Jets focus on opponent, fans focus on scoreboard

The Jets got into the win column last week and ruined the hopes of many of their fans that they would go 0-16 and land the No. 1-overall pick in the NFL draft. Can they make it two in a row? Their odds got a boost on Saturday when the Browns lost their three starting wide receivers — Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones — to the reserve/COVID-19 list after they were deemed high-risk close contacts. In all, the Browns placed six players on the COVID list, four of them wide receivers. That leaves them with one wide receiver who was already on the 53-man roster and two who were elevated off the practice squad on Saturday.

Of course, the Jets have one of the worst secondaries in football and are playing backups at three of the five spots. That gives hope to the fans who are hoping the Jets (1-13) lose out and the Jaguars find a way to win a game, which would allow the Jets to get that No. 1 pick. While fans are miserable about the win over the Rams, the players and coaches were visibly relieved this week after getting their first win.

This week, the Jets face the shorthanded Browns, who are worried, not about their draft position, but about earning a playoff berth. The Browns (10-4) can end a 17-year playoff drought, the longest active streak in the NFL, with a win and help from some other results.

Sunday’s game is the final home game of this strange season without fans in the stands for the Jets. Quarterback Sam Darnold is coming off his best game of the season, and with Trevor Lawrence out of the picture (at least temporarily), he has a chance to show he deserves to remain the Jets’ quarterback in 2021.

Fans figure to be locked in not only on the Jets-Browns game, but also the Jaguars-Bears game in Jacksonville, which will be played at the same time. The Jaguars and Jets are currently tied at 1-13, but the Jaguars own the tiebreaker because they have a weaker strength of schedule. The Jets need the Jaguars to win one of their final two games — they face the Colts in Week 17 — to have a shot at regaining the top pick.

The Jets pulled off a shocker last week. Jets fans hope the Jaguars can do it this week.