Browns break brutal 75-year NFL history in Week 10 loss to Jets

Contributing Writer
Browns break brutal 75-year NFL history in Week 10 loss to Jets image

The Cleveland Browns lost in Week 10 to the New York Jets, 27-20. It's a fairly normal score, but the way these teams got there was far from normal.

While the Browns gave up two return touchdowns, one on a kickoff and another on a punt, the defense held the Jets offense to under 175 yards, and the offense didn't turn the ball over.

The combination of those three stats led to the Browns making brutal NFL history in their loss to the Jets. As Rich Cimini of ESPN shares, this performance from Cleveland is the first time since 1950 that a team has lost, breaking a 225-game streak.

Browns break 225-0 streak to set brutal NFL history amid loss to Jets

"How unlikely was Jets 27, Browns 20?" Cimini posted. "Since 1950, teams had been 225-0 when holding opponents to 175 or fewer yards and not turning the ball over. The Browns were the first team to lose in that span, per ESPN Research."

Cleveland's offense wasn't great, as Dillon Gabriel went 17-32 for 167 yards, two touchdowns, and six sacks taken for 47 yards lost. Running the ball, the offense had 158 yards on 32 carries, a solid day on the ground.

Defensively, the Browns held Justin Fields to 6-11 for 54 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and three sacks for 12 yards lost. On the ground, the Jets ran for 127 yards on 33 carries, a full yard per carry less than the Browns.

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Looking at these statistics, it's hard to believe the Browns lost this game. But the Jets' two return touchdowns, a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, followed shortly by a 74-yard punt return touchdown, were a huge difference maker.

Add on a late 42-yard Breece Hall screen he took for a touchdown, and the Jets were able to have three explosives to make up the difference to secure their second win of the year.

This was a disastrous game for the Browns. The defense was great, other than one long Hall touchdown, but the special teams mistakes on back-to-back possessions were a huge reason behind this brutal NFL history.

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Staff Writer