Browns' Decision To Go For A Win Instead Of A Tie Backfires; Jets, With Just Enough Time, Win In OT

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Mark Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 37- yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in overtime to lift the New York Jets over Cleveland, 26-20.

The contest appeared to be headed for the first tie in the NFL since the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals ended in a 13-all deadlock nearly two years ago, but the Jets received the football on the Browns’ 37 after a modest punt return by Jim Leonhard.

On the first play of the series, Sanchez dropped back and found Holmes, who broke free over the middle and raced the remainder of the way down the left sideline for the deciding score.

Sanchez finished 27-of-44 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Jets (7-2), who played back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2003 and avoided their first tie since 1988.

Holmes ended with 76 yards on five catches and Shonn Greene posted 72 yards on 20 carries for New York, which posted a 23-20 overtime win at Detroit last week.

Colt McCoy wound up throwing for 205 yards and a score on 18-of-31 passing for the Browns (3-6), who haven’t won an OT contest since a 33-30 decision at Baltimore on November 18, 2006.

Peyton Hillis added 82 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries for Cleveland, which had won two in a row including a 34-14 drubbing of New England last Sunday.

On the Browns’ first drive of overtime, Chansi Stuckey had the ball ripped away in Jets territory and New York set up on its own 36. Nick Folk then missed a 47-yard attempt wide right with 4:51 left in OT, his third miss of the contest in five attempts.

Cleveland failed to move the ball past midfield, and after a punt, the Jets started from their own nine with 3:06 to go. New York faced a 3rd-and-14 from its own 46 with 1:46 left and Sanchez threw deep for Braylon Edwards, but Joe Haden came down with the ball at the Browns’ three.

The Browns didn’t move the ball on that series, and it proved costly when the Jets won the game on their next offensive play.

Phil Dawson hit a 34-yard field goal to complete Cleveland’s first drive of the contest. His onside kick went out of bounds untouched just after the 10- yard limit, and the Jets took over on the Browns’ 42. Folk capped the drive with a 27-yard field goal.

Hillis fumbled at his own 31 on the Browns’ next drive and New York took over there, but the Jets stalled and Folk’s 48-yard attempt sailed wide right.

The Browns responded with a 61-yard drive ending with Hillis’ 12-yard TD run for a 10-3 game, but the Jets struck back to tie on a 25-yard connection between Sanchez and Jerricho Cotchery inside the four minutes of the second quarter.

Helped by a 37-yard catch-and-run by Josh Cribbs to the Jets’ five, Cleveland took a 13-10 lead on the following drive when Dawson booted a 23-yarder.

New York then moved ahead 17-13 with 23 seconds left in the half when Sanchez capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard plunge.

The Jets took the second-half kick and worked 19 plays over 10-plus minutes, but failed to add to their lead when Nick Folk clanked a 24-yarder off the right upright.

The Browns failed to convert on their two possessions in the quarter.

Folk managed to redeem himself with a 25-yard make to put the Jets ahead by a 20-13 count with 2:42 remaining, ending a 56-yard, 13-play march, but the Browns had a comeback in store.

McCoy found Mohamed Massaquoi for a three-yard scoring strike with 44 seconds to go, and Dawson’s extra point forged a 20-20 deadlock.

New York racked up 456 yards of total offense to 303 for Cleveland…Cotchery finished with 43 yards on three catches…Cleveland had won four of the last five meetings coming in and despite the loss, has taken 12 of the 20 total matchups since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger…The Jets split those 2003 OT games, losing at home to the Giants (November 2) and winning in Oakland (November 9).

Jets Control The Third Quarter Clock But Do Not Score As Halftime Tally Still Stands

New York took the second-half kickoff and went on a ten-minute drive which ended in a missed Nick Folk chip shot field goal. Needing to give the D a breather, the Browns offense then held the ball for all of one minute before having to punt back to the Jets.

A fine defensive stand followed, and a sack of Mark Sanchez by Mike Adams forced a Jet’s punt with less than two minutes to go in the quarter. As the quarter ended the Browns had the ball at their own 28, facing a third-and-long, with the score remaining what it was at the half — New York 17-Cleveland 13.

Late Jets TD Gives New York Halftime Lead

A Mark Sanchez one-yard run late in the first half as the visiting New York Jets ahead of the Browns 17-13 heading into the locker rooms for halftime.

After an exchange of field goals to open the scoring, Peyton Hillis scored from 12 yards out to put the Browns up 10-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Jets tied the game in the second on a Sanchez TD pass to Jerricho Cotchery. After another Dawson field goal put the Browns back on top, Sanchez scored on the keeper to give the Jets the advantage.

For the Browns, Hillis has 60 yards on ten carries, while Colt McCoy is again playing error-free football. McCoy is 8-12 at the intermission for 112 yards with no picks. New York leads 12-11 in first downs, and the Browns have the edge in yardage, 196-163.

Rob Ryan Doesn't Back Down

Well the Ryan clan sure isn’t bashful. After Rex’s amazing dress-up press conference earlier in the week, the ball was in Rob’s court. Earlier tonight, when asked about the Browns “turning a corner” he had this to say:

“This win will go a long way for that, we need that…When we beat this team here, we will be 4-5.’’

I can’t wait for Sunday.

Break It Down: Browns Will Need Big Plays To Beat Jets

 "Brother...can you spare a third-down conversion?"

In a game ripe with matchups between ex-employees, it may be the clash of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan that generates the most on-field fun when their teams meet this Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The twin brothers will face off for the first time since Rex took over the Jets in his own inimitable style in 2009, mixing press-room hyperbole with playtime chaos en route to a berth in the AFC Championship Game. Meanwhile, the lesser-known Rob is climbing the hot list of prospective coaches and could face his brother in a head coach vs. head coach showdown by this time next year.

The Jets' boss said he is ready to unleash some trash talk.

"I'm sure we'll talk about each other's children, wives, whatever," Rex Ryan said. "It's going to get ugly."

The players, meanwhile, will feel the wrath of the rivalry on the field.

"If he's half of what Rex is, it's going to be a major pain for 60 minutes," Jets center Nick Mangold said of Cleveland's Ryan.

Oh, and the man Rex replaced in New York -- Eric Mangini -- has landed as the "other" Ryan's boss with the Browns. The remaining Jets from the Mangini era have acknowledged the impending matchup during game week run-up, but hardly showered their former boss with praise for his work during a 23-25 tenure from 2006-08 that included one playoff appearance.

"There's no hatred with us as the New York Jets organization (from) when Mangini was here," said cornerback Darrelle Revis, a 2007 draft pick who played two years under him in New York. "Smart guy. He did all he could. Now he's in a different place. I'm sure he's looking forward to this game."

The Jets head to the weekend in first place in the AFC East Division, leading the also 6-2 New England Patriots by virtue of an early-season head-to-head win. New York is coming off a 23-20 come-from-behind overtime victory at Detroit this past Sunday.

Cleveland, meanwhile, is 3-5 and third in the AFC North, three games in back of the front-running tandem of Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

"It's going to be special," Mangini said in reference to meeting the Jets seven days after facing another former team in the Patriots, for whom he'd once been an assistant under Bill Belichick. "And last week was special, too."

Cleveland defeated New England by a 34-14 count last week, the team's second consecutive impressive win. Prior to a Week 8 bye, the Browns handed defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans a 30-17 loss in the Superdome on Oct. 24.

Mangini said he's more at ease in all facets of the job in Ohio, particularly facing a media horde less venomous than the one in the Big Apple.

"It's less scripted for me (in Cleveland)," he said. "I know what I want to say. I know the points I want to get across. Not reading it as much as just feeling it and getting the same point across, but from the heart. I think the best thing that I've learned is to take the best things from the people that I've been with who are outstanding, but do it in my way. It's more effective, more authentic."

SERIES HISTORY

The Browns hold an 12-7 advantage in their all-time series with the Jets and have won the last two matchups, the most recent being a 24-18 decision in the Meadowlands in 2007. New York also dropped a 20-13 result in its last visit to Cleveland, which took place in 2006, and last bested the Browns with a 10-7 triumph in Ohio back in 2004.

In addition to the regular-season series, the teams played a memorable postseason game, with Cleveland scoring a 23-20 overtime win at home in a 1986 AFC Divisional Playoff.

Mangini has never previously faced his former employers as a head coach and will be opposing his successor in New York for the first time as well. This will also be Rex Ryan's first meeting with the Browns as a head man.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

It hasn't been as pretty lately, but Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is nonetheless 4-0 on the road this season and completed 56.2 percent (68-of-121) of his passes for 951 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions with a 90.6 passer rating. The team is 5-0 when he throws at least one touchdown pass, and the 336 yards he amassed against the Lions last week were a career best. Things have gone better when Sanchez has turned and handed the ball to others, however, as the Jets have a rushing offense that's fourth in the league with an average of 148 yards per week. In five career games against Cleveland, running back LaDainian Tomlinson has averaged 129.8 yards per game and scored eight touchdowns. Meanwhile, backfield mate Shonn Greene is just 69 yards short of 1,000 for his career. Wideout Braylon Edwards continues the homecoming theme, returning to Cleveland for the first time since being traded by the Browns to New York last season. The third overall selection by the Browns in the 2005 draft, he had a 74-yard touchdown catch against Detroit. Fellow receiver Santonio Holmes recorded his first 100-yard game as a Jet last week, while kick returner Brad Smith is first in the AFC and second in the league with a 30.7-yard average per return.

Among the Cleveland defenders, cornerback Eric Wright had his first interception of the season and tackle Ahtyba Rubin chipped in with his first career sack in last week's victory over the Patriots. Several of their teammates have a New York pedigree, as linebackers Eric Barton (2004-08) and David Bowens (2007-08), end Kenyon Coleman (2007-08) and safety Abram Elam (2007-08) all once played with the Jets. On the numbers, Cleveland has been touched for 105.9 yards per week on the ground and 240.5 per game through the air for a generous 346.4 yards per game total. Additionally, the team has produced 14 sacks and nine interceptions, while foes have gained ground at a 5.5 yards per play clip. Free safety T.J. Ward has a team-best 60 tackles, while linebacker Marcus Benard's 4 1/2 sacks and cornerback Sheldon Brown's and Bowens' two interceptions each also are tops among Browns players.

WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL

As much as the Jets have succeeded on the road, the Browns are beginning to mirror it at home, having won five of their last seven along Lake Erie. After downing the Saints and Patriots in succession, Cleveland seeks a third straight game with 30-plus points. The offensive resurgence has been largely triggered by rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, who's 2-1 as a starter and posted a career-best 101.6 passer rating last week. He scored his first rushing touchdown against New England as well, but spent much of the rest of the time handing off to burly runner Peyton Hillis, who rumbled for his third 100-yard game of the season with a career-high 184 yards. Hillis also tied a career- high with two touchdowns and is tied for third in the league with seven scores this year. On the outside, wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has averaged 17 yards per catch over 47 career receptions and ex-Jet Chansi Stuckey -- a seventh-round pick of New York in 2008 -- had his first career rushing touchdown last week. Also, tight end Ben Watson is averaging 16.3 yards per catch over his last three games.

Individually, chalk Jets defensive end Trevor Pryce as one who'll relish Sunday's matchup, as he's posted 7 1/2 sacks in eight career games against the Browns while then with the Ravens. Statistically speaking, the Jets are allowing 307.1 yards per game, including just 87.4 on the ground and a 3.3- yard average per rush attempt, and 219.8 via the pass while recording 17 sacks and five interceptions. Linebacker David Harris leads New York with 57 tackles, while end Shaun Ellis has a team-best 3 1/2 sacks and cornerback Antonio Cromartie a Gang Green-leading two interceptions.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Browns have gone into two straight games as heavy underdogs and made so- called experts look foolish. In spite of that resurgence and a home-field advantage, it's difficult to make a case going in that they should beat a team generally considered among the conference's -- if not the league's -- elite.  Of course, the way the Jets have played the last month - 8 turnovers in 3 games - they are anything but elite.  I was in the building last weekend when the Browns dominated the Patriots - the place was rocking.  Look for the Browns to ride that wave and shock the world again!

PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 23 - New York Jets 20

Browns LB Marcus Benard Stable And Alert

The AP is reporting that Cleveland Browns linebacker Marcus Benard collapsed in the locker room earlier today during the media interview period.

According to the report, Benard was sitting in a chair when he suddenly collapsed to the floor.  After initially believing Benard was kidding around, teammates, including fellow linerbacker Matt Roth called for team training staff.

No word on Benard's condition has been released by the Browns, though his eyes were reportedly open while being attended to.

Benard leads the Browns with 4 1/2 sacks this season.

UPDATE - Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said Benard was stable and alert and was taken to a local hospital for further testing. Gulkis would not name the hospital.

Browns Work Out Trio Of Defensive Backs

The Browns spent their off day looking at free agent defensive backs according to National Football Post.

The three – Safeties Gerald Alexander and Ko Simpson and cornerback Eric King – spent Tuesday afternoon working out with the Browns though none of them were signed to a deal.

New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Wednesday Injury Report

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday:
CB Marquice Cole (hamstring),
RB Tony Richardson (not injury related)
G Matt Slauson (knee)
RB LaDainian Tomlinson (not injury related)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

LB Joshua Mauga (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

LB Calvin Pace (foot)
CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

S Mike Adams (head)
QB Jake Delhomme (ankle)
DT Shaun Rogers (ankle)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

DE Kenyon Coleman (knee)
T John St. Clair (ankle)
QB Seneca Wallace (ankle)

NFL Week 10 - Browns, Jets Notes

CLEVELAND: RB PEYTON HILLIS, who was acquired via trade by the Browns in March, leads the team with 644 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Hillis is on pace (1,288 rush yards, 14 rush TDs) to join JIM BROWN, LEROY KELLY and MIKE PRUITT as the only running backs in franchise history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in a season…

TE BENJAMIN WATSON leads the team in receptions (31) and receiving yards (360) and can challenge to become the third Browns tight end to reach 800 receiving yards in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer OZZIE NEWSOME and KELLEN WINSLOW.

NEW YORK JETS: Jets newcomer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON has 599 rushing yards and is on pace (1,198) to join Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs EMMITT SMITH (11), WALTER PAYTON (10), BARRY SANDERS (10) and former Jet CURTIS MARTIN (10) as the only players with at least nine 1,000-yard rushing seasons…

Third-year TE DUSTIN KELLER is tied for a team lead with five touchdowns receptions and is on pace to tie RICH CASTER (10 in 1972) for the most touchdown catches by a tight end in franchise history…

DE JASON TAYLOR (130.5) needs three sacks to surpass LAWRENCE TAYLOR (132.5) and LESLIE O’NEAL (132.5) for the eighth most sacks since 1982.

NFL Week 10 - What To Watch For

WHAT TO LOOK FOR - WEEK 10

WORKING OVERTIME:  In a season filled with close finishes, 11 games have been decided in overtime in 2010.  Of those 11, both teams had at least one possession in 10 of those contents (90.9 percent).  If that percentage holds, it would be the highest of any season since 1994, when the NFL moved the kickoff spot back five yards from the 35- to the 30-yard line.

Since 1994, the highest percentage of overtime games in a season in which both teams had at least one possession is 71.4, which occurred twice (1995, 15 of 21; 1996, 10 of 14).

SECOND-HALF SURGES:  Since 2000, 27 teams have reached the halfway point of the season with a .500 or below winning percentage and made the playoffs, including at least one in every season. 

In each of the past four seasons, at least three teams started 4-4 or worse and rebounded to make the playoffs, the longest such streak in NFL history.

The teams since 2006 that started the season at .500 or below through eight games and earned a playoff berth:

GIVE ME FIVE:  Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON, who has 3,955 rushing yards on 787 attempts (5.0 average) in his NFL career, will play in his 40th game on Sunday when the Titans visit Miami.

If Johnson rushes for at least 45 yards against the Dolphins while maintaining his 5.0 yards-per-carry career average, he would become the fourth player in NFL history to rush for 4,000 yards and average 5.0 yards per carry or better in his first 40 games.

Players with 4,000 rushing yards and a 5.0+  yards-per-attempt average in their first 40 games:

QUICK VICK:  Philadelphia quarterback MICHAEL VICK needs 25 rushing yards against Washington on Monday night to surpass Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback STEVE YOUNG (4,239) for the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.

Vick currently ranks third with 4,215 career rushing yards, trailing only Young and RANDALL CUNNINGHAM (4,928).

The quarterbacks with the most rushing yards in NFL history:

RECEIVING LEADERS MEET:  Sunday's Bengals-Colts game will feature three of the top five receiving yardage leaders of the past 10 years (2001-present).  Cincinnati wide receiver TERRELL OWENS leads all NFL players with 10,963 receiving yards during that span, while CHAD OCHOCINCO (10,425) and Indianapolis wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE (10,117) rank fourth and fifth, respectively.

The players with the most receiving yards since 2001:

REED AND REACT:  Baltimore Ravens safety ED REED averages 26.9 yards per return on his 49 career interceptions (1,319 yards).  With an interception against Atlanta on Thursday night, Reed would become the fourth player in NFL history with 50 INTs to average at least 20.0 yards per interception return.

Reed, who has three interceptions in his past two games, would join Pro Football Hall of Famer ROD WOODSON (20.9) DEION SANDERS (25.1) and DARREN SHARPER (22.4) as the only players to accomplish the feat.

The players with 50+ career interceptions and a 20.0+ return average in NFL history:

Reed also needs 13 interception-return yards to surpass Sanders for the third-most in NFL annals:

BRAD TO THE BONE:  St. Louis rookie quarterback SAM BRADFORD, the top choice in the 2010 NFL Draft, has completed 171 of 292 passes for 1,674 yards with 11 touchdowns for the Rams, who are currently tied for first in the NFC West.

Midway through his first professional season, Bradford is on pace to set NFL rookie records for passing attempts (584 projected) and completions (342) and projects to finish among the all-time top five in passing yards (3,348) and passing touchdowns (22) among rookie QBs.

The all-time NFL rookie passing leaders in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns:

SUH-PENDOUS:  Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle NDAMUKONG SUH, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, has 6.5 sacks, tops among rookies and the most by any defensive tackle this season.

Through eight games, Suh is on pace for 13 sacks, which would surpass DANA STUBBLEFIELD's record for sacks by a rookie defensive tackle (10.5 in 1993) since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.  Suh is also within striking distance of the rookie sack record, regardless of position.  JEVON KEARSE (14.5 sacks in 1999) is the current record holder.

The highest sack totals by rookies (since 1982):

Jets Scouting Report: Team’s Performance On Field Backs Up Ryan’s Bold Comments On Sideline

Confident coach might have a point about his New York Jets

The NFL coaches that have character are truly something else.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s head coach Raheem Morris says that his Bucs are “The class of the NFC.” If we were playing cards in a hand of B.S., then Morris would have to pick up all the cards in the center of the deck. That statement was comparable to saying he had four aces on the final hand. I didn’t buy that for a second; and I wasn’t the only one. Not only was it cocky, it was border line imprudent. They probably aren’t even the best team in the NFC South, let alone the entire conference.

But when New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said his Jets are the best team in the NFL, it was at least a moderately believable statement. Seeing that, for the first time since 1979, every team in the league has lost two games at the halfway mark, no NFL guru can put a finger on who stands out vibrantly.

But the Jets have looked something like it; at least for a period of time.

The next thing you know, their receivers can’t catch a cold in the Packers game, and they appeared to be a team with no passing arsenal at all; there is a reason why their wide outs are 27th in the league in receptions, according to NFL.com. And then they barely escaped the Lions clutches at Ford Field the following week; and got lucky in the process. If not for the unavailability of kicker Jason Hanson, then the 307 pound Ndamukong Suh would not have attempted a PAT. He can probably leg press eight times Hanson’s body weight, and somehow the fact that he played soccer as a kid made it logical for him to kick.

But good teams get a ton of breaks throughout the sixteen game schedule, and sometimes would prefer to be lucky. The key play that enabled the Jets to overcome a 20-10 deficit was a late hit personal foul on the Lion’s Julian Peterson that gave New York 15 surplus yards to place them inside of kicker Nick Folk field goal range. They eventually won on a field goal in overtime.

In their two losses, the Jets have scored nine points in totality, while averaging 28 points per game on a winning note. More or less, their supporting cast around sophomore gun slinger Mark Sanchez either shows up, or bails out. Their one form of consistency is in their balanced running game; they average 148 yards per competition, 4th in the NFL, according to NFL.com.

The off-season pick up of Ladainian Tomlinson has this Jets running game at it again. L.T. replaces the departured Thomas Jones, who is now a Chief. Shonne Greene got the bulk of the carries in the Jets playoff run late last year, but has seen his workout decrease with Tomlinson’s resurgence. Former Pro Bowlers D’Brickashaw Fergueson and former Ohio State Buckeye Nick Mangold anchor perhaps the league’s best offensive line. Tight end Dustin Keller is quarterback Marh Sanchez’s favorite target, as Braylon Edwards continues his downward spiral.

But what coach Ryan was bragging about was the Jets defense, and they have an abundance of play makers everywhere. The number one corner back tandem in the NFL of Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis shut down the pass, while Bryan Thomas, Bart Scott, David Harris, and Calvin Pace lead an experienced and balanced linebacking core.

There is plenty to watch out for in this match up between Cleveland and New York. Braylon Edwards and Brodney Pool make their returns to Cleveland Brown’s Stadium, and former Brown’s killers Santonio Holmes and Bart Scott also look to do their thing. The Jets fired coach Eric Mangini after the 2008 season, and he will look to make the Jets front office feel like they made a big mistake.

Jets Scouting Report: Team’s Performance On Field Backs Up Ryan’s Bold Comments On Sideline

Confident coach might have a point about his New York Jets

The NFL coaches that have character are truly something else.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s head coach Raheem Morris says that his Bucs are “The class of the NFC.” If we were playing cards in a hand of B.S., then Morris would have to pick up all the cards in the center of the deck. That statement was comparable to saying he had four aces on the final hand. I didn’t buy that for a second; and I wasn’t the only one. Not only was it cocky, it was border line imprudent. They probably aren’t even the best team in the NFC South, let alone the entire conference.

But when New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said his Jets are the best team in the NFL, it was at least a moderately believable statement. Seeing that, for the first time since 1979, every team in the league has lost two games at the halfway mark, no NFL guru can put a finger on who stands out vibrantly.

But the Jets have looked something like it; at least for a period of time.

The next thing you know, their receivers can’t catch a cold in the Packers game, and they appeared to be a team with no passing arsenal at all; there is a reason why their wide outs are 27th in the league in receptions, according to NFL.com. And then they barely escaped the Lions clutches at Ford Field the following week; and got lucky in the process. If not for the unavailability of kicker Jason Hanson, then the 307 pound Ndamukong Suh would not have attempted a PAT. He can probably leg press eight times Hanson’s body weight, and somehow the fact that he played soccer as a kid made it logical for him to kick.

But good teams get a ton of breaks throughout the sixteen game schedule, and sometimes would prefer to be lucky. The key play that enabled the Jets to overcome a 20-10 deficit was a late hit personal foul on the Lion’s Julian Peterson that gave New York 15 surplus yards to place them inside of kicker Nick Folk field goal range. They eventually won on a field goal in overtime.

In their two losses, the Jets have scored nine points in totality, while averaging 28 points per game on a winning note. More or less, their supporting cast around sophomore gun slinger Mark Sanchez either shows up, or bails out. Their one form of consistency is in their balanced running game; they average 148 yards per competition, 4th in the NFL, according to NFL.com.

The off-season pick up of Ladainian Tomlinson has this Jets running game at it again. L.T. replaces the departured Thomas Jones, who is now a Chief. Shonne Greene got the bulk of the carries in the Jets playoff run late last year, but has seen his workout decrease with Tomlinson’s resurgence. Former Pro Bowlers D’Brickashaw Fergueson and former Ohio State Buckeye Nick Mangold anchor perhaps the league’s best offensive line. Tight end Dustin Keller is quarterback Marh Sanchez’s favorite target, as Braylon Edwards continues his downward spiral.

But what coach Ryan was bragging about was the Jets defense, and they have an abundance of play makers everywhere. The number one corner back tandem in the NFL of Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis shut down the pass, while Bryan Thomas, Bart Scott, David Harris, and Calvin Pace lead an experienced and balanced linebacking core.

There is plenty to watch out for in this match up between Cleveland and New York. Braylon Edwards and Brodney Pool make their returns to Cleveland Brown’s Stadium, and former Brown’s killers Santonio Holmes and Bart Scott also look to do their thing. The Jets fired coach Eric Mangini after the 2008 season, and he will look to make the Jets front office feel like they made a big mistake.

Peyton Hillis Nominated For Weekly Award

Quarterbacks BRETT FAVRE of the Minnesota Vikings, ELI MANNING of the New York Giants and PHILIP RIVERS of the San Diego Chargers are the finalists for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week honors for games played on November 7 - 8, while running backs ARIAN FOSTER of the Houston Texans, PEYTON HILLIS of the Cleveland Browns and MICHAEL TURNER of the Atlanta Falcons are the finalists for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week, the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com/FedEx from 9 a.m. EST on Tuesday through noon EST on Friday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com.  New this year, fans will be able to keep tabs on the achievements of their favorite Air & Ground players (and others) with the NFL Milestone Tracker, presented by FedEx.

Fans will be voting for more than their favorite player. As part of the Air & Ground program, FedEx continues its support of Safe Kids USA by making weekly $2,000 donations in each of the winning players' names. The funding, allocated to local Safe Kids coalitions in that team's city, is used for pedestrian safety improvements throughout the year, from upgraded crosswalks and safety signs to traffic barriers and educational training.

A closer look at the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week finalists:

• Minnesota Vikings QB BRETT FAVRE completed 36 of 47 passes for a career-high 446 yards with two touchdowns, including one with less than two minutes to go to tie the game and send it into overtime, and two interceptions in the Vikings' 27 - 24 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
• New York Giants QB ELI MANNING completed 21 of 32 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants' 41 - 7 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
• San Diego Chargers QB PHILIP RIVERS completed 17 of 23 passes for 295 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Chargers' 29 - 23 win over the Houston Texans.

A closer look at the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week finalists:

• Houston Texans RB ARIAN FOSTER had 27 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans' 29 - 23 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
• Cleveland Browns RB PEYTON HILLIS rushed the Browns to a win with 29 carries for 184 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 34 - 14 win over the New England Patriots.
  
• Atlanta Falcons RB MICHAEL TURNER rushed 24 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons' 27-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Fan can begin voting now for their winners.  

NFL Week 10 - Browns Look To Stay Hot Against Jets

The Browns have won two straight games.  Most years that alone is reason to celebrate.  When those wins come against the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots, well, some might say those are the two biggest wins since the team returned to the NFL in 1999.

It doesn't get any easier this week as the Browns welcome the New York Jets to town.  The Jets, of course, are coached by Rex Ryan, brother of Browns DC Rob Ryan.  Could that give the Browns some kind of advantage?  Perhaps, but it will definitely give them some motivation.  Based on how the Browns played for their Head Coach Eric Mangini last week - going against his former team in New England - it certainly can't hurt.

Of course, the Jets are also a former employer of Mangini's, leading to Mangini saying he felt like he was in the movie "Ghosts of Girlfirend's Past".

Whatever it is, it seems to be working for the Browns.  Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis and Co. have the city fired about the Browns moreso that at any time in recent memory and another win this week could put the Browns on the cusp of contention. 

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, however.  The Jets are a tough team, especially on defense, something neither the Saints or Patriots are.  How McCoy handles that will be key.