CLEVELAND — The Jets have scored 30 points and gained more than 300 yards in two of their last three games. Yes, they were sandwiched around a 0-point, 103-yard performance in Miami.
But for an offense that could not score for a long chunk of the season, this is progress.
Now, can they do it against the No. 1 defense in the NFL?
The Jets (6-9) face the Browns (10-5) on Thursday night with nothing much to play for while Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
Still, the Jets showed up last week against the Commanders and got out to a 20-point lead before hanging on for the last-second field goal win.
Trevor Siemian will start his second game at quarterback for the Jets and try to duplicate some of the good things he did against Washington.
“When it was good, it was good,” Siemian said of last Sunday’s game, “and we had a good rhythm in the first half, obviously had some short fields, but like everyone else, we’re just trying to find that consistency and stay in that flow, and if we do that, we have a chance.”
Siemian had success going to running back Breece Hall (191 yards from scrimmage) and wide receiver Garrett Wilson (nine catches) against the Commanders.
He surely will try to do it again but the Browns and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz are in a different class than the Washington defense.
They have the No. 1 overall defense and No. 1 pass defense. Yards are going to be hard to come by.
Jets coach Robert Saleh said he believes his offense has shown improvement with the 30-point outbursts against the Texans and Commanders.
“Obviously, the Miami game didn’t go very well, but it felt like the offensive staff and the players have kind of hit their stride with regards to trying to find ways to get the ball to the playmakers and playmakers in space, so we’ll find some ways to get it done,” Saleh said.
The Jets had a short week after the win over the Commanders and have not had much practice time to prepare for Cleveland.
They will be hoping to carry over what they did well last week.
“I think each week, you pick up a few things you’re doing well or you found success with,” Siemian said, “but each week you’re playing a new team, so the plan’s a little different, what you’re emphasizing might be a little different, but we feel good with where we’re at.”
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