NFL Power Rankings, Week 17: Cowboys inch toward playoffs, Chiefs clinch home field

The New York Jets are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Ok, maybe that’s a stretch. But they have now won back-to-back games — and they did so against two very good clubs. First, it was the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 and now, they beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 16.

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Of course, New York had a bit of an advantage here as the Browns were without their entire receiving corps due to Covid-19 contact tracing. In addition to that, they were down two linebackers for the same reason and right guard Wyatt Teller was out inured with left tackle Jedrick Wills missing the game due to an illness.

Add all that up and the Jets were able to jump out to a 20-3 lead and then they were in prevent mode from there as they held off the comeback attempt. Cleveland got within a touchdown, but New York won 23-16 and is now 2-13.

The win solidified they will have the No. 2 pick in the draft and the Jaguars, who lost to the Chicago Bears, will select first. The question now is if they roll with Justin Fields at that pick, or have they seen enough out of Sam Darnold in the past two weeks to trust in him going forward.