Sitting at 1-3, the New York Jets have dropped three straight games, and the pressure is mounting.

While the Jets were competitive in their losses to the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, last Sunday’s defeat against the Chicago Bears was on a completely different level.

Now, after two weeks on the road, Aaron Glenn’s Jets return home to face a Cleveland Browns that has been much better than many expected, entering the matchup with a 3-1 record on a three-game win streak.

This matchup is crucial to keeping the Jets’ season alive. Can New York finally get back in the win column, or will the season begin to slip away today? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kickoff.

How to watch

  • Time: Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
  • TV: CBS
  • Broadcast crew: Andrew Catalon and Logan Ryan

CBS will broadcast Jets-Browns in the following markets:

  • New York, NY
  • Albany, NY
  • Syracuse, NY
  • Hartford, CT
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Columbus, OH
  • Dayton, OH
  • Toledo, OH

Weather

The forecast calls for rain around kickoff, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and a RealFeel of 55. There is a 65% chance of precipitation at 1 p.m., with southeast winds around seven miles per hour.

Rain is expected to remain possible throughout the afternoon. Conditions look similar to the Jets’ Week 2 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Given the expected weather, running the ball will be crucial for both teams.

Uniforms

The Jets are expected to rock their green uniforms with green helmets and white pants for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Cleveland is expected to wear orange helmets, white jerseys, and white pants.

Injury report

Jets:

  • RB Breece Hall (quad): Out
  • LB Kiko Mauigoa (quad): Out
  • WR Adonai Mitchell (finger): Out
  • OL Dylan Parham (knee): Out
  • EDGE Kingsley Enagbare (knee): Questionable
  • EDGE Will McDonald (calf): Questionable
  • WR Tim Patrick (groin): Questionable

The Jets will once again be without some of their top offensive contributors, including Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell and Dylan Parham. They will each miss their second straight game.

As the Jets continue to miss Hall, New York will keep relying on Braelon Allen, and it would be smart to integrate Isaiah Davis into the rushing attack as well after he surprisingly didn’t get a touch last week without Hall. He hasn’t logged a carry all season.

There is some positive news, though. Tight end Mason Taylor practiced fully all week and has no injury designation for the game. It will be intriguing to see how he’s worked into the offense. He struggled to carve out a role in Weeks 1-2 before he went down, but his rookie season still leaves a ton of reasons for optimism.

Defensive end Kingsley Enagbare also has a chance to return after sitting out last week, which had a noticeable effect on the Jets’ run defense.

Browns:

  • DT Kalia Davis (quad): Out
  • QB Dillion Gabriel (back): Out
  • DT Mason Graham (knee/ankle): Out
  • DT Mike Hall Jr. (ankle): Out
  • G Teven Jenkins (back): Out
  • TE Carsen Ryan (calf): Out
  • WR Tylan Wallace (knee): Out

Cleveland is also dealing with some notable injuries particularly across their defensive line.

The Browns will be without three defensive tackles in Graham, Davis, and Hall, potentially giving the Jets a chance to get their rushing attack going, which has struggled.

With both teams missing several top contributors, depth will be tested across multiple areas throughout the game.

What to watch for

Can Geno Smith exploit Cleveland’s man-heavy defense?

Through four games, the Browns have played man coverage at a whopping 61% rate, the highest clip in the NFL.

For the Jets, the good news is that Geno Smith has been one of the league’s most efficient QBs against man coverage. According to SumerSports, Smith ranks seventh among quarterbacks in success rate against man coverage (51.9%) while leading the league in completion percentage against those looks (75%).

However, Smith has also taken six sacks against man coverage, tied for the second-most in the NFL. If the Jets can keep him upright, there should be plenty of opportunities for the Jets to do damage through the air, despite the weather conditions.

Can the Jets contain Deshaun Watson?

Entering the season, the Browns’ decision to start Deshaun Watson at quarterback was widely mocked across the NFL. However, he has begun to prove his doubters wrong, leading Cleveland to a 3-1 start.

Speaking to reporters this week, Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker even acknowledged flashes of Watson’s time with the Houston Texans, the peak of his career.

“I can’t speak on the past, but I did play him when he was in Houston, and that’s kind of what I’m seeing on tape right now,” Duker told the media on Thursday. “That’s the familiarity I have of seeing him doing a good job in the drop-back pass game, and he still has the athleticism, so it gives him a dual-threat, and he’s throwing the ball well. I think he’s doing a very good job.” 

The Jets have struggled to consistently generate pressure, and last week Will McDonald was the Jets’ only edge rusher to log a pressure. If the Jets allow Watson to escape and extend plays, Cleveland’s offense could go to town today.

Score prediction

  • Browns 24, Jets 18

It’s difficult to have much confidence in the Jets right now. They have lost three straight games and are still missing several key offensive cogs.

Cleveland, meanwhile, enters Sunday’s contest at 3-1, riding a three-game winning streak with Watson playing some encouraging football.

The Browns’ injuries up front give Gang Green’s offense a chance to move the ball and break through; however, it is hard to warrant using that as a reason to pick the Jets when they have already failed to capitalize on opposing defensive injuries multiple times.

I expect another “competitive” game, but Cleveland ultimately does enough to secure the road victory and send the Jets to 1-4.