[ad_1]
Can the winless Browns f-i-n-a-l-1 break into the W column after two consecutive misses to start the season? Can the Jets get back into shape after the Lions Week 1 win?
Here's what to watch for in the Thursday night clashes between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns at 8:20 pm. PT, broadcast exclusively on the NFL network:
1. Editor's remorse?
In a perfect world, designed by and for the pleasures of 345 Park Avenue marketers, this mid-week showdown would be a joint national outing for the two quarterbacks selected for the 2018 project: Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold . In the months leading up to the selection, Cleveland, owner of the first overall pick, seemed to hesitate publicly between Darnold and Josh Allen, before choosing the Mayfield Heisman winner at the 11th hour. The Jets were then gifted for Darnold when their stadium neighbors chose a running back with the second choice.
While Darnold started the first two games of the season under center New York, Mayfield remained inactive on the sidelines of the Browns. His teammate Tyrod Taylor completed 52.9% of his passes in the first two games of Cleveland. – a heartbreaking tie and a difficult loss. On a short week, there was no real hope that Cleveland could start Mayfield against the Jets. But if Taylor fights the New York take-away defense, could the rookie have a chance to prove his position?
It would be particularly embarrassing and cosmically poetic that the Darnold Jets win in the Cleveland building as the nation watches on television and Mayfield looks helpless from the bench. Given Browns' propensity at the start of the season to play very winnable games – and all the aura of the franchise – it's quite possible and possible, if not likely. Is that what it would take for coach Hue Jackson to hold back from his insistence on making sure Mayfield spends the entire season behind Taylor? Is another bad result from Cleveland's well-honed list forcing his hand? The drama around the Browns is not over with Hard blows, guys. This is just beginning.
2. Play takeaway
You know what's hot in Cleveland? Peanut punch. The Browns forced eight turnovers in the league, including five fumbles, in two games. The Cleveland (plus -6) turnover differential is double that of the next best teams – the Bengals and the undefeated Rams. And yet, the Browns remain without victory. Part of the problem is that Cleveland has turned these eight business numbers into just 10 points.
In the young Darnold, the Browns defense has a perfect target to exploit points. Darnold's first-pass attempt at the pros was memorably recovered for six, and his two interceptions against the Dolphins in Week 2 essentially made 14 points on the board and tipped the result in favor of Miami.
The Jets are not left out in the turnover department, they are second in the league with seven points to remember – five interceptions from Detroit and two escaped courtesy of Miami. But unlike the relatively cautious Browns, New York has four gifts on the attack: Darnold's three picks and a Robby Anderson fumble. In what should be a narrow and low-scoring affair, regardless of the winning team, the battle of turnover will be set to win the war.
Bonus: Do not be surprised if special teams play a role in the decision of this result. Cleveland has shown kicker Zane Gonzalez, his whimsical fin and goal percentage of 40%, wears it this week in favor of someone who calls Greg Joseph.
3. What is the rush?
I have a quick question to ask you, reader. Who runs the
Browns in the bags? Do not cheat. Do not Google it Do not even think about Bing-it. Hint: this is not
Myles Garrett.
To abandon? That's Larry Ogunjobi! A defensive tackle with only three careers begins under his belt. The key to the start of Cleveland's dynamite defense begins with young Ogunjobi, Garrett, Trevon Coley and Chris Smith – average age: 24 years old. The Browns forced three interceptions and picked up three bags when they rushed on four guys or less. Thanks to Ogunjobi's inner pressure, the lockout cornerback cover and the linebackers' blitzes, Cleveland's defense announces it as one of the league's most feared.
This created problems for the Spencer Long and New York offensive line, which allowed Miami to cover the last seven kilometers of Darnold last week for four bags for a total of 46 yards.
4. New Jack City vs. the "best reception corps of the league"
Just three months ago, Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry told reporters that the Browns boasted about the biggest NFL harvest. At the time, it was Landry, Gordon, Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins, Antonio Callaway and others. All that remains is Landry, Higgins and Callaway, with Gordon in New England and Coleman and his sneakers on the Pats training squad. Landry is by far Taylor's first target (22 receptions for 175 yards), but rookie Callaway is looking to capture Gordon's remnants and fight.
It will not be easy for anyone in the Cleveland Main Hall to release Thursday night with the title track of New Jack City on the green side of the line of scrimmage. Thanks to this second recovery, the Jets are sixth in yards allowed per attempt (6.2) and third in the evaluation of the passers-by (64.7). The addition of the tight turn Trumaine Johnson has so far prevented the # 1 receivers from being in check. Second year, Jamal Adams looks like a freight train on the defensive and in the race.
However, New York can be exploited in the niche, where Buster Skrine is subject to penalties. How could Skrine's clash with Landry and David Njoku's fin could make a difference?
5. Winning Winning. To win. To win. To win. **** everything else. To win. To win. To win. To win.
If the Browns lose Thursday night, they will only become the fourth club to play at least 20 consecutive games without a win and the first since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976-1977. This is true. The first since an expansion team! The Browns are no longer a laughing stock about how they play football. Cleveland should probably be 2-0 and at the top of the AFC North right now. But until this franchise gains a number other than "0" in the Victory Column, the Browns will be the symbol of desperate futility.
Come on Cleveland, it's been too long. It's time to let the Bud Light flow and have a good time! Right? Right?!
Source link
