The Jets travel to Cleveland for the final Thursday Night game of 2023 as the Browns look to clinch their first playoff berth since 2020 and fourth postseason appearance this century.
Week 2 of 2022 featured Joe Flacco and the Jets traveling to Cleveland. On that afternoon, the Browns built a 30-17 lead before the Jets stunned the Browns with two touchdowns in the final 82 seconds to come away with the 31-30 win. However, we need to go back two more seasons to find the last game between these teams that carried playoff implications like Thursday’s game will. Week 16 of 2020 saw the 0-14 Jets stun the Browns in a clinching situation, 23-16. The Browns had to wait until the next and final weekend of that season to lock down the No. 6 seed in the AFC. This time, however, the Browns remain alive for both the AFC North crown and the No. 1 seed.
The Browns have continued to defy the odds for this entire season. A series of high-profile injuries have taken down Nick Chubb (ACL tear in Week 2), Deshaun Waston (multiple injuries, shoulder surgery after Week 11 ended his season), and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip). The Browns are also dealing with the loss of Dustin Hopkins for this game with a hamstring injury. Despite it all, Cleveland signed Flacco after Watson went down for the year, and he has turned back the clock to 2012 with multiple elite performances ever since.
For the Jets, a season that began with aspirations of a run to the postseason ended before it could ever begin with Aaron Rodgers‘ torn Achilles. The Jets have slogged their way to this game, especially after having blown a 27-7 lead against the Commanders last weekend. The Jets had to drive down for a walk-off field goal to barely escape with the win on Sunday. The Jets turn to Trevor Siemian once again for this matchup with Zach Wilson (concussion) and Rodgers sidelined. Uncertainty plagues this quarterback room with Wilson and the Jets likely headed for a divorce, plus Rodgers being a candidate to retire with one year remaining on his contract.
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Game Info
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023
Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV Info: NFL+, Prime Video
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread: NYJ +7.5 (-110), CLE -7.5 (-110)
Moneyline: NYJ (+270), CLE (-340)
Over/Under: O/U 35 (-112)
The Browns enter this potential clinching game as 7.5-point favorites.
What To Watch For
The atmosphere in Cleveland is sure to be electric as the Browns possess the opportunity to lock down a playoff spot in front of their fans on Thursday night. After Amari Cooper’s sensational performance last weekend in Houston (11 catches for 265 yards and two scores), look for the alpha receiver to stay hot and ensure the Browns lock down their spot this weekend instead of waiting for next week in hostile territory against Cincinnati.
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