Week 17 Spread Favors Browns By More Than A Touchdown Over Jets

On the brink of the playoffs after earning their 10th win of the season over the Texans, Browns open up as massive home favorites for Thursday Night Football

There's a silver lining in the Browns not quite clinching a playoff berth in Week 16. Now they have a chance to do it in front of their hometown fans in Week 17, on prime time nonetheless.

It's a quick turnaround for Cleveland after their 36-22 win over the Texans on Christmas Eve, as a quick turnaround awaits with the Jets coming to town on Thursday night in what is the final home game of the season.

At 10-5, a win over the Jets would do the trick of locking earning them a spot in the postseason. The Las Vegas oddsmakers like their chances to do it.

According to the SI Sportsbook, the Browns are listed as 7.5-point favorites to dispose of New York at home. Cleveland will go into the matchup on a three-game win streak looking to win an 11th game for just the second time since the franchise returned to the shores of Lake Erie in 1999. Of course, the last time it accomplished that feat was in head coach Kevin Stefanski's first year at the helm in 2020. 

That season saw the Browns make a run into the divisional round of the playoffs as a wild card team after taking down the Pittsburgh Steelers in their own building in the wild card round.

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Even though the spread considers the Browns to be heavy favorites, Thursday night games can get a little weird given the short week teams have to prepare. Not only that but despite the Jets 6-9 record, they're no push over.

New York will bring one of the best defenses in football to Cleveland. The Jets rank in the top 10 in total yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per game (second only to Cleveland), interceptions forced and tackles for loss. They're also third to only the Browns and Ravens in defensive EPA at a rate of -0.087.

Still the Browns offense, led by Joe Flacco has been rolling every since mounting that fourth quarter comeback against the Bears two weeks back. If they continue to roll the way they have of late, they should send the Cleveland faithful knowing playoff football is their future.