TNF Spoiler Alert: Jets Hope to Delay Browns Takeoff to Playoffs

Oddsmakers and analytics guys say the Browns have a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs, in what would be just the team’s third playoff appearance in the last 24 years.

But pessimistic fans in The Land will warn you: If there’s one NFL franchise that could defy those odds, it’s the Cleveland Browns. 

Against the Jets on Thursday Night Football, Cleveland once again turns to Super Bowl MVP-turned-journeyman Joe Flacco. The 38-yard-old quarterback is 3-1 as the starter since taking over for the tandem of Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker.

Flacco’s resurrection is one of the captivating narratives in the second half of this NFL season. In Houston, he logged his third straight 300-yard game, and threw three touchdown passes. His favorite target, Amari Cooper, set a Browns franchise record with 265 yards receiving, as part of his 11-catch, two-touchdown day. 

But a repeat of that duo’s explosive performance against the Texans looks highly unlikely. 

Cooper is questionable for Thursday’s game with a heel injury. If a limited Cooper does play, he lines up against Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, two of the NFL’s best man-to-man corners. If he doesn’t go, then Flacco needs Elijah Moore and David Bell to step up. Also expect Cleveland’s talented tight end David Njuko (75 receptions) to play a bigger role. 

Flacco also threw two more interceptions against the Texans. Those bowled over by the Flacco storyline point to the veteran QB’s big numbers since taking over, but six picks in his last three starts should worry Browns fans — Gardner and the Jets pass defense come in with 19 interceptions, tied for fourth-best in the league. Against such an opportunistic defense, Flacco’s penchant for gift-wrapping could very well extend beyond Christmas. 

As good as the Jets’ pass defense can be, the run defense is just as vulnerable. But for the Browns to exploit that weakness, they need to change their mindset. Cleveland did not run the ball well in Houston, gaining just 54 yards, but that was due in part to a surprising imbalance between throwing (44 passes) and running (27 carries by running backs), even though the Browns played with a big lead throughout. Look for Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt to get more carries against the Jets, since a more balanced attack could help minimize Flacco’s mistakes.

On the other side, the Jets finally discovered and used the multipurpose treasure that is Breece Hall in their win over Washington, Sunday. Because of scoreboard-game circumstances and curious game-planning, Hall is sometimes criminally underutilized — the second-year back carried the ball 20 times against the Commanders, his most attempts since his 22-carry game in the Week 5 win over Denver, in which the former Iowa State Cyclone ran for a career-best 177 yards. 

To get the Jets an upset over Cleveland, Hall needs again to be showcased. WR Garrett Wilson also must be a factor. The Jets are at or near the bottom in every NFL offensive category and that includes red-zone offense. Their misery inside the other team's 20-yard line is reflected in Wilson's stats — despite both a team-best 88 catches and catching a touchdown in each of the first two games of the season, the talented WR has reached the end zone just once in the last 13 games. 

Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett needs to craft a game plan that involves both Hall and Garrett. And if that does happen, that means New York’s usually horrid offensive line stepped up somehow against one the league’s premier pass rushes. The Browns are missing DT Maurice Hurst and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, two key pieces. But end Myles Garrett (13 sacks) is healthy, after dealing with a shoulder injury, and could feast on the injured and ineffective group protecting QB Trevor Siemian.

If the Browns do not win (or tie) Thursday’s game, they can still clinch a playoff berth with losses and/or ties by any one of four teams: Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Houston. Give the Jets some credit — after massive preseason expectations, they could just play out the string to a disappointing season. Instead, they are still competing.

We’re leaning towards Cleveland in a tight win, even without injured placekicker Dustin Hopkins. Cleveland 23, New York Jets 20.