At least
Trevon Coley
Color Rush Jersey , not this way.Todd Bowles¡¯ bunch is 1-2 after an
embarrassing flop in Cleveland, falling 21-17 on Thursday night to a Browns team
that hadn¡¯t won since 2016. Two losses in five days have New York looking for
answers and hoping things don¡¯t quickly spiral before the season is even a month
old.¡°It¡¯s a 24-hour rule and you¡¯ve got to have tough skin,¡± Bowles said Friday
morning. ¡°We¡¯re a tough-minded team and it¡¯s not going to drag. We¡¯ve got a
couple of days to get some rest and get some guys back and get healthy and move
on to Jacksonville next week �no different from if we had won the
ballgame.¡°We¡¯ll be fine that way. I think we¡¯re mentally tough.¡±Judging from the
mistakes, penalties and missed opportunities in the Jets¡¯ losses to Miami last
Sunday and then at Cleveland, the team hasn¡¯t backed up its coach.That
assessment will certainly be tested, though. New York¡¯s upcoming schedule
includes some tough defenses �at Jacksonville, vs. Denver, vs. Indianapolis,
vs. Minnesota and at Chicago �that will be licking their chops at the prospect
of facing rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.¡°Going in, watching the schedule after
he won starting job, I thought this would be his toughest game from a
scheme-coverage standpoint because of the things they do on that side of the
ball,¡± Bowles said. ¡°I thought he handled that well.¡±It¡¯s not that the No. 3
overall pick has been bad. Darnold hasn¡¯t been particularly great, either.In the
Jets¡¯ two losses, he has one touchdown pass and four interceptions, although the
two against Cleveland came late in the game while he was trying to rally New
York to a comeback.¡°It¡¯s not acceptable the way that I played tonight and I know
that, but also take it like a
man
https://www.brownsfanshop.com/Duke-Johnson-Jersey ,¡±
Darnold said after the game. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m responsible for some of the
stagnant offense that we had. I just have to play better. That¡¯s really it. I
have to find completions and continue to do what I¡¯ve been doing.¡±Darnold was 15
of 31 for 169 yards and the two INTs against Cleveland. He has said all the
right things, showing the maturity of a veteran. But the 21-year-old face of the
franchise is going through the rookie rollercoaster of ups and downs.¡°He has a
fire within that you really can¡¯t see, but I thought he competed his butt off
yesterday,¡± Bowles said. ¡°I thought yesterday was one of his better ballgames
from a mental standpoint and a toughness standpoint and a grit standpoint.¡±But
Darnold was easily overshadowed in front of a prime-time crowd by Baker
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick who replaced an injured Tyrod Taylor and
energized the Browns while leading them to their first win since Dec. 24,
2016.While Mayfield was zipping passes all around the field, offensive
coordinator Jeremy Bates seemed to play it mostly conservative with Darnold.
Bowles thought the offense was ¡°well-balanced,¡± but added that the Browns¡¯
defense negated some of the Jets¡¯ game plan in the second half.¡°I mean, we can
run it better, we can protect better, we can run routes better and he can make
some decisions better,¡± Bowles said. ¡°But it¡¯s a team effort. It¡¯s not just Sam.
From that standpoint, I¡¯m not saying that people weren¡¯t helping him out. We can
do a better job all around helping him out.¡±Not committing silly penalties â€?on
both sides of the ball â€?would be a start.There was Isaiah Crowell¡®s touchdown
celebration when he pretended to wipe his rear end with the football before
firing it into the crowd, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty.Cornerback Trumaine Johnson had two penalties during one drive,
including an unsportsmanlike conduct call on a third-down play when he flipped
the ball to Browns receiver Jarvis Landry, and an unnecessary roughness call two
plays later.Also
Greg
Joseph Jersey , Mayfield was sacked on a 2-point conversion attempt at the
end of the third quarter, but cornerback Morris Claiborne committed a holding
penalty. The Browns converted the 2-point try, with Landry throwing to Mayfield,
tying the game and shifting the momentum to Cleveland.¡°Well, the penalties are
definitely on the players,¡± Bowles said. ¡°I mean, coaches can¡¯t play for them.
We understand situations and we know what to do and what not to do. Guys have
got to be calmer in certain situations.¡±Perhaps the biggest swing came with the
Jets leading 14-3 in the third period when Darnold completed a 17-yard pass to
Robby Anderson, who then fumbled. The Browns kicked a field goal four plays
later, making it a one-score game.¡°I know we have character and I know that
we¡¯ll fight and I know we have a decent team,¡± Bowles said. ¡°We¡¯ve just got to
cut down and fix some things.¡±NOTES: WR ArDarius Stewart was re-signed to the
practice squad after being waived earlier in the week. Stewart was a third-round
pick out of Alabama last year. To make room, WR Deontay Burnett was released. ¡
Bowles said there were no major injuries coming out of the game.___ DENVER (AP)
¡ª Pass rusher Shane Ray and safety Su'a Cravens are healthy scratches for the
Denver Broncos¡® game against the Cleveland Browns.The Broncos (6-7) also are
without pass rusher Shaq Barrett (hip) and cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. (broken
right leg) and rookie Isaac Yiadom (separated right shoulder). All three were
ruled out Friday.Derek Wolfe cleared concussion protocol during the week and
returned to the starting lineup Saturday night, and inside linebacker Brandon
Marshall (knee) was active for the first time getting hurt against the Chiefs on
Oct. 28. Cornerback Tramaine Brock returns to action for the first time since
leaving Denver's game against Pittsburgh on Nov. 25 with a rib injury. He'll
start opposite Bradley Roby.Defensive end DeMarcus Walker and guard Nico Falah
were also inactive for Denver.For the Browns (5-7-1), rookie cornerback Denzel
Ward (concussion) missed his second straight game and tackle Austin Corbett
(foot) was inactive with a foot injury.Other inactives for Cleveland were:
quarterback Drew Stanton; defensive back Phillip Gaines (knee); offensive
linemen Austin Corbett and Desmond Harrison; and defensive linemen Chad Thomas
and Carl Davis.