1-35-1 ... so? Jets won’t look past favored Browns

CLEVELAND — The Jets practically stuck their fingers in their ears and yelled loud enough to drown you out this week whenever anyone brought up the Browns’ losing ways.

Yes, the Browns have not won a game since Dec. 24, 2016. Yes, they are 1-35-1 in their last 37 games. Yes, they have not been a playoff team since the Bush administration. Just don’t tell the Jets about it. “They’re a great team,” Jets tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “We don’t have time to be concerned with their record.” Great? That’s a little much, but the Browns have looked improved this year. They tied the Steelers in Week 1 to end their 17-game losing streak, which included an 0-16 season last year. Then, they fought the Saints down to the wire, losing a 21-18 heartbreaker.

So Thursday night’s prime-time showdown with the Browns — who are favored by three points — has the feel of a dangerous game for the 1-1 Jets and rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. This is a Browns team that is beyond hungry for a win. The Browns are starving.

“We think we’re close,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “I think we’re closer now than we’ve ever been. We’ve been in both games at the end with chances to win them and haven’t done that. That’s probably as close as you can be without winning the game. We’ve just got to go find a way and make enough plays that gives us an opportunity to secure victory.”

Jets coach Todd Bowles said he won’t let his team fall into the trap of thinking the Browns are a walkover. He can point to last year’s game, which the Jets won but just barely, 17-14.

“We know they have a good team,” Bowles said. “It’s the NFL, we don’t look at anybody’s record. We just play week by week. We’re expecting a tough game and I know that we’re going to get one.”

This is the third game in 11 days for the Jets, a brutal stretch to open the season. The players had to move past Sunday’s 20-12 loss to the Dolphins quickly and focus on the Browns.

“It’s a different challenge, something that I haven’t necessarily dealt with but it’s awesome,” Darnold said. “It’s just another challenge for this team and we’re going to take it head on.”