7 takeaways from the NY Jets' improbable Week 2 victory over the Browns

Despite a spirited effort, it appeared as though the NY Jets were going to be 0-2 to start the 2022 NFL season. The team's September losing streak would continue, dating back to the 2018 season. The running total would have been 14 games.

But a funny thing happened on the way to fate. Fortune finally favored the New York Jets. Down 30-17 with under two minutes left, the Jets rallied with two touchdown scores, with the assist from an onside kick recovery, to win the game 31-30, stunning the Cleveland Browns.

The football gods shined on the Jets for a change. Sunday's victory doesn't occur if not for a missed extra point, a blown coverage, and an onside kick, but the Jets' head coach played a part in being bold before the game and during.

It's been a while since the Jets had something to feel great about. Let's go over some of the takeaways from Week 2's amazing come-from-behind win.

1. Robert Saleh and Brant Boyer helped keep the NY Jets' chances alive early with gutsy play calls

Things definitely did not break right for the Jets early on. A quick three-and-out, courtesy of a blown call, on what should have been a first down completion to Tyler Conklin, and a slow start by the team's defense.

Down 7-0, the Jets were facing a 4th-and-1 near midfield. Robert Saleh took a chance and put faith in his special teams by going for a fake punt pass. Fortune favored the bold move when punter Braden Mann found Jeff Smith for the first down conversion. The 17-yard completion kept the Jets' hopes alive.

Hindsight is certainly 20/20, but even if the play had backfired, Saleh made the right call, trying to shift momentum in his team's favor.

And credit to Brant Boyer and his unit for executing the play perfectly, especially considering the fact that Braden Mann was limited all week in practice leading into the game. There's a legitimate question, as to how much he practiced that fake punt this past week.

When you are a young team on the road. A game can turn on you fast if you fall behind early. The Jets coaching brain trust did what was necessary to avoid that scenario.

It was a rough week for Robert Saleh, who has been in the crosshairs, taking receipts. He was willing to bet on his team's chances early and was rewarded for his faith late. Saleh was bold in his takes off the field and then produced bold ones on the field, and the football gods rewarded him.

2. NY Jets rookies make their presence known early and often

Welcome to the NFL, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Both of the Jets' highest drafted offensive players in the 2022 NFL Draft class came to play on Sunday.

Hall got things going for the Jets on their first scoring drive with a beautiful 23-yard run to the outside. The big play led to Garrett Wilson's first NFL score on a beautifully run route in the end zone.

The two dynamic rookies continued their stellar efforts on the Jets' second score. This time, it was Wilson setting the table for Hall's first NFL score with a huge 18-yard reception deep inside Cleveland territory. Hall would cap the game-tying drive with a ten-yard reception. He finished with 50 yards rushing in the game on seven carries.

Unfortunately, Wilson came down hard with a back injury in the third quarter on an acrobatic catch attempt. However, Wilson returned to the game and kept producing at a high level.

Wilson did have a sour note late in the game with a dropped pass on third down, with the team trailing by seven. But he completely redeemed himself on the Jets' go-ahead score for the victory.

Wilson finished the game with eight catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Something tells me that this will be the first of many big days in Garrett Wilson's bright future.

3. The NY Jets defense fails to match last week's positive efforts

As illustrated on this site in the matchups article for this game, the Jets' defense faced a much more daunting task slowing down Cleveland's elite rushing attack than they did against Baltimore.

The Ravens came into last week with a banged-up offensive line and a makeshift backfield. As a result, New York held Baltimore to 63 yards rushing. Duplicating that same effort against Cleveland's ground attack would be much more challenging.

Overcompensating to contain the Browns' superb rushing attack, made the Jets' defense a step slower this week than they were a week ago. It almost looked like New York's defense was sleepwalking early on.

After a questionable play review by the officials cost the Jets a 17-yard first down conversion on their first drive. The Browns took over on their six-yard line and methodically drove 94 yards for the game's opening score. The Jets defense was out of position and outclassed. The Browns quickly strolled down the field, with Nick Chubb regularly breaking multiple tackles on each run. They weren't ready for the challenge of starting the game.

Then when the Jets offense answered the call and tied the game at seven. Cleveland's offensive attack responded by repeating what they did on their first drive. Missed tackles and miscommunication contributed to the Jets' allowing a second touchdown drive.

The Jets linebackers were eaten alive throughout the entire game. They were outmatched by Cleveland's offense. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt ate very well and feasted on the Jets' defense more and more as the game progressed. Luckily for New York, they got the last laugh. But there was nothing funny about the way the Jets D stacked up against the Browns runners.

4. NY Jets QB Joe Flacco brought his A-game against the Browns

Making his 178th career start, 193 if you count the playoffs and his Super Bowl MVP run, coming into Sunday, you could legitimately foresee the possibility that this could be Joe Flacco's last ever NFL start.

With Zach Wilson nearing a return, and Mike White on standby for the time being, the argument for keeping Joe Flacco as the Jets' starting quarterback wouldn't have had very many backers. Especially if the grizzled vet continued to struggle.

But on Sunday, Flacco flipped the script.

He was poised and calm in the pocket and had several clutch throws, despite being consistently harassed by the Browns' pass rushers. Flacco, who has always been known for having an elite arm, used his legs early on to escape pressure and extend drives.

Flacco's Jets teammates have jokingly referred to him as Grandpa. Father time is ticking on Flacco. But for one Sunday, he showed why he has earned special status. It would have been unfortunate had Joe not won his first as a Jets starter. He was on the verge of going 0-7.

Flacco's numbers weren't flashy until the fourth quarter, but it felt like he was over 300 yards passing before the late-game heroics. Flacco finished the game with 307 yards passing and four touchdowns, but even if the Jets had not won, he played like a winner on Sunday.

5. Max Mitchell and the NY Jets pass protection issues continue

Predictably, Max Mitchell and the Jets struggled all day long against the Browns' elite edge rushers. At some points, it was comical the Jets' efforts to block Myles Garrett one-on-one.

In the Jets' defense, Garrett does that to every team he faces. A week ago, the quarterback and dropped passes didn't help matters, but Joe Flacco stood tall, and got rid of the football instead of hanging on too late in the pocket. In one instance, the veteran had no time to make a throw, as he was blindsided and fumbled the football.

There's no help in sight coming for the rookie Mitchell. He's getting a baptism by fire, but the Jets veteran linemen need to hold up better as the season progresses.

On paper, Cleveland only had two sacks, but as the infamous Tony Montana once said, 'the eyes chico, they never lie." New York struggled all day in this area.

However, much like Garrett Wilson redeemed himself late in the game, Max Mitchell's best play came when he dove on a fumble to preserve the Jets' miraculous comeback victory.

6. The NY Jets special teams made impactful winning plays

Anytime you can execute an onside kick, a 57-yard field goal, and a 17-yard fake punt, it's a positive day overall for your special teams.

It wasn't perfect for the Jets' special team unit on Sunday. There were some tough penalties and coverage breakdowns. But overall, Brant Boyer's unit kept the Jets in the game.

On a week where the punter was under a ton of scrutiny and on a weekend where eight former Jets castoffs at kicker started for other NFL teams, New York finally had a good day from their own specialists. The Jets don't win Sunday without this group.

7. Officiating crew does the NY Jets no favors

It's losers lament when supporters of a team excuse a loss on officiating calls, but the work of the Browns/Jets officiating crew gave New York supporters plenty of legitimate reasons to gripe. Fortunately for the Jets' faithful, the end result on Sunday produced a winners lament.

The officiating issues all started on the game's opening drive when the crew allowed a clear mistake to stand on the field after review clearly showed that Jets tight end Tyler Conklin secured a first down conversion with both feet in bounds.

There were several iffy calls throughout the game that went against the Jets. But none worse than a phantom holding call that prevented New York from taking the lead late in the game. The Jets, down 17-14, would have had a first and goal situation. Instead, a big run deep in the red zone was negated.

The Jets' offense ended up settling for a 57-yard game-tying field goal on that drive. The Browns dodged a bullet and thanks to some favorable laundry on their next drive, took a 24-17 lead.

Even a late personal foul call was questionable on the officials' part. It was that kind of day where the refs were looking to flag the Jets for any infraction. Even if there wasn't one available. The bottom line is that the Jets still won with a stacked deck against them. It was that kind of day.