughout a rocky game for Smith. He was 17-of-30 for 182 yards and the Jets had another turnover when tight end Kenyon Sadiq lost a fumble. Sadiq left for a concussion evaluation and the Browns also lost a first-rounder to a head injury when wideout KC Concepcion was hurt in the first quarter.
The Jets will be in New England next Sunday for a date with the surging Patriots. The Browns will return home to face the Ravens.