Jets (6-9) at Browns (10-5)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland
TV: Prime Video
Spread (BetMGM): Browns by 7
Jets’ keys to victory: New York has scored more than 15 points just five times this season and has looked helpless on that side of the ball all season. The now must face Cleveland’s top-shelf defense, which is a difficult test for any offense, much less one of the worst in the league. Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is going to have to get creative and find ways to get the ball into the end zone by any means necessary. The Jets are likely to ride RB Breece Hall (32 touches in a Week 16 win over the Commanders).
Browns’ keys to victory: QB Joe Flacco has thrown seven interceptions in four starts. While Flacco has thrown for more than 300 yards in three consecutive weeks weeks, the Browns cannot continue to turn the ball over and find ways to overcome it. Can Flacco keep up the fireworks without the costly throws that come with them? The Jets won’t score points in bunches. As long as the Browns play a controlled, clean brand of football, they will win.
Matchup to watch: Browns WR Amari Cooper vs. Jets CB Sauce Gardner. Cooper is once again on pace for a 1,100-yard season and is the only wide receiver on Cleveland’s roster who can take over a game. That means the Jets are going to put their All-Pro cornerback wherever Cooper is. Can one of the best route runners in the NFL continue to get separation?
Who wins? One team has navigated the season well without its starting quarterback, the other has not. It won’t be pretty, but the Browns win.
Browns, 24-13