Jets vs. Browns: Updated Odds, Money Line, Spread, Props to Watch for TNF
The Cleveland Browns will kick off Week 17 by hosting the New York Jets in the 2023 Thursday Night Football finale.
While the Jets have already been eliminated from playoff contention, this is a massive game for Cleveland. If the Browns win, they'll secure a postseason berth, and they'll still have a shot at the AFC North title—though that would require the Baltimore Ravens losing their final two games.
Thursday's game will also feature Joe Flacco—Cleveland's late-season star that no one saw coming—up against his former team for the first time. The 38-year-old has been on a hot streak, but New York's defense is solid and very familiar with the quarterback's tendencies.
The atmosphere in Cleveland will be electric, and the game should be a ton of fun. Below, we'll dive a bit deeper into the matchup, examine the latest lines and make some picks for our top TNF prop plays.
See all the Thursday Night Football bets at DraftKings.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
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Date: Thursday, December 28
When: 8:15 p.m. ET
Live Stream and TV: Prime Video (Fox in local markets)
Line: Cleveland -7.5
Over/Under: 35 Points
Money Line: Cleveland -340 (bet $340 to win $100), New York +270 (bet $100 to win $270)
Preview and Predictions
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At first blush, this might not seem like an evenly matched contest. The Browns are a 10-win team on the doorstep of the playoffs. The Jets are playing for nothing but pride. However, we have two good defenses that could turn this into a sloppy, turnover-filled game.
Flacco has been good for an interception or two each week, and the Jets are very familiar with his tendencies. That could even the quarterback matchup between Flacco and Jets starter Trevor Siemian.
The fact that Cleveland won't have standout kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) further evens things here.
And while the Jets are out of the postseason mix, they're not looking to simply waste their final two weeks by going through the motions. New York is looking to build momentum heading into 2024 because both head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas will be back.
"My decision is to keep them," franchise owner Woody Johnson said, per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt.
The Jets got a win over the Washington Commanders last week, and they'll look to make it two in a row by forcing Flacco into mistakes.
New York will likely start by trying to contain Amari Cooper, who set a Browns franchise record with 265 receiving yards last week. Expect a heavy dose of Sauce Gardner on Cooper, which will force Flacco to find other targets.
Given the talent on the Jets' third-ranked defense and Flacco's penchant for picks (seven in four games), Cleveland may look to grind things out with its defense and running game.
It's a strategy that should work. The Browns defense has been stellar at home, and while the Jets have allowed just 4.0 yards per carry, they also rank 24th in rushing yards allowed.
We'll probably see enough deep shots from Flacco to keep the defense honest, but we're likely to see Cleveland lean on Myles Garrett and the defense while trying to win the field-position battle.
Prediction: Cleveland 25, New York 15
Joe Flacco Over 0.5 Interceptions
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While the odds aren't overly enticing (-190) for this prop, it feels like one of the safest wagers of the week.
Flacco is playing carefree football right now, which is fun to watch and makes the Browns passing attack dangerous. However, it's regularly led to miscommunications with receivers who didn't know the 38-year-old a little more than a month ago.
This would be an attractive prop even if Flacco wasn't playing a stout defense that knows his strengths and weaknesses. He's thrown at least one pick in every start this season, and he has five in his last two outings.
The Jets do know how Flacco likes to attack opponents, and they're capable of generating turnovers in bunches. While New York had a three-game gap without a takeaway, it had three in Week 12 and another three last Sunday.
Limiting turnovers should be a priority for Cleveland, but the Browns, thus far, have not even considered reining in Flacco. He's attempted no fewer than 42 passes in each of his four starts.
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David Njoku over 48.5 Receiving Yards
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Browns tight end David Njoku is -115 to top the over/under in receiving yards. If the Jets do give Cooper the sort of attention we'd expect, Njoku should reach the mark with relative ease.
The 27-year-old has cemented himself as Flacco's No. 2 target, and he's often been looked to in critical situations. When the Browns needed to mount a go-ahead drive against the Chicago Bears two weeks ago, Njoku caught both of Flacco's passes on that drive.
And while the Jets have a tremendous secondary, they haven't exactly done the best job of limiting opposing tight ends. Washington's Logan Thomas caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown last week, and with all due respect to the 32-year-old Thomas, Njoku is a more explosive player at this stage in their careers.
Despite having just 17 yards in Flacco's first start, Njoku has averaged 64 yards with the veteran under center. Expect this over/under to trickle upward between now and kickoff.
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