CLEVELAND — The Jets’ defense was abused by Joe Flacco and the Browns’ offense in a 37-20 loss, but one player did come up with a huge play.
Second-year defensive end Jermaine Johnson grabbed his first career interception in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
It was the first sign of life from a defense that was carved up by Flacco.
The touchdown cut the Browns’ lead to 27-14, but it did not spark a Jets comeback.
Johnson made an athletic play to come up with the interception.
He was in Flacco’s face quickly.
Flacco pump-faked to tight end David Njoku, Johnson jumped, and then Flacco threw the ball but Johnson was able to deflect the pass into the air and then intercept it and race to the end zone.
Johnson made another play in the fourth quarter when he recovered a fumble by Browns running back Pierre Strong that was forced by Quincy Williams.
The Jets turned that takeaway into a 44-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal to cut the score to 34-20.
Johnson is having a strong second season.
He has 6.5 sacks this season.
The Browns were without star WR Amari Cooper, who was inactive for the game.
Cooper appeared on the injury report with a heel injury this week.
Cooper was coming off a 265-yard receiving game against the Texans.
Jets WR Garrett Wilson went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season on Thursday night.
He is the first Jets wide receiver with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Keyshawn Johnson in 1998-99.
Zuerlein was able to play despite dealing with a quad injury.
The Jets signed Austin Seibert on Wednesday to the practice squad just in case Zuerlein could not play, but they did not elevate him.
The Jets had the same starting offensive line for consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.
They did have injuries during the game though.
Right guard Jacob Hanson left the game with a concussion.
His replacement, Xavier Newman, left the game in the fourth quarter, but returned.
The Jets elevated FB Nick Bawden and DL Bruce Hector from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. … WR Allen Lazard (illness) was a surprise inactive. The rest of the inactives were: QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Zach Wilson, OL Austin Deculus, TE Jeremy Ruckert, DE Carl Lawson and CB Bryce Hall.
Read more
