No Cooper, No Problem for Browns vs. Jets' Defense
The Cleveland Browns came out firing on Thursday Night Football, torching the New York Jets through the air.
It appeared as if the Jets would catch a break when Browns' WR1 Amari Cooper landed on the gameday inactives list due to a heel injury. Cooper went for 265 receiving yards against Houston on December 24.
Minus Cooper's services, Joe Flacco and the Browns' passing attack operated to the tune of 12.5 net yards per attempt through the first half of play. Flacco victimized his former team by completing 16 of his first 22 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.
Browns' tight end David Njoku emerged as a primary target for Flacco. He made five first-half receptions for 128 yards. Njoku, who moved the chains three times with big gainers, did lose a fumble at the end of a 15-yard pickup early in the second quarter, but the Jets failed to capitalize off the takeaway by going three-and-out on the ensuing possession.
Former Jets' receiver Elijah Moore pulled in five passes for 61 yards and one touchdown before being shaken up late in the second quarter.
New York defensive end Jermaine Johnson finally stopped the bleeding late in the half. The 2022 first-rounder's sensational individual effort resulted in a pick six that pulled the Jets to within 27-14 with 2:02 to go before halftime. Johnson burst into the backfield, tipped a Flacco pass up into the air, snagged the ball and sprinted 37 yards to paydirt.
Flacco, however, bounced right back, marching Cleveland 75 yards on three plays for another touchdown. His 50-yard hookup with running back Jerome Ford boosted the Browns' lead to 34-14 with 1:25 left in the second quarter. Ford scored touchdowns on both of his first-half catches.
The Jets entered the Week 17 primetime matchup boasting the NFL's third-ranked defense, limiting opponents to 294.8 yards per game. On Thursday, the Browns netted 367 yards against New York through the game's first 30:00. Cleveland, which held a 34-17 lead at the break, recorded 17 first-half first downs, including nine through the air.
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