Jerry Jeudy had to be happy with the change in play-callers. Jeudy had his most productive game and first TD of the season with Tommy Rees taking over for Kevin Stefanski calling plays. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns 27-20 loss to New York Jets …
1. The race is on: The Browns moved closer to a top five pick in the 2026 draft by losing to the Jets, 27-20. Both teams are 2-7 and the Browns probably will own the tie-breaker on weaker strength of schedule – if it comes down to that. Tommy Rees’ debut as a play-caller produced the second-highest point total of the Browns’ season, including Jerry Jeudy’s first receiving touchdown. But the Jets’ defense, motivated by the fire sale of two of its best players on Tuesday, dominated the line of scrimmage and had Dillon Gabriel running for his life. The Browns limited Jets QB Justin Fields to 54 yards passing, intercepted him once and sacked him three times. But two New York return touchdowns on special teams – one on a kickoff by, one on a punt – put the Browns in a hole they never climbed out of. And two penalties by the Browns with the Jets running out the clock at the end blew up any chance of having the ball one last time. It was the 13th consecutive loss on the road for the Browns.
2. Staying alive: Down by 10, Kevin Stefanski chose to kick the field goal after Gabriel’s drive was stalled at the Jets’ 11 with 2:57 to play. Andre Szmyt’s 29-yard field goal cut the Jets lead to 27-20. Three Gabriel keeper runs moved the chains to keep alive the drive.
3. And there it is: With rain falling and Fields failing, the Jets went to smash-mouth running late in the third quarter. And then they caught the Browns on a screen pass against a rare zero blitz call by Jim Schwartz. It resulted in a 42-yard catch-and-run by Breece Hall for a go-ahead touchdown – New York’s first of the game. Fields was creamed as he just got the ball away to Hall on a short throw on second-and-17. Hall took advantage of a good block by right guard Joe Tippmann on Carson Schwesinger near the line of scrimmage and raced untouched to the end zone for a 24-17 Jets lead.
4. Oh, brother: The Browns responded by moving to the Jets’ 34. After three handoffs – two to Quinshon Judkins – Stefanski greenlighted a fourth-and-1 gamble. Who knows what was Rees’ play-call because Gabriel was gobbled up by Will McDonald for the third-year edge rusher’s fourth sack of the game and sixth overall on Gabriel. Next play, Hall broke a 30-yard run to set up a short Nick Folk field goal and 27-17 Jets lead.
5. Some consolation: At the end of a horrific first half for them, the Browns’ special teams gained some atonement with a good job of running the field goal team on the field in the final seconds and executing a 45-yard field goal by Szmyt as time ran out. That tied the game at 17-17. Decent job by Gabriel, who had a hot-and-cold half, in moving the offense 45 yards in 45 seconds, though he took a sack on third down – the third McDonald.
6. But before that: The Jets didn’t gain a first down until a 22-yard run by Hall with 9:51 to go in the first half. Yet they scored 17 points. How? Kene Nwangwu returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. After a Browns’ three-and-out series, Isaiah Williams returned Corey Bojorquez’s punt 74 yards for a touchdown. First time in Jets history they had two return TDs in the same game -- and they did it on consecutive plays. Also, they were the second and third returns for a touchdown given up by Bubba Ventrone’s special teams this year. Detroit had a 65-yard punt return for a TD in Game 4.
7. Defense feasting on Fields: In the first half, Fields was held to 3 of 6 passing for 5 yards. He was intercepted by safety Ronnie Hickman and sacked by Cam Davis and Myles Garrett. On the CBS studio show, analyst Bill Cowher said the Jets should play Tyrod Taylor the second half. But Fields was left in.
8. The Rees factor: If nothing else, Rees brought new energy to the offense in his first half of play-calling. He got Gabriel out of the pocket more to help him see the field better. Both of Gabriel’s TD passes (to David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy) came off play-action from under center. Jeudy’s TD catch of 22 yards was his first of the season. It came on an aggressive call by Rees on the first play after Hickman’s interception. Gabriel still struggled with accuracy (11 of 23 for 125 yards), but he had three good possessions and achieved 14 first downs. His first TD drive of 95 yards was aided by two Jets defensive penalties.
9. Welcome back: Schwesinger was active just two weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain. He made his presence known on the third Jets’ offensive snap when he came free on a blitz and knocked Fields to the ground as he threw. Later, Schwesinger was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a Fields keeper run for 13 yards. Fields was sliding and Schwesinger was committed to hitting him but he seemed to let up. Still, the flag was thrown.
10. One more crack at a milestone: According to Cleveland.com, outgoing chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta attended the game with the Browns’ braintrust. DePodesta was introduced on Friday as head of baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies. The Browns’ record in DePodesta’s 9 ½ seasons was 56-99-1 entering the day. So he posted No. 100 by hanging around for one last L.
11. Pre-game notes: Schwesinger was a surprise active. Also, tight end Harold Fannin, who missed one practice and was limited Friday with a hamstring injury, was active. Browns actives were: receiver Isaiah Bond, running back Rocket Sanders, guard Zak Zinter, tackle Cornelius Lucas, and tight end Brenden Bates.