CLEVELAND- The Browns (0-4) take on the New York Jets (2-2) at First Energy Stadium. Defensive end Myles Garrett will make his highly anticipated regular season debut. The Browns are in a must win situation as the dreadful losing streak needs to be broken. Cleveland is definitely staring in the face at a 1-15 season.
Some Browns fans are already questioning Hue Jackson’s future due to the fact the Browns won one regular season game in the last 20 games.
It is not Jackson’s fault. This team is still the youngest in the NFL and the mistakes are predictable. Even so, there needs to be progress. The browns continue to rack up penalties, allow receivers to get wide open and drop passes on offense. Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer is still taking too long to throw the football. Kizer is getting sacked too often. When a quarterback holds onto the ball for seven to nine seconds, that can be trouble.
Kizer is mobile and he needs to use that strength. If he can play more like Carson Wentz instead of being a stand still pocket passer, he will likely have a lot of success.
Some of Kizer’s throws are on the money. However, the dropped passes make Kizer look way worse. He may be a stellar quarterback developing before our eyes. The issue is easy passes being dropped because the receivers fail to secure the ball. How many times did Kenny Britt drop passes because he looked down the field? Fans may not have enough fingers to count the dropped passes by Britt. It’s not just Britt.
However, he stands out because he is the veteran, coming off his first 1,000 receiving yard season with the Los Angeles Rams.
If the Browns are to have golden opportunities to score early, Isaiah Crowell will need to run the ball a lot. Perhaps setting up play action passes and screen throws will set the Browns offense up for early success.
Prediction: The Browns will show some progress but there will be three turnovers, multiple dropped passes and missed opportunities. This team still looks like a hot mess and it will take time to clean up the errors.
Jets running back Bilal Powell rushed for 163 yards and one touchdown last week. Matt Forte is ruled out for this game so Powell is posed for another Pro Bowl-caliber performance.
Jets 24 Browns 14