Welcome to Week 17, as the Cleveland Browns have a chance to clinch their first playoff berth since 2020 when they take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Quarterback Joe Flacco will look to stay hot against the top-tier defense of the Jets, while the Browns will look to put the clamps on the young and dynamic wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Sitting at 10-5 with two weeks to go, the Browns even have a pathway to the AFC North crown with a bit of help from the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Without looking ahead of the Jets, however, the Browns must take care of business and clinch their spot in the playoffs on Thursday night, then hope for the rest to fall into place.
With just over 24 hours until kickoff, here are five things to watch for when the Browns take on the Jets in search of a playoff berth in front of their home crowd.
1
Will we see any signs of life from the run game?
This is the first time the Browns are going against a defense that is below average in Expected Points Added per play against the run. With two weeks left in the regular season, this is an opportunity to find something, anything, on the ground as their run game has been non-existent in recent weeks.
Kareem Hunt can grind out yards but does not have the juice to break a long one, and Jerome Ford seems to have the exact opposite skill set. The banged-up offensive line Cleveland has been fielding has not helped their cause either, but it has been an all-hands-on-deck failure on the ground.
The Browns have tried to scheme yards using the wildcat as well, but unless it is a short-yardage situation, there is no efficiency to speak of. If Ford, Hunt, and the Cleveland ground game cannot get it going this week, there is no hope they will the rest of the way out.
2
David Njoku in line for another big game
The Jets field a trio of strong cornerbacks in Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II. While Amari Cooper has been unguardable in recent weeks and will certainly still find his on Thursday night, this one could be another strong showing from tight end David Njoku.
On his way to his first Pro Bowl this season, Njoku is now up to 748 yards and seven touchdowns. This includes 243 yards and four touchdowns over the last three weeks with Flacco under center.
Specifically in this matchup, the mismatch lies in the hands of Njoku against the linebackers and safeties of the Jets. Njoku has been worth every penny of the extension the Browns gave him last year, and he will look to finish the year strong as he has turned into a true leader of this Cleveland football team.
3
How can the Browns continue to keep Flacco clean behind patched up OL?
This is the best defensive line the Browns have faced since both offensive tackles have gone down with season-ending injuries. Over the past couple of weeks, head coach Kevin Stefanski has done a great job of moving the pocket and utilizing run action to keep Flacco clean.
They will need to keep him clean again in this one as they continue to bookend Geron Christian and James Hudson III along their offensive line.
The Jets have been an elite unit through the air over the last five games, making this Flacco’s toughest task yet as the starter in brown and orange. Their backend and frontend pair nearly as well as Cleveland’s do. The task will already be a tough one on Thursday night.
It will be nearly impossible if he is under constant heat.
4
Can the Browns overcome massive special teams injuries?
The Browns will rely on two special teamers who were just signed to the practice squad. With Dustin Hopkins already ruled out, perhaps the best kicker in the league this season, the Browns will rely on Riley Patterson to knock the football through the uprights.
Punter Corey Bojorquez went down as well, leading to safety D’Anthony Bell stepping in on kickoffs.
With just two weeks until the playoffs, which the Browns are a near-certainty to make, we will see if the Browns can overcome the loss of two special teamers who have made massive contributions to their success this morning.
Can Patterson, cut from the Detroit Lions four weeks ago, come through? Can Matt Haack get the job done when the Browns need to flip field position?
More importantly, can Hopkins and Bojorquez make it back to the field in time for the playoffs?
5
Blanket Garrett Wilson and everything will fall into place
There are no weapons to worry about with this Jets’ offense other than wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Their wide receiver corps is subpar as a whole, Tyler Conklin is not a threatening figure at tight end, Breece Hall and company have fielded one of the worst run games in the NFL over the last five games (yes, even the Browns have a better run game), and their offensive line is completely outmatched on paper.
Yet despite two years of subpar quarterback play and a revolving door of them, Wilson is on pace for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. He is an elite, sudden route runner, has unbelievably strong hands to reel in passes well off his frame, and has the skill set to take over a game.
If Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, and Martin Emerson Jr. can keep the reigns on Wilson, the elite defensive line will have a field day. Za’Darius Smith is coming off of a two-sack performance, Myles Garrett has led the league in pass rush win rate and pressures over the past four weeks despite a lack of sacks, and even Alex Wright is getting in on the mix.
Want a primary key to winning this game? Keep no. 17 a non-factor.
