CLEVELAND — When the season started, the Jets expected to be a team celebrating a playoff berth in December. Instead, they watched the Browns clinch a playoff spot Thursday night with a 37-20 victory over the Jets.
Browns fans celebrated their team’s improbable playoff spot at the end of the game. There was a massive celebration inside Cleveland Browns Stadium, something the Jets hope to feel sometime soon.
“I’ll just tell everybody to get their laughs out now because it’s not going to be like that in the near future,” Jets running back Breece Hall said. “We’re going to be a lot better. I’m excited to see what we do.”
The Jets are now 6-10 and their playoff drought is 13 seasons, currently the longest in North American sports.
The Jets thought they would snap that streak this year with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback but his Achilles injury in Week 1 ended that hope.
Hall had another strong game with 84 rushing yards and 42 receiving yards as well as the team’s only offensive touchdown.
“This whole season has been frustrating,” Hall said. “I’m motivated every week. I worked my ass off this offseason to come back. I expect to be one of the best in the league and I couldn’t really show that the whole season.”
The Jets had 12 penalties, a week after having 14. The Jets lead the NFL in penalties this season.
They had some boneheaded ones on Thursday night, like 12 men in the huddle and failing to line up correctly.
“I’ve got to figure it out,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said.
Left tackle Mekhi Becton had three penalties in the game.
The Browns were without star WR Amari Cooper, who was inactive.
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.
The Jets elevated FB Nick Bawden and DL Bruce Hector from the practice squad for the 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.
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