Browns 37, Jets 20: Cleveland clinches playoff berth as Joe Flacco keeps rolling

CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco threw another perfect pass, good for another touchdown, this one to Elijah Moore in the side of the end zone. Flacco turned and let out the scream of a 38-year-old having the time of his life and unloaded a fist-pump that can only come from a 6-foot-6 frame. The Browns are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and only second time since 2002 after a 37-20 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night at rocking Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns (11-5) secured a wild card spot and are still alive for the AFC North title and No. 1 seed in the AFC. They'll have to wait until Sunday to see if the regular-season finales have meaning. Their focus Thursday was giving themselves a chance in the postseason tournament. They did just that with an exciting victory full of big plays — all in the first half. They couldn't have done it without Flacco. That's been true for a month. The crowd showed its appreciation by chanting his name as the final minutes ran off the clock. The incredible run as the late-season replacement continued with his franchise-record fourth straight 300-yard passing game — 309, including 296 in the first half — and three more touchdowns. He's 4-1 as the starter after spending the first 11 weeks of the season at home in New Jersey without a team. He's thrown for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns since taking over — both tops in the league over the span. Flacco, who started his career with the Ravens and spent the previous three years with the Jets, has filled his teammates with faith and captured the imagination of the fans. The former Super Bowl MVP was unwanted until signing to the Browns practice squad Nov. 20 after Deshaun Watson was lost for the season with a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. Watson watched from the sideline Thursday night without a sling and chest-bumped Flacco after a touchdown. Flacco's magical ride seems fitting for a season that defies explanation. The Browns have lost stars and starters throughout, including Watson and running back Nick Chubb. They beat the Jets without No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper (heel), kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) and punter Corey Bojorquez (quadriceps). Moore left in the second quarter with a head injury. But the Browns just keep coming under Kevin Stefanski, who's a legitimate candidate to win his second Coach of the Year award. His first came in 2020, when he snapped a 17-year playoff drought. He's 37-29 and the first Browns coach since Marty Schottenheimer in the late 1980s to make multiple trips to the playoffs. The Browns finished their home schedule 8-1. The party started before the game. It didn't stop and could keep going all weekend. With Cooper inactive, tight end David Njoku became the first option and continued his career season. He had four catches for 113 yards in the first quarter and finished with six for 134. He lost a fumble after a 19-yard catch-and-run as he tried to jump over the defenders. The Browns had struggled in the run game over the last four games but had success early vs. the Jets. Jerome Ford rushed 10 times for 59 yards and the team totaled 79 yards in the first half. Ford added two catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The rushing issues returned in the second half, but the cushion was big enough. A blocked field goal by Shelby Harris kept the lead at three possessions in the third quarter. The Browns made their intentions known early. They weren't going to be denied. They went 75 yards on the opening possession for a touchdown. Njoku had a 36-yard reception on third-and-15 from the Browns 20-yard line and added a 28-yarder to the Jets 7. Flacco threw a touchdown to Ford in the flat on the next play. The Jets (6-9) went 75 yards on their opening possession to tie the game. It was almost all Browns after that. The Jets cut the lead to 27-14 with 2:02 left when outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson made a smart and athletic play for a pick-six. Flacco was throwing to Njoku in the left flat and saw Johnson in the way. Flacco pumped to get Johnson to jump, but when he reloaded and threw, Johnson was able to get up and get a hand on the ball to deflect it. He caught the ball and returned it 37 yards for the touchdown. The Browns quickly answered. Flacco threw 22 yards to Moore, who stayed down for a long time before sitting up and slowly walking off. The front of his head was driven into the ground, and his body twitched as he lay on the ground. He was evaluated for a head injury and ruled out. He caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown vs. the team that drafted him in 2021 and traded him to the Browns in March. He and Flacco were teammates in New York the last two seasons and celebrated their touchdown connection. On the play after Moore was hurt, Flacco escaped a sack, scrambled left, pulled up and dumped to Ford, who streaked down the left side before breaking tackles inside the 10-yard line to finish the 50-yard touchdown. The absence of Hopkins showed up early but didn't have an impact. Riley Patterson, who was signed to the practice squad Monday, missed the second extra point try wide right when he didn't hit the ball cleanly. Stefanski passed up a 24-yard field goal try after the missed PAT and Flacco threw incomplete on fourth down. Patterson rebounded to make the next three extra points and a 33-yard field goal for the final margin. Everyone got into the act. Undrafted rookie safety Ronnie Hickman stepped in front of a Trevor Siemian pass in the first quarter, cut from left to right and returned his first interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Defensive end Myles Garrett snapped his five-game sackless streak by taking down Siemian in the second quarter. He also drew a holding penalty after complaining about a lack of calls for weeks. Garrett has 14 sacks. The Browns haven't won an AFC North title since it was formed in 2002. They would win the elusive crown if they beat the Bengals next weekend in Cincinnati and the Ravens lose Sunday to Miami and the following week to the Steelers. Both games are in Baltimore. The Browns could also get the No. 1 seed and the conference's only bye by winning the North and if the Dolphins (11-4) lose to the Bills in the finale. This is Cleveland's second 11-win season since returning in 1999. They went 11-5 in 2020. They won a wild-card game in Pittsburgh that year before dropping a close decision in Kansas City. With Flacco and their resilience, the Browns hope to go even further this time. Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on X.