The New York Jets entered Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns at 1–7, having finally snapped their seven-game losing streak two weeks earlier with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Coming off a bye, the Jets had ample time to prepare for Cleveland, but the performance that followed was anything but conventional.
New York secured a 27–20 victory, yet did so despite one of the most unproductive passing performances of the NFL season. Quarterback Justin Fields and the Jets threw for fewer than 55 yards, and the offense finished more than 100 total yards behind the Browns. Even more surprising, not a single Jets wide receiver or tight end recorded more than five receiving yards. Running back Breece Hall served as the team’s top pass catcher, hauling in a 42-yard touchdown from Fields in the fourth quarter.
So where did the rest of the scoring come from? The answer: a stunning special teams showcase. The Jets struck early with touchdowns on both a kickoff return and a punt return in the first quarter, jumping ahead 14–7 before the Browns could adjust. Add in Hall’s long touchdown and two field goals from veteran kicker Nick Folk, and New York pieced together enough points to secure its second straight win.
The victory did not come without a cost. Star wide receiver Garrett Wilson reaggravated the knee issue that kept him sidelined for the Jets’ previous two games. With a Thursday night matchup against the New England Patriots looming, Wilson may not have enough time to return to the field.
Still, the Jets head into Week 11 with unexpected momentum—and one of the strangest wins of the NFL season.