Three Key Jets Status Ahead Of Thursday Night Showdown With Browns

The playoffs are so close, all of Cleveland can taste it. If the Browns can take down the Jets on Thursday Night Football to improve to 11-5, they would clinch a playoff berth for the second time in four years.

New York has nothing left to play for except to attempt to play spoiler for Cleveland. Eliminated from the playoffs several weeks back, 2023 was a season of big dreams for the Big Apple, with Aaron Rodgers joining the fold in the offseason, fans were dreaming of a Lombardi Trophy. That all came crashing down when Rodgers ruptured his Achilles four plays into his Jets tenure.

At 6-9 though, they're no pushover on the field, largely because of their dominant defense. Here are some key stats to know before the Jets take the field against the Browns in prime time.

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1) Something Isn't Right

For the season, New York boasts one of the stingiest red zone defenses in the NFL giving up touchdowns just 48-percent of the time when opponents make it inside the 20. However, a major discrepancy has emerged in recent weeks, where opposing teams are now finding the end zone on 70-percent of their red zone trips. Cleveland needs to keep that going to avoid letting the Jets keep it close, which is a recipe for disaster. Plus, with Dustin Hopkins likely unavailable the Browns may feel more inclined to go for six anyway.

2) Feast or Famine

The Jets have played in eight games decided by one score, versus seven that became blowouts. Half of those eight were wins, proving that they have thrived at dragging teams into the mud with them and coming out victorious. Conversely, of the seven games that ended up lopsided only two ended with them pulling away from an opponent to win by more than one score. They just don't have the offensive prowess to do that consistently, but it's happened a couple times, most recently in the teams 30-6 win over the Texans, which netted quarterback, Zach Wilson AFC offensive player of the week recognition. The Browns won't face Wilson tonight, but they need to avoid playing with fire by letting New York stay within striking distance.

3) Run Run Cleveland

A lot has been made of Cleveland's lack of a run game in recent weeks, particularly since Joe Flacco took over under center. In fairness, it's worked so it's not as if it's cost the Browns all that much. But the presence of a run game is important for the playoffs, and this could be a game for Kevin Stefanski to get a little more balance in the offensive game plan. For the season, New York is in the bottom third for run defense, giving up 126.2 yards per game on the ground.

In recent weeks they've been much more stout, allowing just 86 yards, granted, two of those games featured teams in the bottom third of the league for running the football. Ultimately, the Browns banged up offensive line still may not make it advantageous to run the ball and Stefanski is going to call the game however he wants. Expect another 40-plus passing day from Flacco, but there could be an opportunity to get that run game going tonight.