The New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns meet on Thursday Night Football to kick off week 3. The Jets are 1-1 coming off a loss to the Miami Dolphins where Sam Darnold threw for 334 yards, 1 touchdown and threw 2 interceptions. Not a bad stat line for the rookie quarterback but one of his interceptions came at a very inopportune time. The Jets recovered a fumble at Miami’s 12 yard line, down 20-6 and the very next play Darnold threw an interception trying to find Terrelle Pryor in the end zone.
As for the embarrassing Browns, they are 0-1-1 coming off Sunday's loss at the Saints. The Browns are 0-18-1 since their last victory, in Week 16 of the 2016 season. The Browns came close to pulling off an upset vs the Saints, but kicker Zane Gonzalez missed two extra points and two field goals; including a game-tying 52-yard field goal in the last seconds of the game. Gonzalez was waived on Monday and replaced with rookie Greg Joseph.
As for tonight, Gang Green is coming into this matchup as 3-point underdogs. This is the first time since 2015 the Browns are the favorite in a game. Additionally, the Jets opened their season on a Monday night and are playing their third game in 11 days. I believe the Jets defense will show up as it did vs the Lions, especially with the Browns star wide out (Jarvis Landry), nursing an injury (who is listed as questionable for the game). Marcus Maye might finally make a return to the field tonight after missing the first two games of the year with an injury.
As an encore to a solid performance in a Week 1 Monday night trouncing of the Lions in Detroit, the 21-year-old became the youngest NFL player ever to throw for 300 or more yards in a game in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. The strength of the Jets, however, has been the team’s defense, which is one of only five in the NFL along with the Redskins, Rams, Ravens and Cowboys to have allowed fewer than 600 total yards through two games. Sam Darnold will have an interception free game vs the Browns and throw for 255 yards, 2 touchdowns on 24-33 passing.
Prediction: Jets 27 Browns 21