Heading into the 2026 season, the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets were seen as the top contenders to have the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and select from a talented quarterback group. With the teams set to play each other in Week 5, that view has changed considerably.
The Browns, instead, are a playoff contender sitting in first place in the AFC North, at least at this point. Meanwhile, the Jets still look like one of the worst teams in the league after their latest humiliating loss.
With that in mind, the Browns have reason for confidence ahead of their road game against the Jets, as they had great success against current New York quarterback Geno Smith last year.
“Next Sunday, the Browns visit the Jets, who fell to 1-3 after a 23-12 loss to the Bears in Week 4. The Jets went 492 to 157 passing and Geno Smith was limited to 8 of 15 for 119 yards. In Week 12 of last season, the Raiders sacked Smith 10 times for 77 yards, including three by former Browns running back Myles Garrett,” Cabot wrote.
Now in his 13th NFL season, Smith led the Browns in two starts before last season’s meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he completed 30 of 44 passes for 285 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. In 2023, he was 23-of-37 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and two catches in Cleveland’s 24-20 Week 8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With the Jets in 2013, Smith was 20-of-36 for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns’ 24-13 Week 16 loss.
More importantly, in the Browns’ most recent history against the Jets, a 27-20 loss at MetLife Stadium last Nov. 9, New York used two special teams touchdowns in 36 seconds to beat Cleveland, who dominated the game on defense. The Browns lost to the Jets in 2020 and 2022, and beat them in 2023.
While the Browns appear to be a team on the rise with three straight wins and the Jets are in a slump with three straight losses, this could be a tough “trap game” for Cleveland. Coming off an emotional 27-24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night and a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, the Jets could prove to be a dangerous opponent as they are desperate for a win to keep their season from spiraling out of control.
Still, looking like a punter, it will be another test for Browns coach Todd Monken to get his team motivated, and they must answer the call to keep their winning streak alive.
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