CLEVELAND — The Browns came out on the wrong end of what was a tale of two halves against the Jets.
In search of its first win of the season, Cleveland fell to New York, 31-28, after holding a double digit lead on a blustery and rainy Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns built a 20-7 lead at halftime with a stingy defense and a well-balanced offensive attack that welcomed veteran quarterback Josh McCown back into the starting lineup.
Cleveland, however, was unable to sustain such momentum, surrendering 24 unanswered points to a New York team that chipped away at the deficit with big plays and takeaways.
Jets running backs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell combined for three touchdowns and 158 yards in the second half while New York's defense held the Browns to 131 yards of offense in final two periods.
McCown, who missed the past five weeks after suffering a shoulder/collarbone injury against Baltimore in Week 2, passed for 341, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 25-of-49 throws in his second start this season.
If there was any rust, McCown — who received the nod with rookie quarterback Cody Kessler still in the league's concussion protocol — shook it off quickly.
The Browns scored on their opening series when he zipped a 5-yard pass to wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, capping off an eight-play, 71-yard drive in which they moved the ball with relative ease against a Jets defense that — as running backs coach and run game coordinator Kirby Wilson
joked on Friday — "appears as if they're playing with 15" players.
On this afternoon, however, it was Cleveland's defense that locked down Forte, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and All-Pro receiver Brandon Marshall to 106 yards in the first half.
The Browns took their biggest lead of the day when kicker Cody Parkey connected on a 27-yard field goal on the final play before halftime.
Thing took a turn after that. On its first series after intermission, New York marched down the field before receiver Quincy Enunwa broke four tackles and dove into the end zone on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick.
The moment was something of a turning point for the Jets, who continued to turn the tables on their next possession with an eight-play, 84-yard drive that watched Forte and Powell find space to run against Cleveland's defense.
After being limited with a hamstring injury last week, Terrelle Pryor caught six passes for 101 yards in an effort that saw much of that production come against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Cleveland, which aimed to revive its powerful run game this weekend, struggled to get much going against the Jets, who held Crowell and Duke Johnson Jr. to 68 yards on 18 carries.
The Browns host the Dallas Cowboys next weekend.
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.
