Jets beat Browns 17-12 after late punt error ends Cleveland’s winning streak

The New York Jets beat the Cleveland Browns 17-12 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 11, after a late mishandled punt snap gave New York the ball at Cleveland’s 23-yard line. Braelon Allen scored the winning touchdown three plays later, ending the Browns’ three-game winning streak. The Jets improved to 2-3, while Cleveland fell to 3-2.

The result reversed a game Cleveland had turned around in the fourth quarter. Deshaun Watson’s 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Denzel Boston put the Browns ahead 12-10 with 6:15 remaining. Andre Szmyt’s extra-point attempt then hit an upright, leaving New York within two points in driving rain.

How the Jets turned a late Browns lead into a win

Cleveland had another chance to protect its lead when Carson Schwesinger strip-sacked Jets quarterback Geno Smith and Adin Huntington recovered the ball at the New York 43. The Browns went three-and-out. They later forced a Jets three-and-out of their own, putting the ball back in the hands of Cleveland’s punt unit with the score still 12-10.

On that punt, Corey Bojorquez mishandled the snap from long snapper Rex Sunahara. The Jets recovered at the Browns’ 23-yard line; the Associated Press identified Trevin Wallace as the player who recovered the ball. The AP described the rain as a possible factor in the error, but did not establish its cause.

Cleveland still had a final possession, but it ended on fourth down when Will McDonald sacked Watson, forced a fumble and recovered it. That was the Jets’ eighth sack of Watson. The defensive stop meant Cleveland had no further opportunity to answer Allen’s touchdown after the punt error had changed possession and field position.

Watson’s touchdown amid Cleveland’s offensive struggles

Watson completed 15 of 33 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown, according to the AP. The Browns gained 198 net yards and made 13 first downs. Cleveland’s recap described the yardage total as a season low, while the Jets’ account credited rookie edge rusher David Bailey with three sacks. Those figures show why Boston’s fourth-quarter touchdown did not translate into a sustained Cleveland lead.

The touchdown to Boston briefly gave Cleveland its first lead, but the missed extra point left the margin at two. Coach Todd Monken described the performance as ‘not good enough, not clean enough.’ He pointed to the missed kick, a long kickoff return, a defensive stop and the mishandled punt as a damaging sequence of plays, the AP reported.

Watson said the wet conditions were difficult but did not want the Browns to use the rain as an excuse. He said Cleveland still had opportunities and that the Jets made better use of theirs. The Browns had gained possession after Schwesinger’s forced fumble and had taken a late lead before the punt mistake, but neither advantage survived the final minutes.

The Guardian’s October 12 column described the defeat as a setback after Watson’s three earlier game-winning drives. That assessment was commentary. The recorded result was a 155-yard passing game in which Watson threw one touchdown and was sacked eight times, according to the AP and the game accounts.

What the result means for the Jets and Browns

For New York, the late recovery turned a two-point deficit into a win. Allen supplied the decisive run, but the Jets had also scored on their opening drive when Garrett Wilson caught a 32-yard touchdown pass. Wilson finished with seven catches for 104 yards, according to the team recaps. Allen’s rushing total gave New York another substantial contribution on offense while he filled in for Hall.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn said he was pleased his players finished the game, while Smith credited the offensive line for helping New York control the clock and run effectively. Their remarks followed a game in which Allen carried 24 times and the defense ended Cleveland’s final chance with a sack and recovery.

The defeat stopped Cleveland’s three-game winning streak and left it at 3-2. Monken said the Browns would work to correct their errors. Watson said the team would review the tape before preparing for Baltimore; Cleveland’s next listed game was a home divisional matchup with the Ravens on October 18. The Jets’ victory moved them to 2-3.