The New York Jets are set to return MetLife Stadium for the second time this season, hosting the Cleveland Browns. However, it will be a very different atmosphere than their Week 2 home opener after dropping three straight games. The Browns, meanwhile, have won three straight and stand atop the AFC North.
The Jets did get some luck, though. The Browns will be missing several players, most notably defensive tackle Mason Graham.
The former fifth overall pick in 2025 has been unstoppable in his second year after a quiet rookie season. Graham leads defensive tackles with 4.0 sacks and is tied for third at the position with 10 defensive stops.
The Browns will also be missing their No. 3 defensive tackle, Mike Hall. While their second starter, Maliek Collins, is still a decent player at 33, the group is razor thin, with only one other player logging any snaps this season. It presents an opportunity for the beleaguered Jets offensive line.
Coming into the season, the Jets were widely expected to have a run-heavy offense. While they’ve been committed to it, the results haven’t been good. So far, their running backs have only accumulated 283 yards on 84 attempts. The 3.4 yards per attempt is the third worst mark in the NFL.
The offensive line has disappointed to start the year, especially since the loss of Dylan Parham. While he avoided major injury, the Jets have struggled to run without him. Going against a similarly banged up opponent, they will aim to take advantage.
The Jets rewarded Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers with extensions this past offseason. While Tippmann has lived up to expectations, Myers hasn’t lived up to his contract. In the weeks since Parham went down, Myers has struggled even more. Meanwhile, backup Jordan Meredith has shown why he was available for a Day 3pick swap.
With the Jets still missing several key offensive players, they need to win the battles they have an edge in. The offensive trenches will be one of them.
After failing to maximize the absences of players like Micah Parsons, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and Caleb Williams over the last three weeks, the excuses are up: It’s time to win.
