NFL Thursday night: No way there’s no ill will as Flacco faces ex-team. Our pick for Jets at Browns
NFL WEEK 17
GREG COTE’S THURSDAY NIGHT PICK
JETS (6-9) at BROWNS (10-5)
Line: CLE by 7.
Cote’s pick: CLE, 19-13.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
Two top-tier defenses and Browns rescue QB Joe Flacco facing his former Jets spices up an otherwise less-than-meaningful Thursday night kickoff to Week 17. NYJ has the best record of any team eliminated from playoff contention and wears the spoiler hat well. But Cleveland is all but assured an AFC wild card ticket, win or lose, so the stakes here are rather low. Browns have a 99 percent playoff shot but clinch with a win. The intrigue for me is that Flacco, 38, a Jet in 2020-22, was a free agent this year staring at an unwanted retirement until the Browns signed him in November. That was after the Jets inexplicably showed zero interest in re-signing him even after Aaron Rodgers got hurt. Flacco said this week he harbors no ill-will; well, not to speak of aloud, at least. But I’d be surprised if a bit of I’ll-show-them didn’t appear in an amped-up performance by him. Last week Flacco completed 11 passes for 265 yards and two TDs -- and that was just to Amari Cooper. Thursday, though, Cooper likely will be haunted by Jet Sauce Gardner, the best CB in the league. Trevor Siemian pitches for the Planes again, and can’t see his offense outscoring Flacco. But the bet-line feels a tad fat for a matchup that figures shy on points.
Betting line via ESPN Bet sportsbook as of Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published December 27, 2023 at 1:15 PM.
