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CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns will look to end a disheartening streak on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they face the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Can 2-6 Cleveland end its streak of 12 lost games on the road? More Cleveland Browns coverage The culture killer: Why the Jets’ fire sale is a recipe for disaster Will new Browns’ play-caller bring Saban-style simplicity to the playbook? Was Paul DePodesta the Browns’ scapegoat or the architect of their downfall? “I knew we hadn’t won (on the road) this year,” left guard Joel Bitonio said Thursday. “I didn’t know how far it kind of went back and we haven’t won that many games anyway the last two years. So I think it’s really just a focus on us. “We want to close ranks and just be like, what can we do to control what the Browns are doing, and road games are a little different than home games, but I think if we focus on routine, focus on execution, then there’s a chance we can go out there and get a win.” The last time the Browns won on the road? Week 2 in 2024, an 18-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jets (1-7) are coming off of their first win of the season, a 39-38 win over the Bengals in Week 8. Here are several other key storylines heading into Sunday and predictions for how I think each may go: The impact of the Jets’ defensive fire sale The Browns won’t have to worry about CB Sauce Gardner or DT Quinnen Williams, both of whom were shipped out of New York ahead of the trade deadline this past Tuesday. It will be a break to not have to worry about the Jets defensive stars, especially considering New York is already one of the worst teams in the league with generating takeaways. They are 32nd with only one. For the Browns offense, it could be a break that’s needed to generate some downfield looks. Prediction: Not having their two best players should be a good thing for a Browns offense and a young QB in Dillon Gabriel that has struggled to get down field. The downfield looks are going to be key, as the Browns are last in the league averaging 4.61 passing yards per play. The Browns’ run defense If there’s one thing the Jets are doing well right now, it’s running the football. They have the third best rushing offense in the league in terms of yards per game (143.6) Breece Hall is the name to look out for with 581 yards and two touchdowns on 117 attempts. If Justin Fields starts (head coach Aaron Glenn won’t name his starting QB before the game), he can also get going on the ground. He has 288 rushing yards and three TDs on 53 carries. Prediction: While the Jets are solid on the ground, they have the league’s worst passing offense which makes it easier in theory for Cleveland to gameplan and stack the box. Even if Carson Schwesinger (ankle) can’t go, the Browns should get a lot of contributions from both Jerome Baker and Mohamoud Diabate at linebacker. The new play caller The only real significant move the Browns made this week was head coach Kevin Stefanski handing over play calling duties to OC Tommy Rees. So how different will this stagnant offense look? “I’ll ask you next week, I guess,” Rees quipped on Thursday. “I would think every play caller is going to have a different feel, a different spin on things. They’re going to have things that they value and want to get to. Kevin and I are not the same person, although we have enough in our offense to make it look different in spots. But some of the core principles continue on. We just have to do them at a higher level.” Prediction: Rees is right, and this one is next to impossible to predict. But in order to be successful, Rees will have to get the Browns’ pass catchers, especially WR Jerry Jeudy, open downfield. While Rees has never called plays in the NFL, he did so in one of the most-demanding college environments imaginable at Alabama under Nick Saban in 2023. He also called plays at Notre Dame, his alma mater. My pick These are two struggling teams, but I can’t get past the Jets defensive fire sale. I’m going with the Browns, 22-16 in this game.
