Post-Game Live Recap

3 Things About Browns Victory Over NY Jets

1 – OFFENSE 

1a – DTR energy 

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson brought excitement into the game with his legs, arm, and energy, making a great block on a Demetric Felton touchdown. He also threw for a touchdown in the 4th Quarter.  It is only one game, but DTR outplayed Kellen Mond, hands down.

1b – Good night for the backs 

It was a good night for the Browns running backs, as John Kelly Jr. and Felton ran the ball well on Thursday night. Both scored one touchdown on the night.

1c – Good and bad

The rookie Cedric Tillman looks the part, and hard not to see him making contributions on Sunday.  

On his first play on the night, Anthony Schwartz got the handoff on a sweep and promptly fumbled after getting hit.  There’s still time with three more preseason games, but I don’t see him making the final roster. 

2 – DEFENSE 

Three players stood out to me in this game:

DE Isaiah Thomas pushed around the Jets linemen and was getting into the Jets backfield easily. 

DE Isaiah McGuire also got a good push on the line and made an excellent tackle on 3rd down in the 2nd half. 

LB Tony Fields was flying around and led the Browns in tackles on Thursday.

3 – Special Teams

3a – York Yips

Cade York had a shaky start to the season, missing a 49-Yard field goal on the first drive of the preseason.  His first extra-point attempt barely made it in the uprights.  York kicked two more extra points, and both went down the middle without issue.

3b – Sloppy play and no energy

On multiple plays, the special teams made mistakes with penalties, missed tackles, and on multiple Jet field goal kicks, looked uninspired and gave little effort in blocking the kick.  Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone have some work to do.

3c – Punting

Punter Corey Bojorquez looks ready for the regular season booming two punts, with one pinning the Jets on the four-yard line. 

Game Summary

Thursday night’s match showcased the New York Jets against the Cleveland Browns – a preview of their Week 17 clash in the regular season. The initial half of the game saw the Jets’ backup and depth players demonstrating greater readiness for the 2023 season compared to their Browns counterparts, leading with a score of 16-7.

Notably, both teams’ starters were absent from Thursday’s contest, which meant that Aaron Rodgers did not make his debut for the Jets. Consequently, the spotlight shifted to Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft from BYU, and his developmental progress under Rodgers’ mentorship. Wilson’s performance, confined to the first quarter, was mixed. He completed three of five passes for a total of 65 yards, with a significant chunk of 57 yards coming from a single completion to former Green Bay Packers receiver Malik Taylor down the left sideline. While Wilson displayed improvement in progressing through his reads before throwing, there remains room for enhancing his decision-making speed as an NFL quarterback. Notably, Wilson incorporated Rodgers’ well-known pre-snap cadence of “Green 18,” a signature from Rodgers’ extensive career with the Packers.

The Jets managed to accumulate 13 points during the first half, primarily driven by their defense’s ability to generate turnovers. A fumble recovery by cornerback Javelin Guidry led to a 44-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, while an interception by linebacker Chazz Surratt set the stage for the first touchdown – a 10-yard run. Although this game predominantly featured backup players, the defensive prowess displayed by the Jets pleased head coach Robert Saleh. Notably, Saleh commended Wilson for his composed play during a halftime interview on NBC.

The solitary Jets touchdown materialized with former Packers backup quarterback Tim Boyle leading the second-quarter drive. Boyle’s contributions, including a couple of passes for 17 yards, propelled the Jets to a favorable field position at the Browns’ 27-yard line, following Kellen Mond’s interception. This paved the way for rookie fifth-round running back Israel Abanikanda, hailing from Pittsburgh, to secure a 10-yard touchdown run along the left sideline. Meanwhile, Greg Zuerlein achieved a perfect record with successful field goals from distances of 54, 44, and 53 yards during the game’s opening half.

Although Kellen Mond, a third-round selection from Texas A&M in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, faced early struggles, he regained momentum toward the end of the half. Mond completed six out of eight passes on the Browns’ final drive, covering 49 yards and culminating in a three-yard play-action touchdown pass to running back John Kelly. Mond’s overall performance saw him finish with 92 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 13 of 19 attempts. In the upcoming half, Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick from UCLA, is set to take the field against the Jets.

Up Next

Fri 8/11 7:30 PM EST – Game 2 of Pre Season

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