Jets doomed by brutal first half on defense and more penalties in 37-20 loss to Flacco and Browns
By the time New York's defense stiffened against Joe Flacco, the damage was done. The Jets couldn't overcome a brutal first half when Flacco carved up a secondary he knows well and New York was roughed up 37-20 on Thursday night by the Cleveland Browns, who clinched a playoff berth. Flacco, who spent the previous three seasons with the Jets, passed for 309 yards — 296 in the first half — as the Browns (11-5) built a 20-point lead and then held on over a sloppy final 30 minutes to send the Jets (6-10) to their seventh loss in nine games.