Costello’s call
Last week’s Jets win came out of nowhere. I think we’ll return to our regularly scheduled programming this week. Even with the Browns missing their top three wide receivers, they have enough firepower in their running game to beat the Jets.
Browns 28, Jets 13
Marquee matchup
Jets LT Mekhi Becton vs. Browns DE Myles Garrett
Becton said he expects to make future Pro Bowls after not getting selected as a rookie this past week. Here’s a chance to prove it.
Garrett is one of the best pass rushers in football. He has 11 sacks this season and four games with a strip-sack. All Becton has to do is turn on the tape of the Browns’ game against the Jets last year, when Garrett had three sacks and five quarterback hits. In that game, with Sam Darnold out with mononucleosis, he snapped Trevor Siemian’s ankle and beat up Luke Falk.
Becton has played well this season against some tough pass rushers. He had one of his best games last week and threw some key blocks on Rams star Aaron Donald. This is another test.
“If you want to know where you’re at, this is the right guy to go against,” Jets coach Adam Gase said. “He’s impressive. Watching him on tape, it’s completely different when you watch him live on the field, just seeing how fast he gets off the ball, how he turns a corner, how he can change direction, his pursuit to the ball, the violence of his hits.”
4 Downs
Running men: The Browns’ offensive success this season has started with their ground game. They are third in the NFL with an average of 152.6 rushing yards per game. The combination of Nick Chubb (931 rushing yards) and Kareem Hunt (793) might be the best in the league. With their shortage of wide receivers, the Browns should rely on the running game even more than usual.
Former Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan joined the Browns this year, and he has their line performing at a high level.
The Jets have been strong against the run this year (13th in the NFL), but they lost top run-stuffer Quinnen Williams this week to a season-ending neck injury and a concussion. The Jets will miss having Williams in the middle, especially against this duo.
“I think those guys are doing a very good job of understanding the scheme they’re doing and executing it very well,” Jets coach Adam Gase said. “And then, the fact that they’re really hard to bring down. … They’ve got two guys that are doing the same thing as far as running through contact, breaking tackles and then executing the scheme at a very high level.”
All hands on deck: The Jets have used 78 different players this season, and that number could go up this week if a few practice-squad call-ups get into the game. That is believed to be a Jets record. Only three NFL teams — the Eagles, Jaguars and 49ers, who have used 79 — have used more this year.
The numbers are up because of the rules that allow teams to promote practice-squad players for games and then move them back the next day. Still, this is a lot of players to be used in one season. The Jets’ high number is partly due to injuries, but it’s also because of how poorly they’ve played and how they’ve been searching for answers at some positions.
They have used 32 different players on both offense and defense and another 14 solely on special teams.
Baker blossoms: Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has shown this season he is more than just a TV pitchman. Mayfield has had a strong third season after a disappointing 2019. He has 25 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft has his team on track for the playoffs and has quieted his doubters.
Sunday will be a challenge, though, without his top three receivers.
“I think what’s helped him is the fact that their run game is as good as what they’ve been this season,” Gase said. “I think he’s doing a phenomenal job in the play-action game.
Two different droughts: Cleveland looks like it is about to end a 17-year playoff drought, which was the longest active streak in the NFL. The Jets have missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season, which is about to become the longest active streak.
The Browns can make the playoffs with a win Sunday and a loss by one of a few other teams. The second-longest drought in the NFL came to an end Saturday, when the Buccaneers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 with their win over the Lions.
With the Buccaneers in and the Browns on the verge, the Jets are about to have the longest drought in the NFL.
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