Is this the week?
Riding a 19-game winless streak, the Cleveland Browns’ next shot to end it is today night at FirstEnergy Stadium against the New York Jets.
The Browns (0-1-1) came heartbreakingly close in Weeks 1 and 2, having a potential game-winning field goal blocked in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers and leading for nearly 35 minutes on Sunday in New Orleans before kicking woes undid a pair of last-minute drives led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
“There is a good football team in that room,” head coach Hue Jackson said. “We just have not won yet.
“They are battling hard, and we played two really good opponents. We are going to play another one this week.”
The Jets (1-1) stomped the Lions in Detroit but fell behind 20-0 in their home opener to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, ultimately losing 20-12. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold became the youngest player (21 years, 103 days old) with 300 passing yards in a game, though he threw a pair of interceptions.
But as he showed in the season opener – bouncing back from a pick-six on his first NFL play – Darnold won’t let turnovers make him gun-shy.
“Other than the two picks, I thought I played pretty well,” he told reporters Monday.
“So I’m just going to continue to try to play as consistent as possible, find completions when I can and take shots when I can.”
Darnold, of course, once looked very likely to go first overall to the Browns in April’s draft. Then general manager John Dorsey finally showed his cards and opted for Baker Mayfield, allowing the Jets to scoop up Darnold at No. 3.
“Yeah, I mean I thought I could have ended up [with the Browns] or several other teams,” Darnold said. “... But I honestly haven’t even thought about it since I got drafted by the Jets.”
Jackson, who has been steadfast about sitting Mayfield behind Taylor as a rookie, praised Darnold but also expressed confidence that the Browns took the right guy.
“is a fine prospect and is going to be a fine player,” Jackson said. “I think they got a good one, but we feel we have a really good one, too.”
The Jets won’t have to worry about Josh Gordon – until Weeks 12 and 17, that is – after the Browns dealt the mercurial wideout to the New England Patriots on Monday. Jackson didn’t offer much on the decision to trade Gordon, but expressed confidence in rookie Antonio Callaway, who caught a critical 47-yard touchdown on Sunday.
“He is making strides,” Jackson said. “Obviously, the catch to tie the game last week is a confidence booster for any young player.... We were not trying to push him too fast, not give him too much too fast. Now, he has to take it all. It is time.”
Beyond Gordon, the Browns also moved on from kicker Zane Gonzalez, who missed two field goals and two extra points in Sunday’s three-point loss. Cleveland instead signed rookie Greg Joseph.
For the Jets, Thursday will mark their third game (and second on the road) since Sept. 10, after they opened the season on Monday Night Football.
“Three games in 11 days is tough overall,” head coach Todd Bowles said, “but you’ve got to rely on the mental part of it and then try to make sure they’re rested well physically and go from there.”
Jets safety Marcus Maye (foot) appears likely to miss his third straight game. Linebacker Josh Martin and tight end Neal Sterling have yet to practice this week with concussions.
Cleveland will again be without defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (ankle), while linebacker Christian Kirksey (shoulder/ankle) and safety Damarious Randle (heel) have yet to practice this week.
New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold makes a pass against Miami Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan (right) during first quarter of their NFL game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
