CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The storylines are plentiful for Amazon Prime Thursday night when the Browns host the Jets, but there’s only one that matters in Cleveland – a win clinches a playoff berth for the second time in four years.
The Browns are 8-2 all-time at home on Thursday Night Football, including winning their last seven by the lake and five straight overall.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for against New York.
Joe Flacco, left on his couch by the Jets until the Browns finally called in mid-November, seemingly has found the fountain of youth in Cleveland where he has won three of four starts. Flacco has thrown for over 300 yards in three straight games for the first time in his career and he is the first Browns quarterback to do it since 2015. Flacco’s 1,307 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in his first four starts are team records.
Receiver Amari Cooper, coming off a record setting performance against the Texans last weekend that saw him catch 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, is questionable with a heel injury. Cooper is the first Browns receiver in the NFL era of the franchise to tally multiple 1,000-yard seasons and he is the first player to do it in back-to-back years. His 1,250 yards this year are third best in a season in franchise history.
Tight end David Njoku is also one of Flacco’s favorite targets. Njoku leads the team with 75 catches and six touchdown receptions. Njoku, who has over 90 yards receiving in two of the last three games, he is looking to score in a fourth straight game.
Cleveland likely will be without two specialists – kicker Dustin Hopkins, already ruled out due to a left hamstring injury, and punter Corey Bojorquez, who is doubtful with a left quad injury. Both Browns practice squad elevations for this game are likely to be specialists – kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack. Patterson has made 58 of 66 career field goal attempts and 87 of 90 PATs. This season, he appeared in 13 games with the Lions where he made 15 of 17 field goals. Haack kicked for special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone last year in Indianapolis. Haack averages 44.5 yards per punt while dropping 160 inside the 20-yard line for his career.
Myles Garrett’s sack drought has reached five games, however according to Pro Football Focus, Garrett leads the NFL in quarterback pressures over the last three weeks. Garrett, who has 9.0 sacks in five games against the Jets, has been dominant this season but 8.5 of his 13 sacks have come at home.
Zach Wilson is out leaving Trevor Siemian to start at quarterback for the Jets. Siemian threw for 217 yards and a touchdown last week in his first start of season. He is 2-2 in 4 career starts on Thursday Night Football.
The Jets have a kicker situation of their own they are dealing with. With Greg Zuerlein dealing with a right quadriceps injury, New York signed former Brown Austin Seibert to their practice squad and he could be elevated for the game.
Turnovers will be a factor. The Browns lead the NFL with 32 turnovers this season and have a -7 differential. The Jets come in tied with the Vikings for the second-most with 30. New York has a -8 differential.
Last week – Jets beat the Commanders 30-28; Browns beat the Texans 36-22
The last time – September 18, 2022: Jets 31, Browns 30
Series – Tied 14-14
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Jets offense vs. Browns defense:
Scoring: Jets 15.4, Browns 20.7
Total yards: Jets 263.5, Browns 260.3
Passing: Jets 173.1, Browns 160.1
Rushing: Jets 90.3, Browns 100.2
Jets defense vs. Browns offense:
Scoring: Jets 21.0, Browns 23.0
Total yards: Jets 294.8, Browns 335.9
Passing: Jets 168.6, Browns 216.8
Rushing: Jets 126.2, Browns 119.1
Defensive stats
Sacks: Jets 40, Browns 44
Takeaways: Jets 22, Browns 25
Turnover differential: Jets -8, Browns -7
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Geron Christian, LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT James Hudson II, TE David Njoku, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Elijah Moore, QB Joe Flacco, RB Jerome Ford
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Shelby Harris, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Sione Takitaki, LB Tony Fields, CB Denzel Ward, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS D’Anthony Bell, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: K Dustin Hopkins (left hamstring), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral), LB Anthony Walker (knee); DOUBTFUL: P Corey Bojorquez (left quad); QUESTIONABLE: WR Amari Cooper (rest, heel), WR Marquise Goodwin (knee), S Juan Thornhill (calf)
Uniforms – White alternate helmet, white jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WEWS TV 5 and streaming on Amazon Prime
Kickoff – 8:15 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 23, Jets 13
