Cleveland Browns (11-5) – New York Jets (6-10): 37-20
Joe Flacco (19/29, 309 yards, 3 TDs, 1 int) and the Browns got off to a great start to break away and that was enough. But with a very poor second half of the match, Cleveland was not really worried by the Jets at the end of a difficult season.
The Browns scored four touchdowns on six offensive possessions, and the defense added a touchdown on an interception. Enough to lead 34-17 at halftime.
Everything calmed down in the last thirty minutes, with only three points on each side. The main thing for Cleveland: a third qualification for the playoffs in the 21st century. Not the least improbable.
Joe Flacco pitches the Browns
A touchdown pass for Jerome Ford (12 races, 64 yards – 2 rec, 57 yards, 2 TDs), a run from Kareem Hunt (10 races, 31 yards, 1 TD) in the end zone. Two 75-yard offensives for two successes. From the start of the match, Joe Flacco proves that at 38 years old, he is still there for his team's crazy end to the season. The start of the match is exciting, because Trevor Siemian (32/45, 261 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) finds Breece Hall (13 races, 84 yards – 9 rec, 42 yards, 1 TD) for a touchdown between those of Cleveland . That makes it 14-7 for the locals, with David Njoku (6 rec, 134 yards) on fire. All this without Amari Cooper, who withdrew at the last moment due to a heel injury.
But the mistakes are never far from the best with these two teams. The Jets lose a fumble on a kickoff return. Then Ronnie Hickman intercepts Siemian to score straight away (20-7). In the second quarter, Elijah Moore scored against his former team (27-7) before leaving with a head injury.
Flacco is intercepted in turn to offer a touchdown to the green defense (27-14), but he immediately catches up with a 50-yard pass for a strong touchdown from Jerome Ford (34-14). Flacco and Cleveland style roller coasters.
Flacco somehow escapes and @JeromeFord goes BeastMode! 😯#NYJvsCLE on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/N4HZXoYgli pic.twitter.com/CCvf8EHxj6— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2023
At the break (34-17), the Browns quarterback has already thrown for more than 300 yards.
Blocked !
The first half's fest wasn't a preview of what's to come. After a blocked field goal by the Jets, the two teams chained four punts. In the end, we only score with our feet. Once each.
Imprecise, Flacco only throws for 13 yards after the break. The Jets defense corrected the situation. But too late. This season, if they allow more than 20 points, it's often too many.
Browns fans chant the name of their unlikely hero “Fla-cco!” Fla-cco! » After four consecutive victories, Cleveland is in the playoffs.
