The Cleveland Browns will be looking for their first win of the season against the 2-5 New York Jets in Week 8. Here’s who should be the stars of the game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Six quarterbacks and seven defeats. Sobering numbers that sum up the Browns’ bleak season under first-year head coach Hue Jackson.
Granted, not many would have picked these Browns to make waves in 2016. By contrast, more would have been expected of a Jets team boasting a touted defense and veteran talent at the skill positions.
But it’s been a sad tale of turnovers on offense and declining skills on defense. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been an interception machine, while corner Darrelle Revis has been burned regularly.
For all their problems, the Browns have the talent to take advantage of both. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton has the pass-rushers to make life miserable for Fitz. Rookies Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib have been swarming on NFL passers.
Offensively, 37-year-old Josh McCown still has the arm to stretch the Jets deep. Especially if turbo-heeled wideout Terrelle Pryor takes the field.
Three Stars
1. Emmanuel Ogbah and Cam Johnson
Left tackle Ryan Clady is questionable with a shoulder problem. It’s bad news for a Jets O-line already struggling to keep Fitzpatrick upright.
The Browns haven’t dome much right defensively, but they have been getting to quarterbacks. Ogbah and Cam Johnson have combined for five sacks, and are both capable of consistently collapsing the edges against a front five that’s surrendered 15 sacks.
2. Matt Forte
It hasn’t quite been a late-career bloom for Matt Forte since he joined the Jets this offseason. He’s averaging 3.5 yards per carry and has only hit the 100-yard mark twice.
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But Forte is still a capable pair of hands. Better still, he remains a roving mismatch who can attack coverage from various alignments.
Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey can utilize Forte’s move skills against Cleveland’s inside linebackers. Splitting Forte out in Gailey’s spread-style, four- and five-receiver sets will create the matchup advantages Fitzpatrick needs.
3. Josh McCown
McCown is back for the first time in over a month and should be able to torch this New York secondary. Darrelle Revis is the only name you might recognize, and even he is a shell of who he used to be.
Next Week
The Jets will be on the road against AFC East rivals the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. Meanwhile, the Browns will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Cleveland.