CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco continues his amazing return, throwing three touchdown passes to help the Cleveland Browns clinch a playoff berth and defeat the New York Jets 37-20 on Thursday night.
Despite numerous injuries to key starters, the Browns continue to defy the odds and make the playoffs for only the third time since their return to the NFL in 1999. Cleveland (11-5) are assured a wild-card spot and still have a slim chance to win the AFC North and even the conference's No. 1 seed.
Flacco, who signed with the Browns last month, completed 19 of his 29 passes for 309 yards and continues to make the Browns a serious contender in the playoffs.
“You don’t know how many of these moments you’re going to get,” Flacco said. “I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”
His only blemish of the night was an interception that Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson deflected to himself and returned it 37 yards for the score and cut the deficit to 27-14 with 2:02 remaining before halftime.
But the Browns built themselves a 17-point lead at the half behind Flacco's 296 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Jerome Ford and another to Elijah Moore.
The Jets (6-10) had to start Trevor Siemian for a second week in a row with Zach Wilson sidelined by a concussion.
While Siemian had some good moments, one of his no-so-good moments came late in the first quarter when he overthrew his receiver and Browns safety Ronnie Hickman returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to put the Browns up 20-7.
Cleveland's injuries spilled over into special teams this week, resulting kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack being signed earlier this week and debuting on Thursday.
Patterson, who is filling in for an injured Dustin Hopkins, finished 4 of 5 on extra points and even made a 33-yard field goal with 2:54 left. Haack averaged 51.7 yards on three punts.
Cleveland travels to Cincinnati on Jan. 7 to face the Bengals.
N.Y. Jets 7 10 0 3 — 20
Cleveland 20 14 0 3 — 37
First Quarter
Cle–J.Ford 7 pass from Flacco (Patterson kick), 11:10.
NYJ–Bre.Hall 21 pass from Siemian (Zuerlein kick), 8:06.
Cle–Hunt 7 run (kick failed), 4:43.
Cle–Hickman 30 interception return (Patterson kick), 2:01.
Second Quarter
Cle–Moore 8 pass from Flacco (Patterson kick), 6:15.
NYJ–Johnson 37 interception return (Zuerlein kick), 2:02.
Cle–J.Ford 50 pass from Flacco (Patterson kick), 1:25.
NYJ–FG Zuerlein 46, :00.
Fourth Quarter
NYJ–FG Zuerlein 44, 8:50.
Cle–FG Patterson 33, 2:54.
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NYJ Cle
First downs 16 20
Total Net Yards 361 428
Rushes-yards 21-107 28-127
Passing 254 301
Punt Returns 2-30 0-0
Kickoff Returns 4-94 0-0
Interceptions Ret. 1-37 1-30
Comp-Att-Int 32-45-1 19-29-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-8 1-8
Punts 5-42.6 3-51.7
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 4-2
Penalties-Yards 12-75 4-26
Time of Possession 31:43 28:09
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–N.Y. Jets, Bre.Hall 13-84, Siemian 4-13, Gipson 1-8, Abanikanda 2-3, G.Wilson 1-(minus 1). Cleveland, J.Ford 12-64, Hunt 10-31, Strong 4-29, Flacco 2-3.
PASSING–N.Y. Jets, Siemian 32-45-1-262. Cleveland, Flacco 19-29-1-309.
RECEIVING–N.Y. Jets, Bre.Hall 9-42, G.Wilson 5-50, Conklin 5-46, Gipson 4-33, Abanikanda 4-27, Brownlee 2-28, Yeboah 2-28, Bawden 1-8. Cleveland, Njoku 6-134, Moore 5-61, J.Ford 2-57, Bryant 2-14, Da.Bell 2-7, Akins 1-28, Tillman 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–N.Y. Jets, Zuerlein 31.
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