Welcome to Week 17, and what a Week 17 it has the potential to be for the Cleveland Browns. As quarterback Joe Flacco takes on his former team, the New York Jets, the Browns have the opportunity to lock down a playoff spot in front of their home crowd during primetime Thursday Night Football.
They will be wearing their flashy all-white uniforms with their new white helmets, looking for their fourth win in a row and their ninth win in their last 12 outings. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has his defense playing at the top of their competition at home, and head coach Kevin Stefanski has kept this team rallied together despite multiple injuries to significant contributors.
Can Flacco and wide receiver Elijah Moore enact revenge on their former team as the Browns look to clinch their spot in the playoffs? Here is what the Browns Wire staff thinks will go down at Cleveland Browns Stadium tonight.
Jacob Roach (@roachizm13): Browns over Jets
Joe Flacco mania continues Thursday as the Browns will look to punch their postseason ticket at home. The connection between Amari Cooper and Flacco looks like they’ve been playing together for years.
The Jets have a solid defense but because of their offense being so bad the defense usually gets worn down in the second half. The Jets offense may be the worst one in the NFL this year and Cleveland’s defense has been straight dominate at home. If they can continue to pressure the quarterback at an elite level the Jets offense will have another poor day.
In the end, I’ll take the Browns to get win no. 11 over the Jets by a final score of 28-10.
Browns Alchemy (@BrownsAlchemy): Browns over Jets
The Cleveland Browns face off against the New York Jets on a short week. The Browns will look to extend their three-game winning streak before the season finale.
The Jets are planning their offseason vacations after a disastrous year full of quarterback drama. The Browns should have no problem beating the checked-out Jets. The offense will finally find its stride under Joe Flacco’s leadership.
I do not expect the quarterback to turn the ball over against a tough Jets defense. The Browns’ defense should have no problem shutting down the Jets’ dynamic duo of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. The Browns should have another routine victory as the group prepares for a playoff run.
The Browns will beat the Jets 28-6.
Tyler Greenawalt (@TyGreen14): Browns over Jets
This matchup is full of revenge games – mostly for the Cleveland Browns.
Whether it’s Joe Flacco not getting a callback from the Jets when Aaron Rodgers went down, or Elijah Moore being traded away, the Browns have more than just a win on the line. But this game should be closer than people expect.
The Jets secondary remains one of the NFL and the pass rush should be able to get solid pressure on Flacco. But if the Browns can get a solid rushing game going against the Jets’ iffy run defense, that should open things up for Cleveland through the air.
The good times should keep on rolling in a 17-13 win for the Browns.
Cory Kinnan (@fakecorykinnan): Browns over Jets
The Browns have a chance to ignite the entire city of Cleveland tonight with a win over the Jets. Looking to clinch their first playoff berth in three years, Cleveland Browns Stadium will be rocking.
Starting Trevor Siemian, the Jets have not been able to overcome a revolving door at the quarterback position the way the Browns have been able to. It also hurts that their run game has also been worse than Cleveland’s lifeless rushing attack over the last five games. That will be the difference-maker in this game.
The expectation from the offense projects to be a bit uglier than the past three weeks, but not nearly as ugly as the Jets’ will be. It’s not hard to outscore them, especially considering the defense the Browns will put on the field.
The Browns win this one 27-13.
