CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns are a day closer to what portends to be an electric atmosphere Thursday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium against the New York Jets with a playoff berth on the line.
Here's our top Brownie Bites from Wednesday.
Electric avenue – For the first time in the post 1999 expansion era, the Browns will play a win-and-in game on the shores of Lake Erie in front of a capacity crowd in primetime. "Electric. Yeah, I can't wait," Stefanski said. "Our fans have been incredible all season long. I feel like I say that over and over, but I mean it. I can't wait to get down there. Our team can't wait to get down there. Just need them to behave themselves for most of the day so that they're able to be with us in the fourth quarter." The playoff picture is crystal clear: beat the Jets, and the Browns are back in the playoffs for the second time in four years. "It seems like every week you look at the game and you're like, man, this is a big one," quarterback Joe Flacco, who is 3-1 as Cleveland's starter, said. "This is a big one. And it's just another one of those. I think we just, once again, we can worry about that when the game's all said and done, but just go out there and focus on winning." In addition to trying to secure the top Wild Card slot as the No. 5 seed, the AFC North is still a possibility with two Browns wins and two Ravens losses the next two weeks. "It would mean everything," cornerback Greg Newsome II said. "I hate losing. I hate being at the end of the season not playing for anything but pride. So the opportunity to finally get to the playoffs and to be able to clinch it in front of our home crowd is an amazing opportunity." The Browns are 7-1 at home this season. "It's been great all year," left guard Joel Bitonio said. "The home crowd's been awesome all year, but we're excited to get down there on Thursday. We know the Jets came in and got a win last week, so they're still playing motivated football and they're a big challenge for us. But I think the fans are going to bring the energy. I think we're going to bring the energy and I think it's going to be a great atmosphere."
Record equals award – Amari Cooper was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week following his historic performance at Houston that saw him set the Browns franchise record for receiving yards in a game with 265. It was also a season high for any player in the NFL this season. Cooper also caught a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yarder, and a two-point conversion while finishing with 11 receptions. Cooper became the first Brown to record two 50-yard receptions in a game since Travis Benjamin in 2015. Cooper's 1,250 receiving yards on the year are the third-most by a Brown in a season and he is the first Browns receiver to tally two 1,000-yard seasons in the franchise's NFL era. Cooper is also the first Brown to do it in back-to-back years.
Third time's the charm – After being nominated three consecutive weeks, Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was voted the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. Flacco completed 27 of 42 attempts (64.3 percent) for 368 yards and three touchdowns for a 96.1 passer rating in Sunday's 36-22 win over the Texans in Houston. FedEx will make a $2,000 donation in Flacco's name to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), which will be applied towards needs-based scholarships to deserving HBCU students.
Bitonio's back – Left guard Joel Bitonio, who has been fighting through back spasms, almost got through last week's win in Houston unscathed. "Ended up doing pretty well," Bitonio said. "Early in the game, I got freaking knocked down one time and landed on my back and I kind of shot a little bit, locked it up for a second. I took a couple plays, but it stayed all right. So I got through the game, all right. I'm feeling better than I was last week at this time. So it's doing pretty good." Bitonio is expected to play Thursday night against New York. "I wish I probably had a few more days, but everybody's a little beat up right now, so I'll do my best to be out there," Bitonio said. "You go out there and you play Thursday, you get the weekend off. So that's all I'm thinking about right now is going out there and do what we can to try and get a win and then we'll have a little bit of time off."
White out – The Browns will wear their alternate all white uniforms, including the 1946 throwback jersey and alternate white helmet. The team is asking fans to wear white to white out the stadium Thursday night on Amazon Prime.
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 (heel), WR Marquise Goodwin (knee), S Juan Thornhill (calf)
