Jets Fall To Cleveland Browns In 4th Quarter, 24-18
BY DAN MILLER

Jets No. 1 Mike Nugent makes a 35-yard field goal to end the half. For the night, Nugent made 4 field goals for 12 of the Jets' 18 points. Photo Vinny DuPre

On December 9, a cold, windy, overcast Sunday afternoon marked with freezing rain, the New York Jets hosted the Cleveland Browns at Giants Stadium in a matchup that had meaning for both teams. A win for the Jets would have meant a two-game wining streak; a victory for the Browns would bring them closer to post-season play.

The Jets won the coin toss and decided to receive. On the opening kickoff Leon Washington, who may be heading for the pro bowl as a kickoff return specialist, fumbled the kickoff- an omen for things to come. The Jets recovered the ball at their own ten-yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens hit Jerricho Cotchery for a 12-yard pass and a first down. Clemens then hit Cotchery again for a 22-yard gain to the Jets' 45. On 1st and 10 at the 45, Thomas Jones carried for a 4-yard gain. Another Jones run went for a gain of one yard. On 3rd and 5, Clemens passed to Laverneuse Coles for a gain of 6 and a first down at the Browns 44. Jones ran for 2 to the 42. Washington ran for 1 to the Browns' 41. On 3rd and 6 Clemens had no one to throw to and ran the ball for no gain, which brought up a Jets 4th down. Jets punter Ben Graham kicked the ball to the Browns' 2-yard line.

Jets No. 11 Kellen Clemens had 286 yards, making 24 of 41 attempts. Photo Vinny DuPre

On the next two series of downs, the Jets and Browns traded punts to end the first quarter with no score.

The Browns broke the ice and scored first on a sevenyard touchdown pass from Derek Anderson to Jamal Lewis. The kick was good, giving the Browns a 7-0 lead with 1:20 left in the first half.

The Jets came back quickly before the end of the half to score on a 35-yard field goal by Mike Nugent with only 5 seconds remaining before the half. The teams went into the intermission with the Browns leading, 7-3.

The second half began with Cleveland taking the kickoff and in five plays scoring again on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Derek Anderson to wide receiver Braylon Edwards, extending the Browns' lead to 14-3. The touchdown by Edwards was his 13th of the season, tying a Cleveland Browns franchise record held by Gary Collins for 44 years. The Jets came back and scored on a Nugent 41-yard field goal with 2:55 left in the third quarter, cutting the Browns' lead to 14-6.

In the fourth quarter, the Jets cut the lead to 17-12 on a Clemens one-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good.

The Jets were successful on an onside kick. They could not move the ball and had to settle for another Nugent field goal that put three more points on the scoreboard for the Jets who now trailed Cleveland 17-15. Another attempt for an onside kick was not successful and allowed the Browns to move the ball downfield and scored what resulted in the winning touchdown on a 31-yard run by Lewis, who led all rushers for 118 yards on 21 carries. The Jets scored again on a 35-yard Nugent field goal and attempted a third and final onside kick that was recovered by Cleveland to seal the win.

Leading receivers for Cleveland were Edwards with 3 receptions for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, Tight End Kellen Winslow with 4 receptions for 34 yards and no touchdown, Steve Heiden with 2 receptions for 20 yards and no touchdowns and Lewis with 3 receptions for 19 yards and one touchdown.

Cotchery led the Jets, with 6 receptions for 119 yards, Coles with 7 catches for 48 yards, Chris Baker with 3 receptions for 48 yards, Washington with 4 catches for 31 yards and Smith with 3 catches for 27 yards. The Jets had no passing touchdowns. The leading rusher for the Jets was Jones, who rushed for 106 in 24 attempts.

For the second time in little more than a year, Jets' Coach Eric Mangini and the Browns' Romeo Crennel opposed each other as head coaches. The longtime friends, who worked together as defensive assistants with the Jets (1997-99) and Patriots (2001-04), squared off in October 2006 in Cleveland, with the Browns also taking that game, 20-13.

"We were fortunate to win a hard-fought game today," Crennel said. "I knew Eric would have his team ready to go and they played extremely hard today."

"I really was pleased with the way we fought through the game, right up there until the end," Mangini said.

The Jets (3-10) travel next Sunday to New England to face the undefeated Patriots (14-0).