Jets vs. Browns Week 3: Top 5 players to watch

The New York Jets travel to the Dawg Pound to take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 3. Here are the top five players to watch on Thursday Night Football.

The New York Jets will play their third game in 11 days on Thursday Night Football when they travel to the “Dawg Pound” to take on the Cleveland Browns. Gang Green enters this game 1-1, falling to the Miami Dolphins 20-12 in the home opener at MetLife Stadium in Week 2.

The Jets are fully aware they can’t overlook this Browns team, especially playing in Cleveland. The Browns have been the worst team in the NFL the past two seasons, losing 19 straight games and winning their last game on December 24, 2016. However, the Browns made some key moves in free agency and the draft this offseason to make their team much more competitive.

The Browns are 0-1-1 so far this season, but you could make the case that they should be 2-0 if a couple of late-game miscues never happened. Cleveland tied the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 and lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 on an overtime field goal.

The Jets are one of the youngest teams in the NFL and going on the road on a short week is a challenge. It will be interesting to see what kind of game plan head coach Todd Bowles has for his team this week. This is the third game in 11 days for the Jets and if they expect to be an AFC Wild Card contender, they must learn to win on the road. Also, the Jets don’t want to be the team that the Browns beat to end their losing streak.

Thursday night’s game is a must-have for Gang Green and they certainly have the talent to win in Cleveland. Here are the top five players to watch during the game.

5. Quarterback Sam Darnold

This is a big game for every Jets player this week, but Sam Darnold has a little extra motivation going into Cleveland. The rookie signal caller was passed over by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, as the Browns chose Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield over Darnold. Darnold wouldn’t ever admit to it, but he wants to make the Browns pay for passing on him. Darnold already has a small win over Mayfield, as he is the only rookie quarterback to start this season. Tyrod Taylor is the current Browns starter and Mayfield is the backup.

After a solid regular season debut in Detroit, Darnold came back down to earth a bit in Week 2 against the Dolphins. Darnold finished 25-of-41 for 334 yards, one touchdown, but two killer interceptions that had a major impact in the Jets failing to come back and win. It wasn’t all bad for Darnold though, as he showed off great mobility and poise on some plays.

Playing his third game in 11 days will be a challenge for Darnold but he is up for it. According to NewYorkJets.com team reporter Ethan Greenberg, Darnold is ready to take the challenge head-on. Here is what Darnold had to say according to Greenberg:

First of all, I think his guys are always ready to play every single game,” Darnold said of Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. “They come out fiery and at the same time, they bring pressures that no one has ever seen before. At the same time, we’re going to be ready. I’m focused on what we’re doing, but also what the defense is doing and how we can attack them.”

Darnold will see coverages and blitz packages that he has never seen before and it will be up to him to make the proper adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Expect Darnold to look for a couple reliable playmakers in Quincy Enunwa, Bilal Powell, and Isaiah Crowell early and often.

Next: 4. Running Back Isaiah Crowell

4. Running Back Isaiah Crowell

An underrated storyline this week is Jets running back Isaiah Crowell returning to Cleveland for the first time since he left the Browns in free agency. “The Revenge of the Crow” game will take place on Thursday as Crowell tries to make the Browns pay for not bringing him back for 2018.

Crowell proved to be a reliable back during his stint in Cleveland. In the four seasons he played for the Browns, he played in all 16 games and started every game the last two seasons he was there. Crowell was the leading rusher for the 0-16 Browns last season. He had a career-high 206 carries for 853 yards with two rushing touchdowns, a career low. He also had 28 catches for 182 yards.

In 2017, Duke Johnson Jr. cut into Crowell’s playing time and excelled as a pass catching back. Johnson finished with 74 catches for 693 yards and three touchdowns. Crowell took note of that and has worked to become better at catching the ball out of the backfield. The numbers aren’t there yet but expect them to come as the season moves along.

Although Jets running back Bilal Powell is better at catching the ball out of the backfield, the Jets will be looking to feed the ball to Crowell throughout the game. If Crowell is able to run the ball effectively unlike last week against the Dolphins, the Jets will be able to control the clock and take some pressure off of Darnold. Letting Darnold ease into the game will be the Jets best bet in leaving this game victorious.

Next: 3. Jets Offensive Line

3. Jets Offensive Line

For Darnold, Crowell, or any Jets offensive playmaker to have any success on Thursday, the offensive line will need to create a comfortable pocket and open up some running lanes. The unit failed to do much of that in Week 2 as Dolphins defensive ends Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn caused havoc.

Darnold was sacked three times and pressured numerous other times by Wake and Quinn. Crowell and Powell combined for just 41 yards on 17 carries after combining for 162 yards in Detroit. Now, the offensive line must deal with a pass rusher in Myles Garrett who has the makings of an All-Pro player for the next decade. The Browns have another defensive lineman in Larry Ogunjobi who has burst onto the scene in the early part of the season, collecting three sacks in just two games.

Browns defensive coordinator Greg Williams will dial-up some creative blitz packages for these two players to get after Darnold. It will be up to the Jets offensive line to stop the defense and get some rhythm back into the offense.

Jets free agent signing of center Spencer Long has worked pretty well for the most part to start the season. His communication at the line of calling out linebackers and blitzes will be crucial to the rest of the line in a challenging place to play like the Dawg Pound.

Next: 2. Linebacker Jordan Jenkins

2. Linebacker Jordan Jenkins

It’s surprising to say but the Jets pass rush has been excellent in the early part of the season. One of the major questions entering the season for the Jets was “is there pass rush any good”? Well, it has been more than good, it has been excellent.

Leading the way for the Jets pass rush has been linebacker Jordan Jenkins who the coaching staff is expecting to make a major leap forward in becoming a great pass rusher. Jenkins had a great game against the Dolphins, causing a strip sack of Ryan Tannehill and giving the Jets the ball in the red zone to start the second half. The Jets would give the ball right back on the next play with an interception.

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The Jets applied plenty of pressure to force six turnovers in the win at Detroit but didn’t register a sack. But in the game against the Dolphins, the pressure turned into four sacks with two being of the strip sack variety.

Now the Jets are tasked with stopping arguably the most mobile quarterback in the league in Tyrod Taylor on Thursday. During his time in Buffalo, Taylor won three of his five starts as the Bills starter against the Jets.

However, the Jets were a nightmare for Taylor in a seven sacks game last season. Jenkins led the way in that game with two sacks.

Jenkins is quite familiar with Taylor at quarterback and knows it will not be easy chasing him down once again. Jenkins had some lofty praise for Taylor’s athletic ability according to NewYorkJets.com Contributor Randy Lange. Here is what Jenkins had to say according to Lange:

“Tyrod’s a hell of an athlete. You’ve really got to be sound when you’re coming at him because he’s a cat,” Jenkins said. “It looks like he doesn’t see you, then at the last second he’s going to spin out. He’s very elusive, very shifty and very good on his feet. You almost have to break down before you get to him because if you go at him full speed, you’re not going to bring him down.”

Next: 1. Cornerback Buster Skrine

1. Buster Skrine

Since he arrived in 2015 from the Browns, Buster Skrine has been a frustrating player to watch for Jets fans. At times he uses his hands too much and gets called for too many pass interference penalties. Then there are times where he makes great plays on the ball and tackles in the open field.

Against the Dolphins, Skrine got caught using his hands too much which drew numerous pass interference/holding calls in big third down situations. Then there were times when Skrine couldn’t deal with the quickness of the Dolphins wide receivers, including this touchdown catch and run by Albert Wilson. Skrine will need to make sure his shoes are tied tight and his hamstrings are ready to go on Thursday. He will have to deal with one of the best slot receivers in the game in Jarvis Landry.

Landry is getting a huge number of targets and leads the Browns with 12 catches for 175 yards. The Browns will not be afraid to lineup Landry all over the field and that includes the slot where Skrine is. He currently leads the Jets in tackles with 13 and is a solid tackling in the open field. If Skrine can step up and limit Landry’s damage, that will go a long way in the Jets moving to 2-1.