Instant analysis as Jets taken care of by Joe Flacco’s big night

Quick notes following the Jets’ 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17.

Browns quarterback Joe Flacco continues his latest path of destruction and the Jets cold do nothing about it. Flacco finished with 309 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 37-20 loss for the Jets as Cleveland clinched a playoff berth with the win. The Jets fell to 6-10 and now have to

Jake Hanson leaves game vs. Browns with concussion

Jets offensive guard Jake Hanson left Thursday’s game against the Browns with a concussion

Jets right guard Jake Hanson was ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Browns with a concussion.

When the Jets came out to start the second half, Hanson was replaced by Xavier Newman at right guard. As it turns out, Hanson was replaced due to an injury, not a benching.

This is just the latest in what has been another whirlwind of a season in terms of injuries to the offensive line for the Jets. This was the first week since October that the Jets played the same offensive line two weeks in a row. Unfortunately, that group could not stay together much longer. The Jets have started 12 different offensive line combinations this season.

Jets Week 17 defensive gameday roster vs. Browns

Jets Week 17 defensive gameday roster vs. Browns

The defense of the New York Jets is ready for another challenge as they face their old friend Joe Flacco, who has been on a hot streak over the last three weeks. The Jets will try to slow the Browns offense and keep them from celebrating a playoff berth, at least for a few days.

The usual suspects are playing. Carl Lawson is inactive again as he has been buried on the depth chart in what became a lost season for the veteran defensive end.

Here’s your full gameday roster on the defensive side of the football for Week 17 against the Browns.

Jets Week 17 offensive gameday roster vs. Browns

Jets Week 17 offensive gameday roster vs. Browns

The Jets have their gameday roster for Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. On offense, the Jets will have two quarterbacks available again with Zach Wilson and Aaron Rodgers inactive. Trevor Siemian gets the start with Brett Rypien backing him up.

Wide receiver Allen Lazard is also out with an illness so Randall Cobb will be active behind the usual suspects Garrett Wilson, Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson.

Zack Kuntz will be active for the first time after being signed to the 53-man roster this week. He’ll serve as the No. 3 tight end behind Tyler Conklin and Kenny Yeboah with Jeremy Ruckert out with a concussion.

Here’s a rundown of the full gameday roster on offensive for the Jets in Week 17.

Jets Week 17 inactives: Allen Lazard out with illness

Allen Lazard is out for the Jets with an illness while Amari Cooper will not play with a heel injury.

The Jets announced their Week 17 inactives against the Cleveland Browns. Three were already known earlier this week: quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson plus tight end Jeremy Ruckert. Rodgers is out with the Achilles injury while Wilson and Ruckert both have concussions. Trevor Siemian will start with Brett Rypien as the backup.

Wide receiver Allen Lazard was also ruled inactive. He was dealing with an illness.

The rest of the players inactive Thursday include cornerback Bruce Hall, offensive lineman Austin Deculus and defensive lineman Carl Lawson.

On the other side, big injury news for Cleveland as wide receiver Amari Cooper will not play with a heel injury. It seemed like he was going to play, but like Tyreek Hill two weeks ago, Cooper ends up being a late scratch. Former Jet Elijah Moore could see more targets as a result.

The Browns inactives:

WR Amari Cooper
LB Anthony Walker Jr.
K Dustin Hopkins
P Corey Bojorquez
DE Ogbo Okoronkwo
C Luke Wypler
DE Sam Kamara

Jets vs. Browns: Final prediction for Week 17

Final prediction for Jets vs. Browns in Week 17

The Jets have just two games left in the 2023 season. At 6-9, they already know they will miss the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season. At the very least, they can play spoiler a little and keep the Cleveland Browns from clinching a playoff spot, at least for a few days.

This will be a battle between Trevor Siemian and Joe Flacco. Siemian is making his second consecutive start while Zach Wilson recovers from a concussion. Flacco is making his fifth start for Cleveland. The Browns have won three straight behind Flacco.

This may be a little bit of a revenge game for Flacco. The Jets had a chance to reach out to Flacco while they were having quarterback issues and chose not. The Jets now have to sit home and watch Flacco lead the Browns in the postseason.

As for this game, the Jets’ struggles on offense will again be tested against the excellent Cleveland defense. With the issues up front, it would not be a surprise if Browns’ star defensive end Myles Garrett has himself quite a night. The Jets will also be without wide receiver Allen Lazard, who is dealing with an illness. Randall Cobb will be active. Not that they’ve been moving the needle much anyway.

On the flip side, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is inactive. He has a heel injury. Just five days ago, Cooper set a Browns record with 265 yards in their win over the Texans. Like Tyreek Hill two weeks ago, the Jets catch a break and don’t have to face an opposing star wide receiver. They could see more of their old friend Elijah Moore as a result.

Overall, the Jets are likely to get stifled again on offense. Cleveland has been very strong and will be too much on defense for Siemian and the limited New York offense. That should make all the difference in this one as Cleveland will celebrate a postseason berth.

Prediction: Browns 24, Jets 10

Jets vs. Browns live stream, time, viewing info for Week 17

Jets vs. Browns live stream, time, viewing info for Week 17

The Jets were able to deliver a win to their fans for Christmas after defeating the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve. They didn’t have much time to celebrate. It’s a quick turnaround as the Jets have their Thursday appearance this week against the Cleveland Browns. The Jets can keep the Browns from clinching a playoff spot Thursday, even if that’s just delaying the inevitable.

Here’s your quick game information for the Jets in Week 17 as they play their final game of the calendar year of 2023.

New York Jets at Cleveland Browns on Thursday, December 28 (8:15 p.m. ET)

TV info: Amazon Prime Video (Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit)

Broadcast Map: 506 Sports

In-market live stream: NFL+

Radio: New York – 98.7 WEPN (ESPN Radio)

Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Forecast: Cloudy, 45 degrees

Referee: Alex Kemp

Opponent Wire site: Commanders Wire

Jets drop Hall of Fame Game to Browns, 21-16; Wilson and Becton perform well

Jets drop Hall of Fame Game to Browns, 21-16; Wilson and Becton perform well

The New York Jets fell to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game, 21-16, on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio.

With most of the likely starters sitting this one out, numerous key backups had a chance to get much-needed reps. Or in the case of quarterback Zach Wilson, it was a chance to prove he has learned from his mistakes in 2022.

Wilson played a quarter and went 3-for-5 for 65 yards, including a 57-yard toss to wide receiver Malik Taylor, a very nice deep throw that landed right on the mark, a play head coach Robert Saleh said was suggested by Aaron Rodgers. Wilson started taking what the defense gave him, something he severely struggled with last season. This was against mostly backups for the Browns, but the progress has been evident for the former No. 2 overall pick.

The other top player most had their eyes on Thursday was offensive tackle Mekhi Becton. He was expected to play 20 to 25 snaps. He wound up playing only seven offensive snaps plus a few snaps on special teams. But in his limited time, Becton played well. He looked very strong in both run blocking for Israel Abanikanda — who had a 10-yard touchdown run and finished with 27 yards on nine carries — and pass protection for Wilson.

The Jets seem to be making Becton earn a spot, hence him running with the second team in camp and starting on Thursday. Saleh said the limited snap count was more about building up Becton’s confidence that his knee can hold up but that Becton “felt it a little bit.” There’s no setback for Becton, however, and that is the most important piece here. Just getting Becton healthy after his first game action since Week 1 of the 2021 season is a confidence booster for both Becton and the team.

Tim Boyle played the second and third quarters at QB for the Jets and went 6-for-11 for 61 yards. Chris Streveler finished out the game — including waiting out a delay after the lights in the stadium went out — and was 1-of-7 for nine yards.

Elsewhere on the ground, rookie Travis Dye ran nine times for 12 yards and Damarea Crockett had seven yards on four carries.

Taylor’s 57 yards receiving were a game high. Four other Jets had double digits: Alex Erickson (1-19), EJ Jenkins (2-18), Jason Brownlee (2-17) and Kenny Yeboah (2-13). Zack Kuntz and Abanikanda each had a catch for six and five yards, respectively.

On defense, undrafted rookie Trey Dean led the way with seven tackles and sixth-round rookie Zaire Barnes had five. Will McDonald made some very nice spin moves and showed the speed and flashes that made him the 15th overall pick. Micheal Clemons and Bryce Hall (who recorded a sack) also showed they will be key parts of the rotation.

Not that preseason records mean much, but Thursday was the first preseason loss for Saleh, who is entering his third year as Jets coach. Saleh was 5-0-1 in the preseason entering Thursday — the Jets and Eagles played to a 31-31 tie in 2021.

The Jets return to the practice field Saturday and will have a pair of open practices to the public Saturday and Sunday before a day off Monday. They’ll practice at home Tuesday and then head to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a pair of joint practices with the Carolina Panthers Wednesday and Thursday before their preseason game next Saturday, Aug. 12 at 4 p.m.