Three quick reactions to the Browns' 31-28 loss to the Jets…
2nd half dooms Browns D
The Browns defense opened the game with back-to-back three-and-outs and limited Ryan Fitzpatrick to just three completions in one of the unit's best halves of the season.
The second half went the exact opposite way for the young group, and the Jets came out on top Sunday largely because of it.
Staked to a 20-7, the Browns defense allowed three consecutive touchdown drives, and they all followed a familiar pattern. The Jets used a mix of runs and passes to move the chains and hit the Browns hard with one big play on each possession to turn a 13-point deficit into an eight-point lead they wouldn't relinquish.
On the opening series of the second half, New York took nearly 7 minutes off the clock and punched it in the end zone on a 24-yard Quincy Enunwa touchdown reception. A 57-yard Enunwa reception was the big play on the next possession, and New York took the lead for good on Matt Forte's 4-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1. A Bilal Powell 20-yard run was the biggest play on a steady Jets drive that ended with another Forte touchdown that made the score, 28-20, early in the fourth quarter.
The three drives combined to span more than 15 minutes, a full quarter's worth. The Jets had just 106 yards of offense in the first half but finished with 393.
Tale of 2 halves for offense, too
Cleveland's offense relied on the pass through a productive first half but the throwing lanes didn't come as easy in the second. Josh McCown put the blame on himself, but it was a unit-wide struggle for a group that clicked at a high level throughout the first 30 minutes.
Going against one of the league's top rush defenses, the Browns knew they'd need to pass to move the ball, and they did at their highest level of the season in Sunday's first half. McCown came out firing on a touchdown drive to start the game, and he finished the half with 228 yards on 16-of-27 throwing. Cleveland had 20 points and appeared poised for more when it returned to the field.
The Browns didn't get back in the end zone until 12 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. McCown threw two interceptions and the Browns couldn't stop the momentum New York was generating from its offense.
The Browns had 133 yards of offense in the second half and possessed the ball for fewer than 9 minutes. Nearly 4 of those 9 minutes of possession came on their final drive of the game.
Browns continue search for finishing touch
The second half hasn't been kind to the Browns all season, and a number of players acknowledged as much after the game.
Browns coach Hue Jackson called it "the story of our season."
"When you have a close game in the second half, you have to be able to make the plays you have to," Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said. "Typically it comes down to a handful of plays. You got to make those plays. You can't just expect the other team to not make plays in the second half. You've got to have kind of a killer instinct when it's winning time."
Asked if his team was only good enough to play a few good quarters and not a full game, Jackson strongly disagreed.
"I am not going to say that," Jackson said. "Whatever it is, Coach Jackson is not getting our guys to do it good enough, so it is not – our players are trying. We just have to keep working at it."
The Browns play the New York Jets in Week 8.
RB Duke Johnson Jr. warms up before the Browns vs. Jets game in Week 8.
QB Josh McCown warms up on the field before the game against the Jets.
QB Josh McCown warms up.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. warms up before the game against the Jets.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. warms up on the field at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Head Coach Hue Jackson watches players warm up.
WR Ricardo Louis warms up on the field.
QBs Kevin Hogan (left) and Josh McCown (right) run on the sidelines.
QB Josh McCown looks to pass.
WR Andrew Hawkins catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
WR Andrew Hawkins spikes the ball in celebration of his touchdown.
WR Andrew Hawkins (16) and QB Josh McCown (13) celebrate a touchdown in the first quarter.
QB Josh McCown (left) and WR Andrew Hawkins (right) run off the field after scoring a touchdown.
DL Jamie Meder tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. runs with the ball.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. avoids the Jets defense.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. tries to avoid a tackle.
WR Rashard Higgins runs with the ball.
QB Josh McCown takes a snap in the first half of the Browns vs. Jets game.
K Cody Parkey kicks a field goal in the first half.
DB Joe Haden waits for the snap at the line of scrimmage.
DL Carl Nassib faces off against New York Jets T Breno Giacomini.
LB Demario Davis tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
LB Demario Davis celebrates after making a tackle.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. makes a catch under pressure.
LB Emmanuel Ogbah in position at the line of scrimmage.
LB Christian Kirksey makes a call before a play.
LB Emmanuel Ogbah tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
The Browns defense tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
DL Jamie Meder tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
DL Danny Shelton (55) and LB Emmanuel Ogbah (90) sack New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
LB Emmanuel Ogbah celebrates after sacking New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
DL Danny Shelton celebrates after sacking New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
LB Christian Kirksey (left) and DB Tracy Howard (middle) chase after New York Jets RB Bilal Powell.
RB Duke Johnson Jr. finds some room to run.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. gets set at the line of scrimmage.
QB Josh McCown looks to pass.
TE Gary Barnidge reacts after making a catch.
RB Isaiah Crowell walks in the endzone after scoring a touchdown.
RB Isaiah Crowell jumps into the stands to celebrate with fans after scoring a touchdown in the first half.
LB Emmanual Ogbah gets set at the line of scrimmage.
DE Tyrone Holmes sacks New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
DE Tyrone Holmes sacks New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
DE Tyrone Holmes (91) celebrates his sack with teammates.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. waits for the snap.
WR Andrew Hawkins gets set at the line of scrimmage.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. is tackled by New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis.
TE Gary Barnidge looks for room to run.
P Britton Colquitt punts in the second half.
DB Derrick Kindred looks to tackle New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
LB Joe Schobert (53) makes a tackle.
RB Isaiah Crowell runs with the ball in the second half.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. runs down the field.
RB Duke Johnson Jr. runs with the ball.
RB Duke Johnson Jr. finds room to run.
QB Josh McCown drops back to pass.
RB Isaiah Crowell runs with the ball.
OL Joe Thomas blocks New York Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson.
P Britton Colquitt punts.
LB Emmanuel Ogbah tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
RB Duke Johnson in action against the Jets.
QB Josh McCown calls a play.
LB Demario Davis tackles New York Jets RB Matt Forté.
DB Tramon Williams Sr. tries to tackle New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
DB Jamar Taylor breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets WR Quincy Enunwa.
DB Derrick Kindred waits at the line of scrimmage.
TE Gary Barnidge in action against the Jets.
QB Josh McCown takes a snap.
