Cleveland Browns – New York Jets: 21-16
Here we go again for American football in 2023! And the first NFL night of the new campaign found an unlikely hero: Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The rookie quarterback selected in the fifth round by the Browns energized his team in the second half to seek victory.
His 22-yard touchdown pass for Austin Watkins just under 10 minutes from time put Cleveland ahead for good. The final touch on a complete service. Thompson-Robinson completed 8 of 1 passes attempted for 82 yards and 1 touchdown. He added 30 lengths on the ground and even placed a significant block on a ground touchdown for his team in the third quarter.
In this match, which was above all a fight for substitutes, Thompson-Robinson scored big points against Kellen Mond (7/12, 49 yards, 1 TD, 1 int), who delivered a less convincing first half.
Zach Wilson visiting
Aaron Rodgers left on the bench, Zach Wilson (3/5, 65 yards) was once again the holder for the Jets. Not much to put in their mouths for him outside of a nice deep pass from 36 yards for Malik Taylor. In three offensive series, Wilson brought back two field goals.
The good news for the greens was above all the return of Mekhi Becton, on the pitch for the first time since 2021.
New York led 13-0 in the second quarter, then 16-7 at the break, but failed to score a point afterward when Thompson-Robinson started their show.
The game was interrupted for about twenty minutes at the start of the last quarter due to a power cut.
