Jets could make history in the worst way possible

If the New York Jets don’t come ready to play this week, they will make history in one of the worst possible ways. 

It’s no secret that being a New York Jets fan isn’t easy. Since 2016, the team has gone 11-23. The Jets haven’t had a winning season since 2015, and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2010.

However, if pressed, even the most cynical Jets fan would confidently acknowledge that the Jets are far from the worst team in football. That “honor” undoubtedly belongs to the Cleveland Browns.

In fact, the Browns are so awful they haven’t won a game since Christmas Eve of 2016. Apparently, Santa has forgotten about them. The Browns are on the verge of making history. If they lose to the Jets on Thursday night, they will become the fourth team in NFL history to go 20 straight games without a win.

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So clearly the Jets have nothing to worry about, right? Actually, one could easily argue that the Jets will be the underdog against the Browns.

Don’t believe me? Consider the following.

1. Through their first two games, the Browns have only been outscored 42-39.
2. Over that stretch, the Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez has missed 3 field goals and 2 extra points. With a competent kicking game, the Browns (0-1-1) could easily be 2-0.
3. The Browns have released Gonzalez in favor of a new kicker, presumably improving their greatest weakness.
4. The Browns are playing at home.
5. The Browns will be heavily motivated to finally end their winless streak against a beatable Jets team.
6. Since last year’s horrific 0-16 season, the Browns have arguably done more to improve their roster than any other team in the league. Among others, they added two new quarterbacks (Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield) and a new No. 1 wide receiver (Jarvis Landry).
7. The Jets are coming off an atrocious surprise loss to the Dolphins, during which they turned the ball over three times and made a litany of devastating mental errors.

Jets, beware: Browns are winless in 19 consecutive games (0-18-1), trying to avoid becoming 4th team in NFL history to go at least 20 straight w/o a win. Last team was 1976-77 Bucs, who set record by losing their first 26 games in existence. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 18, 2018

Of course, if the Jets do lose to the Browns, it will add yet one more infamous moment to their trying history. If you thought the media was critical of the Jets after the “Butt Fumble,” you don’t want to see how they’ll react if the Jets hand Cleveland their first win in almost two years.

The Jets need to play a great game in Cleveland if they want to win on Thursday Night Football. In particular, the Jets need to minimize turnovers from their rookie quarterback, establish an effective running game (the Jets only had 42 rushing yards last week), and play stout defense.

If they fail to execute those things properly, there is a good chance the Jets might leave Cleveland as the laughing stock of the NFL. A place they’ve already seen enough times throughout their franchise history.