The Cleveland Browns fell to 3-2 on the season with a 23-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, a defeat that punctured the hype surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson's revival. Watson, who had led three straight game-winning drives to start the season, was sacked eight times and completed fewer than 50% of his passes, finishing with 155 passing yards, one touchdown, and a 69.6 QBR.
Browns' offense stalls
The Browns managed fewer than 300 yards of total offense, matching the Jets' ineptitude in a game that saw both teams give away two fumbles and fail to convert twice in the red zone. The decisive moment came on a botched snap that sailed through the hands of Browns punter Corey Bojorquez, turning into a game-winning touchdown for Jets running back Braelon Allen.
With less than a minute left in the fourth quarter and down by five, Watson faced a 4th-and-11. His pocket collapsed, and he was tackled near the line of scrimmage, ending the game. NBC NFL writer Patrick Daugherty called the performance "unspeakably bad."
Jets and Browns trade blows
The game, described as "tense" and "gritty" by the New York Post, saw both teams struggle offensively. The loss served as a corrective to the early extension talks around Watson, who has been mired in off-field issues that transcend football.
Other Week 5 highlights
In other action, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 on a 57-yard field goal by Cam Little, who holds the record for the longest made field goal in NFL history. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni admitted, "I didn't make the right decision, and I lost us that game."
The Houston Texans won their first game of the year, beating the Tennessee Titans 26-3, with CJ Stroud throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns. The Las Vegas Raiders, who had scored at least 26 points in each of their first four games, managed only 17 points in a loss to the New England Patriots, with quarterback Kirk Cousins sacked three times.
The New York Giants and Washington Commanders played to a 27-27 tie after Washington failed to snap the ball in time for a potential game-winning field goal in overtime. The Minnesota Vikings remained undefeated with a 23-13 win over the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 31-7 in their 214th all-time meeting.
The San Francisco 49ers edged the Seattle Seahawks 27-24, with a 44-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro providing the winning margin. The 49ers played without ace receiver Deebo Samuel, who left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.
