For most of a rain-soaked afternoon at MetLife Stadium, the Jets’ defense did enough to win and the offense did enough to lose. A dropped Browns punt snap late in the fourth quarter settled it.
The New York Jets beat the Cleveland Browns 17–12 at MetLife Stadium on October 11, 2026, ending a three-game losing streak. The defense sacked Deshaun Watson eight times and held Cleveland to 198 yards, and Braelon Allen’s 22-yard touchdown with 3:07 left was the winner. The Jets are 2–3.
It also ended Cleveland’s three-game winning streak. The week before, the Jets were run off the field in a 23–12 loss to Chicago; we broke down what they wanted to fix in the Jets vs. Browns Week 5 preview.
How did the Jets win?
With a defense that never let Cleveland breathe and one big special-teams break. The Browns went ahead 12–10 on Watson’s 29-yard touchdown pass to David Boston with 6:21 left, then missed the extra point. On the next punt, Corey Bojorquez couldn’t handle the snap, and reserve linebacker Trevin Wallace recovered.
Three plays later, Braelon Allen took a handoff off left tackle and found a crease for a 22-yard touchdown. Cleveland got one more chance, but on fourth down Will McDonald IV stripped Watson and recovered the ball himself to end it.
How dominant was the Jets’ pass rush?
It was the story of the game. The Jets sacked Watson eight times for 53 yards, hit him 13 times, and forced five three-and-outs, per the box score. Rookie David Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick, recorded three sacks.
Cleveland finished with 198 total yards and 102 net passing yards. Watson completed 15 of 33 passes. The Browns’ only touchdown came on the one deep shot that got through.
What worked on offense?
The opening drive and Allen. Geno Smith found Garrett Wilson for a 32-yard touchdown on the first possession, and Wilson finished with seven catches for 104 yards on 11 targets. With Breece Hall still out, Allen ran 24 times for 116 yards — his first career 100-yard game, per the club.
After that first drive, though, the Jets did not score again until Jason Sanders’ 54-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Smith finished 17 of 30 for 182 yards and was sacked four times. Tim Patrick made his Jets debut and caught two passes.
What nearly cost the Jets the game?
Turnovers and flags. Smith lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Carson Schwesinger, and in the third quarter, with the Jets at the Cleveland 11, tight end Kenyon Sadiq caught a short pass and had the ball knocked loose by former Jet Quincy Williams. Sadiq left with a concussion on that play; our Kenyon Sadiq concussion update has what comes next.
The Jets also took 10 penalties for 102 yards, the second straight week with double-digit flags. In a five-point game, that is the margin for error the defense kept buying back.
What did Aaron Glenn say after the win?
Glenn pointed to the finish. “Our guys fought and we finished,” he told reporters, per the club’s recap. He also credited special teams and complementary football, the thing he said was missing a week earlier in Chicago.
Who do the Jets play next?
The Jets visit the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Sadiq’s status and the rest of the week’s designations will be on the Jets injury report, and the full season is on the 2026 Jets schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of Jets vs. Browns in Week 5?
The Jets beat the Cleveland Browns 17–12 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 11, 2026. New York is 2–3, and Cleveland is 3–2.
Who scored the Jets’ touchdowns against the Browns?
Garrett Wilson caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith on the opening drive, and Braelon Allen ran for a 22-yard go-ahead touchdown with 3:07 left.
How many sacks did the Jets have against the Browns?
Eight, all on Deshaun Watson. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey had three, and Will McDonald IV sealed the game with a fourth-down strip-sack.
How did the Jets get the ball back for the winning touchdown?
Browns punter Corey Bojorquez could not handle a snap, and the Jets recovered to set up a short field. Allen scored three plays later.
Did any Jets get hurt against the Browns?
Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq left with a concussion after losing a fumble in the third quarter and is in the NFL concussion protocol.
Who do the Jets play next?
The Jets visit the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.