Joe Flacco’s monster 1st half leads Browns to win over Jets, playoff berth against former team

In his first game against his former team, Joe Flacco showed the Jets what they’ve been missing all season.

Flacco completed 19-of-29 passes for 309 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Browns (11-5) 37-20 route of the Jets (6-10). The win clinched the Browns’ second playoff appearance in four seasons (2020).

Browns tight end David Njoku got off to a fast start. He recorded four catches for 114 yards in just the first quarter. Njoku finished with six receptions for 134 yards.

Running back Jerome Ford recorded 121 all-purpose yards for the Browns and a touchdown reception.

Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian started for the second consecutive week in place of Zach Wilson (concussion). He finished 32-of-45 for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Breece Hall had another big night for the Jets. After finishing with 191 all-purpose yards in the 30-28 Christmas Eve victory against the Commanders, Hall recorded 126 receiving and rushing yards combined and a touchdown.

Flacco put on a masterclass against the Jets, with whom he spent the previous three seasons. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.

Flacco’s only blemish was a pick-6 interception to Jermaine Johnson with 2:13 left in the second quarter. The 38-year-old immediately came back to throw a 50-yard touchdown to Jerome Ford.

After Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury, the Jets declined to call Flacco despite people inside the building having a ton of admiration for the 16-year veteran. But the Jets ‘loss was the Browns’ gain.

Instead, the Jets decided to start Wilson for 11 games, Tim Boyle for two, and Siemian for two, and the results have been mediocre at best. Gang Green entered Thursday’s game with the worst offense in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Browns called Flacco in for a workout on Nov. 17 after Deshaun Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Cleveland then signed Flacco on Nov. 20 and he made his first start on Dec. 3 against the Rams, where Flacco completed 23-of-44 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a 36-19 loss.

Thursday marked the fourth consecutive game Flacco passed for at least 300 yards. He wasn’t the only former Jet to get revenge against his former team. Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore, who was traded from the Jets to Cleveland last March, registered five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown before he left the game due to a concussion in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the Jets offense has struggled all season, and Thursday was no exception. Gang Green scored on its first drive after Hall registered 53 all-purpose yards on the drive and a 21-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7.

But the Jets offensive line had trouble containing the Browns pass rush and Myles Garrett in particular. That led to Siemian getting the ball out quicker than he wanted to. With 2:01 remaining in the first quarter, Siemian threw an interception to Ronnie Hickman, and he returned it 30 yards for the touchdown.

Thursday’s matchup was a game between the No. 1 ranked Browns defense versus the Jets, who were ranked third. But early in the game, it certainly didn’t look like the two best defenses in the NFL.

On the game’s first drive, Flacco led the Browns 75 yards in less than four minutes. Flacco completed 3-of-4 passes on the drive, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ford.

Gang Green quickly answered after Hall registered 53 all-purpose yards on the drive and a 21-yard touchdown reception to tie the game.

Cleveland scored once again on their second drive after Kareem Hunt the end zone on a seven-yard run. The Browns defense settled down, but the Jets defense certainly did not.

Gang Green allowed 34 points, which was the most it allowed in the first half and tied for the most the team has given up in 16 games.

Thursday marked the first time in 33 games the Jets have allowed a 300-yard passer since Jan. 2, 2022, when Tom Brady finished with 410 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-24 win.

The Jets will end the 2023 season in Foxborough to play the Patriots. The Browns will face in-state rival Bengals on the road.