Now kicking off into Week 17 of the regular season, we start with a NFL Thursday Night Football match between the 6-9 New York Jets and the 10-5 Cleveland Browns. And the link between the two tortured franchises is through no other than Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. Although we are now into NFL Week 17; we still feel a little robbed of something more from the Jets, while the Browns head into the game with way more steam than the Jets.
NFL Thursday Night Football New York Jets Vs Cleveland Browns: Hope in the Past, Pain in the Present
In looking at last year's game between these two teams, there are so many different narratives and hopes that branched off of that game. We can use this as a reminder of how far these two teams have come since their Week 2 game in the 2022 NFL season. Both teams find themselves in a similar situation as last year; being without their starting quarterbacks. Last year the Jets were without quarterback Zach Wilson, and this year are without quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Browns were without Deshaun Watson last year and once again are without him this time around as well. The Jets will be starting Trevor Siemian in wake of Zach Wilson not clearing concussion protocol. As for Cleveland, they will be starting former Jets quarterback Joe Flacco. Keep Flacco's name in mind as his play will connect so many dots between the franchises.
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NFL Thursday Night Football New York Jets Vs Cleveland Browns: Last Years Story
In this matchup last year we saw two Jets players start to become emerging stars in the spectacle of an improbable comeback win. We saw how productive Jets second year running back Breece Hall can be on limited carries and how versatile Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is; this game is where he started his campaign to later win the NFL 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
What's fascinating about these two players is that Breece Hall was almost a shoo-in to take the OPOY until he suffered a season ending injury against the Denver Broncos later that year. But Garrett Wilson held down the front as he hit 1,103 and four touchdowns in his rookie year. Two of those scores came late in this game. And guess who threw them. None other than current Browns quarterback Joe Flacco.
Now on the other side of the past, Flacco looks to prove his point that he wasn't done with football at the age of 38. Coming off a stunning game against the Houston Texans where he threw for 368 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Finding wide receiver Amari Cooper for 265 of those yards and two of the scores. Cooper's status to play in this game is still up in the air after a short week where he broke Cleveland's franchise receiving record.
NFL Thursday Night Football New York Jets Vs Cleveland Browns: Tonight's Game Plan
The game plan is simple for both teams. The Jets need to attack Flacco at will and the Browns need to defend Flacco at all costs. I will explain why Flacco is the primary source for either victory or defeat.
The reason the Jets didn't resign Joe Flacco this offseason was because he is one of few remaining true pocket passers in the league. And pocket passers are extremely dependent on offensive line play. Flacco didn't have the greatest tenure on the Jets because the Jets struggled and still struggle with offensive line pass protection issues.
Now on the Jets, Flacco did his best impression of the Statue of Liberty behind the New York O-line, being that he isn't necessarily a mobile quarterback. But now on the Browns, Flacco seems to have some pass protection, which is why his recent success reminds us that this guy is a former Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
As seemingly a trap game in most sports bettors' eyes, this might be a game to sit and just enjoy the surprise. Because as we all know, anything can happen and it feels like the Jets defense has a chance to shake up Flacco early and the Browns number one overall defense is nothing to play with. But who knows, Flacco might even light up the Jets and continue his redemption arc to a potential Comeback Player of the Year Award.
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