The New York Jets survived another rainy afternoon in the Meadowlands, knocking off the Cleveland Browns 17-12, behind a strong defensive effort that helped snap a three-game skid.
Trailing 12-10 with four minutes to go, and after fumbling the football away directly after Cleveland took the lead through Deshaun Watson’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Boston, Gang Green’s special teams pounced on a fumbled snap by Browns punter Corey Bojorquez to gift the hosts possession deep in enemy territory.
It took just three plays before Braelon Allen’s 22-yard touchdown put the Jets (2-3) ahead for good.
There was little indication that this Week 5 clash should have been this difficult for the Jets. They forced a three-and-out on Cleveland’s opening drive of the afternoon, then made an offensive statement. Garrett Wilson matched his catch total from last week in one drive and, on a day in which he hauled in three balls for 70 yards, his 32-yard touchdown had the Jets flying from the jump.
After that, though, the Jets only gained nine yards on the next three drives
Breece Hall missed the game with a quad injury, and Allen provided a mixed bag. He ripped off a massive 19-yard run to convert on third down and enter the red zone in the third quarter and averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but dropped a pass and nearly lost a fumble.
Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Minkah Fitzpatrick on the next Cleveland drive gave the Browns 28 yards and two first downs, but with Cleveland at the 12, New York’s defense stood tall and held them to three.
New York’s pass rush made life difficult for Watson, sacking him four times in the first half and forcing several hurried throws. The Jets dialed up third-down blitzes several times and saw fantastic results; Watson only handled the blitz well once or twice.
Cleveland added another field goal before halftime.
David Bailey was especially impressive in the first half, becoming the first Jets rookie with five tackles and two sacks in a game in 30 years.
Nursing a 7-6 lead in the fourth quarter, the Jets lost the opportunity to force a Browns three-and-out when Brandon Stevens committed pass interference on third down. Stevens then got burned in the endzone by Boston, to give Cleveland its first lead with 6:15 left in the game. Browns kicker Andre Szmyt doinked the extra point, though, ensuring the Jets’ deficit remained at only two.
New York moved the ball again, but as they made their way into field goal range, quarterback Geno Smith lost a fumble; Adin Huntington recovered the loose ball and brought it to the Jets’ 43. New York forced a three-and-out, and then got a gift from Cleveland. Corey Bojorquez couldn’t handle the snap, and the ball made its way all the way to the New York 23. Allen then took the ball home for six, restoring New York’s lead. Sanders kicked the point-after to establish a 17-12 lead.
Damien Sherwood sacked Watson for New York’s seventh sack of the afternoon, forcing yet another Browns three-and-out.
New York only needed one first down to enter victory formation, but went three-and-out, giving one final chance to the Browns.
Cleveland took a delay of game on 4th-&-6, and on 4-&-11, Watson lost the ball and the game on a sack from Will MacDonald, New York’s eighth of the afternoon.
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