New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns: 2018 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-20, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 21–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. Darnold (New York Jets) paced the passing game, with -8.47 total EPA, and -16.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (1:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle intended for 10-J.Kearse INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Schobert at NYJ 43. 53-J.Schobert to NYJ 43 for no gain.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 B. Mayfield · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +9.27 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Landry · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +7.21 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
3. 3 Q. Enunwa · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.14 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Johnson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.65 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.03 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Higgins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
7. 7 I. Crowell · New York Jets · Receiving · +1.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Landry · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +1.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New York Jets — I. Crowell (Q2 45:00)
• New York Jets — I. Crowell (Q2 37:59)
• Cleveland Browns — C. Hyde (Q3 15:47)
• Cleveland Browns — C. Hyde (Q4 2:07)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — G. Joseph (Q2 30:27)
• Cleveland Browns — G. Joseph (Q3 20:24)
• New York Jets — J. Myers (Q4 8:58)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: New York Jets won the period 14–3. New York Jets found the end zone from the CLE 7 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 20-I.Crowell left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 44:56) — 2-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.; New York Jets found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q2 37:59); New York Jets added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 37:54) — 2-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NYJ 27 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 17-G.Joseph 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 11–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NYJ 8 (Q3 20:24) — (5:24) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q3 15:47) — (:47) (No Huddle) 34-C.Hyde right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns registered a safety from the NYJ 2 (Q3 15:42) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 80-J.Landry pass to 6-B.Mayfield is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the CLE 10 (Q4 8:58) — (8:58) 2-J.Myers 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q4 2:07) — (2:07) 34-C.Hyde right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q4 2:04) — 17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New York Jets (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle intended for 10-J.Kearse INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Schobert at NYJ 43. 53-J.Schobert to NYJ 43 for no gain. [WPA -24.6% · EPA -4.15]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 16:19) — (1:19) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep right to 80-J.Landry to NYJ 1 for 29 yards (36-D.Middleton). [WPA +13.6% · EPA +2.78]
• New York Jets (Q4 1:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 10-J.Kearse to NYJ 37 for 12 yards (53-J.Schobert). [WPA +13.5% · EPA +2.61]
• New York Jets (Q4 0:32) — (:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass incomplete short left [95-M.Garrett]. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was not down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (No Huddle, Shotgu [WPA -12.8% · EPA -0.26]
• New York Jets (Q3 21:31) — (6:31) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 11-R.Anderson to NYJ 26 for 17 yards (21-D.Ward). FUMBLES (21-D.Ward), RECOVERED by CLE-21-D.Ward at NYJ 28. 21-D.Ward to NYJ 8 for 20 yards (11-R.Anderson). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.42]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New York Jets (Q3 21:31) — (6:31) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 11-R.Anderson to NYJ 26 for 17 yards (21-D.Ward). FUMBLES (21-D.Ward), RECOVERED by CLE-21-D.Ward at NYJ 28. 21-D.Ward to NYJ 8 for 20 yards (11-R.Anderson). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.42]
• New York Jets (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle intended for 10-J.Kearse INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Schobert at NYJ 43. 53-J.Schobert to NYJ 43 for no gain. [WPA -24.6% · EPA -4.15]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 47:21) — (2:21) 4-B.Colquitt punts 3 yards to CLE 34, Center-47-C.Hughlett. 23-T.Brooks MUFFS catch, ball out of bounds at CLE 28. 56 Pierre-Louis deflected punt [WPA -8.0% · EPA -3.18]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:13) — (12:13) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor scrambles right end ran ob at CLE 48 for 22 yards (36-D.Middleton). NYJ-22-T.Johnson was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.86]

Quarterback report card

S.Darnold led all passers in efficiency for New York Jets, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• S.Darnold (New York Jets) · 33 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -16.5% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -8.47 total EPA
• B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 25 dropbacks · 68.0% completion · +14.4% CPOE · +0.37 EPA/play · +9.27 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New York Jets -0.11, Cleveland Browns -0.07) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 14 drives, -6.78 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 13 drives, -8.91 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• S. Darnold (NYJ) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• B. Mayfield (CLE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CLE 7 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 20-I.Crowell left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 44:56 · CLE 15 · Score 7-0
   2-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
3. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 37:59 · CLE 2 · Score 13-0
   (7:59) 20-I.Crowell left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NYJ-20-I.Crowell, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
4. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 37:54 · CLE 15 · Score 14-0
   2-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
5. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 30:27 · NYJ 27 · Score 14-3
   (:27) 17-G.Joseph 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 20:24 · NYJ 8 · Score 14-6
   (5:24) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
7. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 15:47 · NYJ 1 · Score 14-12
   (:47) (No Huddle) 34-C.Hyde right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cleveland Browns Safety (+2) — Q3 15:42 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-14
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 80-J.Landry pass to 6-B.Mayfield is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q4 8:58 · CLE 10 · Score 17-14
   (8:58) 2-J.Myers 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 2:07 · NYJ 1 · Score 17-20
    (2:07) 34-C.Hyde right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 2:04 · NYJ 15 · Score 17-21
    17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.