New York @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2017 ) N.Y. Jets 17, Cleveland 14

The Cleveland Browns find themselves in an unfamiliar place after continually discovering painful - and often creative - ways to escape without a victory dating to the 2016 season. The beleaguered Browns, who are winless in their last 19 games (0-18-1), find themselves as the favored team at home for the first time since 2015 heading into Thursday's game against the New York Jets.

"Our players are not going to quit. ... Our guys have the grit and toughness. What we have to do is find a way to win," Cleveland coach Hue Jackson said on the heels of Zane Gonzalez misfiring on his second field-goal attempt and fourth overall in the waning seconds of Sunday's 21-18 setback at New Orleans. Gonzalez was given the boot in favor of former Miami castoff Greg Joseph on Monday before the Browns traded troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon to New England for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. While top overall selection Baker Mayfield remains on the bench in Cleveland, No. 3 pick Sam Darnold became the youngest NFL player to eclipse 300 yards in a game in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Dolphins. Coach Todd Bowles believes his team is in for a stern test with the Browns, saying that: "They're definitely not an easy out. The two last games they lost went down to a nail-biter at the end."

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Browns -3. O/U: 39.5

ABOUT THE JETS (1-1): Quincy Enunwa has proven to be Darnold's most trusted target with 13 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown. Former Browns wideout/quarterback Terrelle Pryor had four catches for 84 yards versus Lions, matching the total number of receptions of Robby Anderson over the first two games. As for the favorite/underdog status, Pryor downplayed any notion that the players are buying into it. "It means nothing to me," Pryor said. "It means nothing to Cleveland; it means nothing to the Jets. Paper is paper. There are so many teams that are underdogs and they're coming out and beating guys. It really doesn't matter."

ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1-1): Tyrod Taylor nearly ended Cleveland's long and winding road of failure by connecting with rookie Antonio Callaway on a game-tying 47-yard touchdown with 1:16 remaining the fourth quarter before the Saints booted the go-ahead field goal under one minute later. "It's big-boy football, and that's what we expect out of (Callaway) to do. You're going to hear a lot more out of him this year," said fellow wideout Jarvis Landry, who has at least five receptions in 19 consecutive contests. The 25-year-old Landry has recorded 90-plus yards and a touchdown in three of his last five encounters with the Jets, including his last such meeting while playing for Miami on Oct. 22.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New York RB Isaiah Crowell, who spent four seasons in Cleveland, answered a 102-yard, two-touchdown performance in his team's 48-17 rout of Detroit on Sept. 10 by being held to just 35 yards on Sunday.

2. Browns RB Carlos Hyde, who has scored a touchdown in four straight games dating to last season, rushed for career-high 193 yards while reeling in a scoring strike in his only career meeting versus the Jets.

3. New York S Marcus Maye, who is not expected to play as he nurses a foot injury, recorded his first career interception in his team's 17-14 win over Cleveland last season.

PREDICTION: Jets 20, Browns 16