Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets, 9/20/18 Week 3 Predictions

Browns vs. Jets TNF Spread Pick

The Cleveland Browns will be a rare favorite when they host the New York Jets on NFL Thursday Night Football tonight. Will the Browns do the unthinkable and actually win their first game since December of 2016?

Game Snapshot

301 New York Jets at 302 Cleveland Browns

8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 16

FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Browns are 3-point favorites to beat the Jets. The total, meanwhile, sits at 39.5 points. As of this writing, 62% of the public betting tickets are on the Browns to cover the point spread.

New York Jets

Sam Darnold completed 25-of-41 passes for 334 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the Jets' Week 2 loss to the Dolphins. Darnold averaged over eight yards per attempt for the second straight week, but his two picks were costly in a one-score game. The second wasn't necessarily Darnold's fault; Terrelle Pryor appeared to cut off his route in the back of the end zone, allowing Xavien Howard to catch it. Darnold also missed a would-be game-changing play when he overthrew wide-open Quincy Enunwa in the back of the end zone in the second half. Darnold will be a QB2 when the Jets visit Cleveland on Thursday Night Football in Week 3.

Cleveland Browns

Browns coach Hue Jackson confirmed Antonio Callaway has an every-down role.

"We were not trying to push him too fast, not give him too much," Jackson said on Callaway’s role in the season opener. "Now, he has to take it all. It’s time." Callaway played 82 percent of Week 2 snaps. He led the Browns in receiving and was clocked at 21 MPH on his touchdown — the second fastest route run behind only Tyreek Hill this year. With target-hog Jarvis Landry (knee) questionable for Thursday night, Callaway needs to be rostered in all formats.

NFL Betting Trends

New York

The Jets are 7-3-1 against the spread in their last 11 games versus the AFC and 4-1 against the number in their last five games coming off a loss.

Cleveland

The Browns are 9-21-1 against the spread in their last 31 conference games.

Prediction

The Jets were dreadful offensively a week ago versus the Dolphins and this is a bad spot for them with this being their third game in 11 days. The Browns weren’t much better offensively a week ago themselves but they’re forcing turnovers defensively and at least setting up their offense for an opportunity to score. Save for his back-breaking interception a week ago in the fourth quarter in New Orleans. Tyrod Taylor does an excellent job taking care of the football. I can’t believe I’m writing this, but I like the Browns to win.

 

NFL Week 3 Prediction: Cleveland Browns -3