Neither the New York Jets nor the Cleveland Browns entered Week 1 with the quarterbacks they thought would be under center in 2022. While Cleveland and Jacoby Brissett pulled out a victory over former signal-caller Baker Mayfield and the Panthers, Joe Flacco couldn’t lead New York to a win over the Ravens. Here’s our breakdown of the Jets vs. Browns matchup, the key injuries, and predictions from our NFL staff.
New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns preview
No team wants Flacco to attempt 59(!) in the year of our Lord 2022, but that’s exactly what happened last Sunday when the former Super Bowl MVP faced his ex-team. Flacco averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt, and the Jets lost 24-9 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score.
With Zach Wilson still on the mend following preseason knee surgery, Flacco will line up against another tough defense in Week 2. If he struggles again, it’s conceivable the Jets could turn to third-stringer Mike White, who threw three touchdowns in his first 2021 start before crashing back to Earth. (We already know what Jets fans prefer the team does under center.)
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The Browns won the Mayfield Bowl, but barely. Cleveland stormed out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter and led by 13 at the start of the fourth quarter. After a late Panthers field goal put Carolina up by one point with 1:13 left, Brissett managed to get the Browns in range for rookie kicker Cade York, who nailed a 58-yarder to win the game.
Brissett got the victory, but he averaged only 4.3 yards per attempt and posted a 39.2 QBR. Cleveland won because of its run game. Nick Chubb put up 141 yards, and the Browns totaled 217 rushing yards as a team. The Browns have one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, but it might be tougher sledding in Week 2 against a Jets run defense that allowed -0.273 EPA per rush and a 31.6% success rate, both top-10 figures in Week 1.
Jets vs. Browns prediction
Betting line (courtesy of Caesars)
Browns -6.5; Jets +228, Browns -285; O/U 39.5
Adam Beasley’s prediction
8-8-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
Browns 17, Jets 14
Dalton Miller’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
Browns 14, Jets 9
Dallas Robinson’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 6-11 against the spread in 2022
Browns 24, Jets 13
How to watch Jets vs. Browns
- Date/Time
Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m. ET - Channel
CBS - Live stream
CBS All-Access, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
Jets vs. Browns matchup and stats
The Jets and Browns have faced each other 28 times (including once in the playoffs), and Cleveland holds the all-time edge, 15-13. These two clubs played each other one per season from 2016 through 2020, with New York winning three of those games. Their last matchup came in December 2020, a 23-16 Jets win highlighted by two Sam Darnold touchdown passes.
New York Jets 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 9.0 (29th)
- Yards: 378.0 (14th)
- Yards per play: 4.8 (25th)
- Passing: 295.0 (sixth)
- Rushing: 83.0 (21st)
- Defensive scoring: 24.0 (24th)
- Yards allowed: 274.0 (eighth)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.1 (13th)
- Pass defense: 211.0 (14th)
- Rush defense: 63.0 (third)
Cleveland Browns 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 26.0 (seventh)
- Yards: 355.0 (16th)
- Yards per play: 4.8 (24th)
- Passing: 138.0 (31st)
- Rushing: 217.0 (second)
- Defensive scoring: 24.0 (22nd)
- Yards allowed: 261.0 (fifth)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.2 (15th)
- Pass defense: 207.0 (13th)
- Rush defense: 54.0 (second)
Injuries to know
- OT Chris Hubbard (elbow, out)
- OT Jack Conklin (knee, questionable)
- CB Greedy Williams (injured reserve)
- C Nick Harris (injured reserve)
- WR Jakeem Grant Sr. (injured reserve)
- C Nick Harris (injured reserve)
- OT Elijah Nkansah (injured reserve)
- DE Chris Odom (injured reserve)
- DE Stephen Weatherly (injured reserve)
- WR Isaiah Weston (injured reserve)
- OL Dawson Deaton (injured reserve)
- QB Zach Wilson (knee, out)
- TE C.J. Uzomah (hamstring, doubtful)
- OT George Fant (knee, questionable)
- S Jordan Whitehead (ankle, questionable)
- DL John Franklin-Myers (toe, questionable)
- P Braden Mann (back, questionable)
- WR Braxton Berrios (heel, questionable)
- OT Duane Brown (injured reserve)
- OT Mekhi Becton (injured reserve)
- DL Vinny Curry (injured reserve)
- FB Nick Bawden (injured reserve)
- OL Greg Senat (non-football injury list)