CLEVELAND — After an abysmal efficiency every week in the past, the Jets have been hoping for higher outcomes in opposition to the Cleveland Browns of their dwelling opener at FirstVitality Stadium.
On a sunny 80-degree day, the Jets pulled some late-game magic out of their hats, nabbing their first win of the season in gorgeous trend after trailing by 13 with 1:55 to play.
The Jets defeated the Browns 31-30 after an onside kick by Ashtyn Davis and a Joe Flacco 15-yard cross to Garrett Wilson with 25 seconds left.
They keep away from falling to 0-2 for the fourth consecutive season, which was tied for the third-longest streak in franchise historical past. Gang Green had additionally misplaced 14 straight video games in September coming into Sunday, relationship again to 2018.
“We are off the snide,” Jets coach Robert Saleh mentioned concerning the crew’s first win of the season. “I really like the best way this feels. We must discover a option to stack them up.
“There is a lot of stuff we have to clean up, but I’m just proud of the guys because we didn’t quit. That’s probably the biggest thing I’ll take away from it.”
Joe Flacco, who began his second recreation whereas quarterback Zach Wilson continues to get better from a meniscus harm, accomplished 26 of 44 passes for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Two Jet rookies have been vital contributors. First-round decide Garrett Wilson led the Jets in receptions as he caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Breece Hall, chosen within the second spherical, completed with 60 all-purpose yards and a landing catch.
Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett, beginning for Deshaun Watson as he’s serving an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct coverage, was almost flawless. He accomplished 22 of 27 passes for 229 yards and a landing.
Browns working again Nick Chubb rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. He additionally had three catches for 26 yards. Wide receiver Amari Cooper torched the Jets protection your entire day, recording 9 receptions for 101 yards and a landing.
“We win as a team, we lose as a team,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned. “We misplaced, We obtained beat. Did not play a 60-minute recreation.
“It is de facto irritating—irritating to me, to our gamers within the locker room and I’m certain to our followers.
“It is not how we play. We have to finish and do the things that allow you to win games and we didn’t.”
Chubb’s 12-yard landing run with 1:55 left within the recreation appeared to place the sport on ice at 30-17. But the Jets saved combating as Corey Davis’ 66-yard landing catch reduce the Browns result in 30-24. Then Justin Hardee recovered the onside kick to maintain Gang Green alive.
That allowed Flacco and the Jets transfer the ball down the sphere. Then on third and 10, Flacco’s 15-yard cross to Wilson together with Greg Zuerlein’s further level gave the Jets a 31-30 lead.
“It was just about executing on the same plays that we hit on early in the game,” Garrett Wilson mentioned. “We sort of obtained the identical look, so simply profiting from the center of the sphere.
“If they give it to us, especially during that time in the game, we gotta take advantage.”
Unlike final week when the Jets didn’t get their first landing till 1:01 left within the recreation in opposition to the Ravens, the crew’s offense was far more environment friendly in opposition to the Browns.
New York scored 14 factors within the first half. The crew additionally had 178 yards and was 5 of eight on third down conversions. The Jets solely transformed two first downs within the loss in opposition to the Ravens.
The Jets protection saved them within the recreation through the first half final week. However, on Sunday, Gang Green’s protection allowed a landing on the Browns’ first possession.
After a Jets’ punt on the opening drive, Cleveland drove 90 yards as Nick Chubb scored a four-yard landing to present the crew an early 7-0 benefit.
However, the Jets offense responded as they drove down the sphere after a pretend punt and a throw by Braden Mann to Jeff Smith. Six performs later, Gang Green discovered the top zone on a Flacco landing cross to Garrett Wilson.
Cleveland answered proper again as they continued to drive down the sphere with out should resistance from the Jets protection. Cooper ended the drive with a 6-yard landing that put the Browns up 14-7.
The Jets appeared like they have been set to tie the sport up within the second quarter, however a Jadeveon Clowney strip sack and fumble on the Browns 20-yard-line ended the Jets eight-play, 40-yard drive.
However, New York’s offense recovered because it obtained the ball with 1:05 earlier than halftime. The Jets referred to as six passing performs, together with a Breece Hall 10-yard landing reception that tied the sport at 14-14 earlier than halftime.
After the break, the Browns retook the lead on a Cade York 22-yard subject purpose. But the Jets protection performed significantly better to start the second half. However, they allowed three second-half touchdowns.
“I don’t know where it ranks, but it is up there,” Flacco mentioned. ” Look, at one level, you’re sitting on the bench they usually have the chance to run the clock.
“You have to give credit to the guys on the sideline, the guys that were in this game. The fact that they just kept believing and kept doing their job, this is what happens.”
Up subsequent for the Jets, they’ll return to MetLife Stadium subsequent Sunday because the Cincinnati Bengals will come to city. The Browns could have a brief week as they’ll host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night time.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com