Browns clinch No. 5 playoff seed with fourth win a row
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns 37-20 win over New York Jets … 1. Book it: Long-suffering fans scarred by Browns past failures or worried about more injuries derailing the Joe Flacco locomotive can exhale now. The Browns closed their home schedule by clinching a spot in the AFC playoffs for the first time since 2020 and only the third time in 25 years of their expansion era. They surged to 11-5 after Flacco’s fourth win in a row, 37-20, over the Jets. Flacco became the first QB in Browns history to pass for over 300 yards four games in a row. The godsend from South Jersey. scorched his ex-teammates for 309 yards – most of them in the first half -- despite losing No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper, who was a pre-game scratch, and then No. 2 Elijah Moore with a concussion in the second quarter. The Browns clinched the No. 5 AFC playoff seed and kept the heat on Baltimore. The Ravens (12-3) can win the AFC North title by defeating Miami Sunday or Pittsburgh in Game 17. If they lose both, the Browns can steal the division by beating Cincinnati in their finale. The Jets dropped to 6-10.
2. Never in doubt?: Play got ragged in the second half, delaying the crowd’s celebration till the very end. The Browns looked like a different offensive team after piling up 367 yards in the first half. Running back Jerome Ford had a fumble overturned by replay and Pierre Strong lost one that resulted in a Jets field goal. The Browns had only 12 total offensive yards in the third quarter. The defense was penalized for 12 men on the field on a fourth-down stop at the Browns’ 26. But Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian couldn’t make the plays when needed to throw a real scare into the proceedings. And after a fourth-down stop gave the Browns the ball at the Jets’ 32 with 5:21 to go, Kareem Hunt stabilized things with cautious running and temp kicker Riley Patterson made a 33-yard field goal to finish the scoring.
3. Special teams comeback: After a rough game in Houston on Sunday, the Browns’ special teams did better. Shelby Harris blocked a Jets field goal try and the Browns also forced and recovered a Jets fumble on a kickoff. The newly-arrived kickers – Patterson and punter Matt Haack – made it through their first game without incident. Patterson missed his second PAT try, but made four others and the 33-yard field goal, and Haack had punts of 44, 55 and 56 yards.4. Fever unabated: Even without Amari Cooper, who was a late scratch (heel), Flacco had the hot hand from the start. He led the Browns to touchdowns on their first two possessions, teaming up with David Njoku for 113 yards on four passes. In the first half alone, Flacco was 16 of 22 for 296 yards. He threw TD passes to Jerome Ford (two) and Elijah Moore. Kareem Hunt also scored on a 7-yard run and safety Ronnie Hickman turned in a Pick 6 to build a 34-17 Browns’ lead at halftime. The Browns amassed 367 yards in offense in the first half.
Elijah Moore wasn't able to celebrate a touchdown against his former team. He was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a concussion after making a catch. (Cleveland Browns)
5. Moore felled: Moore didn’t have much time to celebrate his touchdown against his former team in the second quarter. About 5 minutes of game time later, Moore suffered a head injury when he was slammed head-first into the ground after making a catch for 22 yards. There was a scary moment when Moore’s arms began twitching erratically with him laying on his back as players knelt around him. He was able to sit up and walk off the field a few moments later. He did not return to the game.
6. Greed kills: The Browns were up, 27-7, and took possession at their 18 with 4:39 to go in the first half. Time to execute a four-minute offense with some runs against the 24th-ranked rush defense? Nope. After two first downs moved the Browns to the 50, Flacco was intercepted on a deflection at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Jermaine Johnson, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. It was Flacco’s seventh interception in five games.
7. Birthday bash: Myles Garrett turned 28 at midnight. Before that, he ended his five-game sackless streak in the second quarter when he swallowed up Siemian for a 7-yard loss. Garrett also was called for offsides twice in the first half. But he had another streak snapped late in the half when Mekhi Becton was flagged for holding him. It’s been a long time coming.
8. It figures: Temporary kicker Riley Patterson made his first PAT after the Browns’ opening touchdown drive. But he missed his second wide right and it may have affected Kevin Stefanski’s to eschew a 24-yard field goal later in the first quarter. On a Browns kickoff, Matthews Adams forced a fumble and Mike Ford recovered at the Jets’ 12. When it came down to fourth-and-4 from the 6, Patterson stayed on the sideline and Flacco’s pass for Cedric Tillman sailed out of the end zone. Patterson made his next three PAT tries in the first half.
9. Buckeye Pick 6: With a 13-7 deficit, the Jets felt the need to be aggressive on offense. Bad idea. Siemian’s pass for Garrett Wilson was intercepted by Hickman and returned 30 yards for a touchdown. It was the undrafted rookie from Ohio State’s first NFL TD. It was the team’s second Pick 6 of the year. Greg Newsome had one in Baltimore.10. Delayed debut: New punter Matt Haack, who filled in for Corey Bojorquez (quad), had to wait until 8:05 left in the third quarter to kick his first punt. It went 44 yards to the left sideline and returner Xavier Gipson had to fair catch it. Haack’s second effort went for 55 yards but was returned 20 yards by Gipson.11. Pre-game notes: Just before they announced their inactives the Browns made a change to make Cooper inactive. This was after Cooper had a light, pre-game workout that didn’t go as he’d like. He was questionable with a heel injury. It was Cooper’s first missed game with the Browns and his first overall since the 2021 season with Dallas. Other inactives: kicker Dustin Hopkins, punter Corey Bojorquez linebacker Anthony Walker, defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, center Luke Wypler and defensive end Sam Kamara.
