By admin 
Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns came into Sunday with three straight fourth-quarter wins, and for about three minutes at a rainy MetLife Stadium it looked like a fourth. Watson’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Boston gave Cleveland its first lead, 12-10, with 6:21 left. Then a high snap sailed through punter Corey Bojorquez’s hands, Braelon Allen ran 22 yards for a touchdown and the New York Jets won 17-12.
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This week we asked whether those comebacks were hiding a Browns offense that isn’t good enough. Cleveland managed 198 yards and 3.0 per play against the Jets. The Browns had climbed atop the AFC North with last week’s win over Pittsburgh, and they drive home on Interstate 80 at 3-2 with four things to sort out.
Deshaun Watson can’t keep absorbing this many sacks
The Jets sacked Watson eight times for 53 yards, and David Bailey had three of them. Watson entered the day having been sacked 11 times in four games, and Sunday pushed that total to 19. He finished 15 of 33 for 155 yards and one touchdown pass, and Cleveland went 4 of 16 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth.
Watson carried a 56.3 grade into Sunday, according to PFF, and this performance won’t help it. His legs were the best part of the offense. He ran six times for 40 yards, including a big scramble on the go-ahead drive. Quinshon Judkins managed 44 yards on 14 carries.
Special teams gave the game back
Andre Szmyt, whose 56-yard kick beat the Steelers, missed the extra point after Boston’s touchdown and left the lead at two. Carson Schwesinger then forced a Geno Smith fumble with 4:13 to play, and Cleveland recovered. The offense couldn’t do anything with it, and on the ensuing punt the snap went through Bojorquez’s hands and gave the Jets the ball in field goal range.
Allen scored from 22 yards out on that drive. It wasted a good day from Bojorquez, who averaged 52.6 yards on eight punts.
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Quincy Williams and the defense deserved a win
Williams had 11 tackles against his former team and forced three fumbles, which tied a Browns single-game record held by Henry Bradley and Gerald Irons. He hadn’t forced one in the first four games, according to PFF. Maliek Collins added 1.5 of the Browns’ four sacks, and the Jets finished with 276 yards.
The run defense is the worry. Allen carried 24 times for 116 yards, and New York converted 8 of 17 third downs. Cleveland has rebuilt its front without Myles Garrett, and it wore down late in the fourth quarter.
Denzel Boston is the receiver Watson trusts when it matters
Boston caught three passes for 46 yards and the touchdown, and he took a 77.0 offensive grade into the week, according to PFF, the best among Browns regulars. The rookie keeps adding a surprising dimension to an offense that badly needs one. Isaiah Bond chipped in three catches for 74 yards.
The other rookie is a concern. KC Concepcion left in the first quarter with a head injury and didn’t return, a rough turn for a player who opened the season with a do-it-all debut. His status matters with the Baltimore Ravens visiting Huntington Bank Field next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and a Ravens insider still won’t trust Watson.
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More on the Cleveland Browns
- KC Concepcion Injury Update: Browns Rookie Ruled Out After Two Minkah Fitzpatrick Penalties
- Browns vs. Jets Week 5 Inactives: Who’s In, Who’s Out as Elgton Jenkins Returns at Center
- Final Injury Report for Browns-Jets: Will Breece Hall, Mason Graham Play?
- Cleveland Browns at New York Jets NFL Prediction, Picks & Odds for Week 5
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 1:38 PM.