True to the star-crossed nature of the New York Jets‘ franchise, a punt might turn out to be one of the most vital plays of the season. This time, however, a de facto fourth-down surrender turned out to be the most lucrative play of their first half in Cleveland.
Facing a 7-0 deficit and a short fourth down at the cusp of the hosting Browns territory, the Jets lined up for a Braden Mann punt. But with the mythical creature Brownie the Elf residing at the 50-yard-line, the Jets pulled off some magic of their own: Mann, said to be injured leading into the visit to First Energy Stadium, found Jeff Smith for a 17-yard-gain, one that set the Jets up for a potentially game-changing sequence.