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Cleveland Browns 37, NY Jets 20
The Browns enjoyed a solid season this year. Last night, they finally, officially clinched what had felt like an inevitable playoff spot after defeating the Jets, 37-20, in Cleveland.
Cleveland jumped out ahead early, building a 20-7 lead over Gang Green in the first quarter, and going up 34-17 by halftime. It was apparently the most amount of points the Browns had scored in the first half in something like four years.
Yet the second half was entirely different. If there were a lot of points scored in the first half, there were barely any points scored by either team in the second half. Each team managed one field goal, and that was pretty much it.
For the Browns, however, it was enough. They got what they wanted out of it: a win which finally sees them through to the postseason. Kevin Stefanski thus becomes the first head coach since Marty Schottenheimer to lead the Browns to multiple postseason appearances.
By virtue of this win, the Browns improved to 11-5 on the year. Finally, they mathematically clinched a spot in the playoffs. It remains to be seen who, in fact, they will play, although it seems likely that they will face the winner of the AFC South (there currently in a three-way tie for first place in that division among the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Houston Texans).
As for the Jets, this loss now drops them to 6-10 on the season - a season which began with high expectations by many. Aaron Rodgers mused about winning the Super Bowl with Gang Green. One member of the defense compared the defense with the 1985 Chicago Bears defense, claiming that it would be one of the all-time defensive units. And the Jets do have a good defense. But let's not exaggerate: the '85 Bears they most certainly were not.
Gang Green has one more game to play before this season mercifully comes to an end. They will travel to New England to take on the Patriots.
Meanwhile, the Browns will play what very well may be a mostly meaningless regular season finale in Cincinnati next weekend. There may be playoff positioning involved, although that is not guaranteed. It remains to be seen whether or not the Browns will sit their starters out for that contest.
My pick: Accurate
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