Ranking the 10 saddest plays from Jets-Browns
The Jets-Browns game was billed as the worst of the 2017 NFL season. I'm happy to report that it lived up to the hype. New York managed to eek out a 17-14 win in a game you probably didn't (and shouldn't ever) watch.
We don't blame you for not tuning in, but we at For the Win are here to serve. We took it upon ourselves to watch this abomination of a football game and picked out the 10 saddest plays. So now you can enjoy the so-bad-it's-actually-good football without having to sit through an entire Jets-Browns game. Let's get to the lowlights…
10. Jabrill Peppers forgets the fair catch rule
</div> <p>Peppers is a rookie, but the fair catch rule is consistent throughout every level of football. That doesn't stop him from trying to run after clearly calling for a fair catch.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">9. The turf monster tackles Elijah McGuire</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/td2fz?id=td2fz&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>This was a nifty little screen pass … until McGuire lost his footing and tackled himself.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">8. This Browns run on 4th-and-2</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/7g6b9?id=7g6b9&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>Not even close. This was the third time the Browns failed to score from inside the Jets' 5-yard-line.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">7. DeShone Kizer's red zone interception</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/ao04u?id=ao04u&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>The Browns had numerous opportunities to take a lead in the first half. It never happened because of plays like this. Kizer throws it right to the Jets defender.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">6. The Jets getting fooled by a fake flea flicker</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/ggtzu?id=ggtzu&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>There's no way this play should work against an NFL defense, but it did. Good job, Jets.</p> <p>Here's another angle.</p> <p><asset-embed uri="https://twitter.com/Cianaf/status/917085891839086592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" /> </p> <h3 class="presto-h3">5. Josh McCown runs into his own teammate</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/qz5hd?id=qz5hd&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>I'm not sure if this is designed incompetence or if the play was just executed poorly. Either way, McCown and Austin Seferian-Jenkins Three Stooging each other is what you expect when these teams face off.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">4. Kizer's pitiful pitch</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/7pkvi?id=7pkvi&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>This is a basic option play that every college team in the country can execute without a hitch. Not the Browns.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">3. McCown gets hurt on a kneel down</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/1iscj?id=1iscj&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>This isn't the saddest play, but it's easily my favorite. McCown takes a knee and one of his teammates steps on his foot.</p> <p>And some wise guy on Twitter had the audacity to criticize <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/madden-17-glitch-ryan-fitzpatrick-injury-in-his-knee-on-kneel-down-play"> <em>Madden</em> for having an injury on a kneel down</a>.</p> <p><asset-embed uri="https://twitter.com/rob_b1991/status/766761459221143552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" /> </p> <p> <em>If it's in the game, it's in the game</em> for real.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">2. Zane Gonzalez wide right</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/jizml?id=jizml&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>Gonzalez blows an opportunity to give the Browns their first lead of the season. He couldn't even hit the netting.</p> <h3 class="presto-h3">1. Zane Gonzalez wide right, Part 2</h3> <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.338%;" class="streamable-embed-container"> <iframe mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/c346f?id=c346f&width&height&autoplay&muted" class="streamable-embed"/> </div> <p>And then he did it again, missing wide right on a second consecutive field goal attempt. This time from only 39 yards out. The Browns can never have nice things.</p> </body></html>