The Browns head into Sunday with a chance to keep their run going, and there’s one area they can’t afford to let slip: special teams.
Cleveland sits at 3-1 after winning three straight, a surprising start that has the Browns in position to chase a fourth consecutive victory against the New York Jets. The Jets come in at 1-3, and while Cleveland fans have plenty of reason to feel good right now, the matchup comes with a reminder of how badly things can go if special teams breaks down.
That warning comes from the 2025 meeting, when the Jets beat the Browns 27-20 by striking twice on special teams. New York kick returner Kene Nwangwu opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown in the first quarter. Then, after a quick Browns three-and-out, Isaiah Williams ripped off a 74-yard punt return touchdown to put Cleveland in an early hole.
The Jets added a pair of field goals and a 42-yard receiving touchdown from Breece Hall, and that was enough to finish off Cleveland. It was the kind of game that exposed how much special teams had hurt the Browns, and it was one they should have been able to win.
This year has looked much different so far. Corey Bojorquez has been punting the ball extremely well, the coverage has matched it, and Andre Szmyt has been automatic as a kicker. The return game has also been productive, giving Cleveland a much steadier foundation in that phase.
If that holds up on Sunday, the Browns should have a clear path to a fourth straight win. With the defense playing well and the offense coming along, special teams may be the one thing standing between Cleveland and another step forward.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Found Something That Is Fueling This Winning Streak
The Browns defense did not look like a unit ready to carry a winning streak out of Week 1, but it has settled in quickly since then. Over the last three games, Cleveland has started to play faster and with more confidence, and the change has been tied to defensive coordinator Jim Rutenbergs willingness to adjust the plan from week to week instead of sticking with one approach.
Rutenberg said recently that the staff is leaning into opponent tendencies and making sure the scheme fits the players strengths, which has helped the defense find a better rhythm. For a team riding a three-game surge, the bigger question now is whether that flexibility can keep paying off as the schedule brings a different kind of challenge each week. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A Defensive Line Problem Heading Into Jets Game
The Browns defensive front took a hit this week as they prepared for a matchup with the Jets, with Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. both unavailable after leaving the previous game with injuries. Both linemen missed recent practices, which made their status hard to miss as the week wore on, and their absence leaves Cleveland thinner in an area that usually helps set the tone for the defense.
With Graham and Hall Jr. sidelined, the Browns will need others to carry more of the load up front. Collins, Huntington and Williams are among the players expected to see expanded roles, giving Cleveland a different look in the trenches as it tries to steady a line that suddenly has more questions than it did just a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face A Quarterback Decision That Could Shape Their Deadline
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Cleveland finds itself in an awkward but interesting spot at quarterback, carrying four passers on the roster and at least one looming decision about whether to move somebody before the market closes. The Browns have spent plenty of time sorting through the long-term picture at the position, and the current group comes with very different considerations, from contract status to development arcs to the way each name would land with the fan base.
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green all come with their own arguments for why Cleveland might keep or deal them, which is why the front office appears to be weighing more than just raw talent. Some of the surrounding speculation has already been knocked down, including rumors tied to Sanders, but no trade has been confirmed, leaving the Browns with a deadline dilemma that could still shape how the rest of the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]