COSTELLO’S CALL
The Jets could not have asked for a better first opponent. The Browns are a mess, have lost 10 straight openers and are starting Josh McCown at quarterback. The Jets should roll in this one, and the new-look secondary should have at least one interception.
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: Welcome to the Journeyman Quarterback Bowl! Neither Browns starter Josh McCown nor Fitzpatrick were with their respective teams last year, but they are starting the season opener. The question seems to be which one will make more mistakes. McCown went 1-10 last year as a starter in Tampa Bay. He is the 23rd quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999. He beat out Johnny Manziel for the starting job. The Jets traded for Fitzpatrick in March to back up
Geno Smith, but he became the starter when Smith’s jaw was broken. He is the 28th quarterback to start for the Jets since Joe Namath left in 1976.
PETT STOP: Browns coach Mike Pettine served as Jets defensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Rex Ryan. He is in his second season in Cleveland, and already has dealt with some craziness. GM Ray Farmer is suspended for texting the sideline last year, the offensive line coach is suspended after an incident last weekend and Manziel’s stay has been chaotic. Some of the Jets players said Pettine’s defense has not changed much since he left. “It’s similar,” center Nick Mangold said. “You can tell there have been different iterations along the way, but he’s still doing some of the same stuff and some stuff is brand new. It will be a good chess match.”
FOR OPENERS: The Jets have been pretty good on Opening Day, winning their last four openers. The Browns, on the other hand, have lost an NFL-record 10 straight opening games. The last time Cleveland started 1-0 was in 2004. For the Jets, a strong start has not led to much. They have missed the playoffs in each of the past four years, despite starting 1-0. The Jets have started off strong at home, too. They are 7-2 in home openers since 2006, tied for the second-most wins in the league.