Hall of Fame Game, New York Jets 16 vs 21 Cleveland Browns summary stats, and highlights | NFL Preseason
The Cleveland Browns topped the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio on Thursday night as football returned after five long months. Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson stole the show in the second half, spurring a second half comeback, going 8/11 for 82 yards and a TD in the 21-16 win at Tom Benson Stadium.
Stars on the sidelines
There was no Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson as most of the stars from both teams watched the game in street clothes, but that was a small price to pay knowing that the NFL is back in our lives.
With no Rodgers, the Jets went to former starting QB to begin the game and Zach Wilson had the throw of the night in the first quarter when he hit Malik Taylor on a 57 yard dime down the sideline that led to the opening field goal of the game. Wilson played most of the first quarter going 3/5 for 65 yards.
The Jets defense was one of the best units in the league last year, and they put on a show in the first half forcing a fumble and an interception that led to one of Greg Zuerlein’s three field goals of the night and a 10 yard touchdown from Isreal Abanikanda.
Thompson-Robinson shines in Canton
Cleveland’s offense finally came to life late in the first half when QB Kellen Mond and RB John Kelly Jr. drove down the field and put the Browns on the score board with a three yard TD pass to Kelly with under a minute to go in the second quarter.
The highlight of the second half was the Brown’s rookie QB out of UCLA, Dorian Thompson-Robinson who drove his team down the field on the opening drive of the second half, with a couple brilliant throws and a beautiful block to spring Demetric Felton on a 16 yard TD run to cut the lead to 16-14.
The players weren’t the only ones in preseason mode, the lights at Tom Benson Stadium cut out between the third and fourth quarter delaying the game for about 15 minutes.
Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday
The lights turned back on and so did Thompson-Robinson who continued to impress with a 9 play 78 yard drive that ended with a perfect pass to Austin Watkins Jr. for a 22 yard TD to take the 21-16 lead early in the fourth.
That would be enough to give the Browns as the defense held off Chris Streveler and the Jets offense to secure the win at the Hall of Fame Game as the festivities are just getting under way in Canton.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson had himself a night, going 8/11 for 82 yards and throwing what would be the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Mond got the Browns offense into a groove on the final possession of the first half, as he and John Kelly Jr. connected on a 3 yard TD pass for Cleveland's first points.
Just a few minutes later Chazz Surratt picked off Kellen Mond which put the Jets in great field position for the first TD of the night.
The Jets defense was ferocious last year, and in the first half of the opening preseason game they came out hunting. They forced two turnovers which led to 10 points on the other end.
Zach Wilson got the start tonight as Aaron Rodgers watched from the sidelines and dropped this beautiful pass into the hands of Malik Taylor for a 57 yard strike on the play of the night.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
Football is offically back! The Browns take down the Jets to take the Hall of Fame Game and begin the weekend full of festivities in Canton!
This time Streveler is picked off by Bolden and that will do it!
The Browns with a comeback to win the Hall of Fame Game in their own back yard as rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson shined for the Browns.
After a delay of game, Steveler overthrew Kapp and should have been picked off but the Jets survived for another play.
4th and 15 coming up.
Streveler goes deep for Luther and there was a lot of contact on the attempted catch but the flag stays in the refs pocket.
3rd and 10 from the CLE 29.
Streveler was looking for Crockett but the pass bounces off the ground and that will bring up 2nd and 10 with under a minute left.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 29.
Crockett moves the chains with a 2 yard run up the middle.
1st and 10 from the CLE 29.
Crockett was stopped at the line of scrimmage on 2nd and short and that will bring up 3rd and inches with the clock ticking.
Streveler finds Jenkins on the left side for a 9 yard gain and that will bring us to the Two Minute Warning.
2nd and 1 from the CLE 31 coming up.
Streveler goes deep on first down looking for Kapp, and the flag flies for defensive pass interference.
1st and 10 from the CLE 40 after the penalty.
Great return from Charlton who took it back 54 yards to the NY 45.
Thompson-Robinson finds Greaney for a 7 yard pass but that will be a few yards short of the marker.
4th and 1 and the Browns will punt.
Thompson-Robinson tucks and runs up the middle for a five yard scramble.
3rd and 8 from the CLE 30.
McCrary is dropped for a three yard loss and the Jets take a timeout with 3:28 to go in the fourth quarter.
McCray gets the handoff and moves the chains which will keep the clock running and the Browns in possession.
1st and 10 from the CLE 28.
CLE start their drive from the 17 and Thompson-Robinson scrambles for a three yard gain.
2nd and 7 from the CLE 20.
Dye is stuffed at the line on 3rd and short and the Jets will punt on 4th down with 6:00 to go.
The Browns jumped offside, Streveler let loose before getting hit and almost had it picked but he Jets get a free five yards.
3rd and 3 from the NY 44.
Dye is wrapped up in the backfield for a loss of one.
3rd and 8 from the NY 39.
Dye gets the handoff and picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the NY 40.
Streveler tucks and runs up the middle, diving for the 7 yards first down.
1st and 10 from the NY 37.
Crockett picked up 2 yards before getting popped and losing the ball out of bounds.
3rd and 4 from the NY 31.
New York take over at the 25 and Crockett gets the handoff out of the shot gun to start the drive and picks up 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the NY 29.
TOUCHDOWN CLEVELAND!!!
Thompson-Robinson with a strike into the chest of Watkins on the deep slant and he goes untouched into the end zone!
Cleveland take the lead for the first time tonight, 21-16 with 9:33 to go in the fourth quarter.
Hall breaks one on a sweep to the left picking up 18 yards and a first down!
1st and 10 from the NY 22
Thompson-Robinson was under pressure but kept his cool and hit Harley over the middle for four yards.
3rd and 4 from the NY 40.
Hall gets the handoff for a third straight play and he picks up 2 yards on the run off the left tackle.
2nd and 8 from the NY 44.
Hall breaks a run up the middle out of the shotgun and takes it 11 yards for a first down.
1st and 10 from the NY 46.
Sweet to the right for Hall and he is stopped for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 42.
Thompson-Robinson finds Watkins on a deep out route for 13 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the CLE 42.
Thompson-Robinson goes short to Mitchell-Paden for five yards.
3rd and 3 from the CLE 29.
CLE get the ball at their 22 and Hall picks up 2 yards on a run up the middle on first down.
2nd and 8 from the CLE 24.
Streveler looking to Luther again deep down the field but that pass is incomplete and the Jets will punt.
4th and 8 from NY 29.
Streveler starts the fourth quarter at QB for the Jets and his second down throw to Luther falls incomplete.
3rd and 8 from the NY 29.
We are currently in the midst of a delay because the lights went out here at Tom Benson Stadium.
Dye gets the handoff up the middle and picks up 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 8 from the NY 29 and that will bring us to the end of the third quarter!
Jets lead 16-14 with 15:00 to go in Canton.
NYJ take over from the 27 yard line with 35 seconds left in the third quarter.
Thompson-Robinson skies his pass over the middle looking for Harley and that brings up 4th down. CLE will punt the ball away from around mid field.
Felton with another sweep to the left and he picks up four yards.
3rd and 2 coming up from the CLE 39.
Felton gets the sweep to the right side and picks up four yards.
2nd and 6 from the CLE 35.
Boyle rolls left looks for Erickson on the sideline but the pass is batted away and the Jets will turn over on downs.
CLE take the ball back at the 31 with 2:12 left in the 3rd quarter down by 2.
Dye is stopped for no gain on 3rd and short and the Jets will go for it from the 31.
Dye stuffed after a pick up of a yard up the middle.
3rd and 3 from the CLE 31.
Play action from Boyle and he finds Kuntz for a 6 yard gain after the bootleg and pass to the left.
2nd and 4 from the CLE 32.
Boyle going deep to the right side looking for Brownlee, but he overthrew his WR by a couple yards.
3rd and 9 from the NY 39.
Dye gets the handoff again, but this time picks up only a yard.
2nd and 9 from the NY 39.
Dye up the middle on 2nd and short and he picks up 4 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the NY 38.
The Jets start their drive from the 25 yard line and Boyle finds Jenkins out of the backfield for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the NY 34.
TOUCHDOWN CLEVELAND!!!
Felton tried to take the run up the middle but popped outside, got a great block from his QB and took it 16 yards to the house!
CLE close the lead down to 16-14 with 6:11 to go in the third quarter!
Thompson-Robinson with a scramble down the right sideline and he picks up 15 yards for a first down!
1st and 10 from the NY 16.
Felton takes a run to the right side for two yards, but the Jets jumped off sides which will bring up 1st and 5 from the NY 31.
Thompson-Robinson finds Mitchell-Paden at the marker and that 10 yard pass will move the chains.
1st and 10 from the NY 36.
Felton was stopped for a one yard loss, but the Jets jumped offside will give CLE a first down.
1st and 10 from the NYJ 46.
Thompson-Robinson looking over the middle and he finds Harley for 14 yards.
3rd and 2 from the CLE 49.
Felton was stopped for no gain, and a hold will bring the Browns back 10 yards.
2nd and 16 from the CLE 35.
Felton picks up four yards on a first down run.
2nd and 6 from the CLE 45.
Thompson-Robinson's pass to Greaney over the middle was behind the WR, but an unnecessary roughness call on NY's Johnson will give the Browns a 1st down.
1st and 10 from the CLE 41.
Felton picked up 6 yards on a carry, but that will be taken back after a hold on Hudson.
2nd and 18 from the CLE 25.
Thompson-Robinson with a designed run to the left side and he picks up 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the CLE 36.
Thompson-Robinson tucks it and runs left for a gain of 12 yards.
1st and 10 from the CLE 33.
Thompson-Robinson's pass on first down is incomplete to Mitchell-Paden.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 21.
Thompson-Robinson looks for Schwartz on a short pass to the right side and that goes for 7 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the CLE 21.
Felton gets a big chunk of 7 yards on a run to the right side.
3rd and 3 from the CLE 14.
Thompson-Robinson looking for Felton on first down, but the pass falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 7.
A nice return from Felton will be wiped off the board after a holding penalty.
CLE will start their drive from their own 7 yard line.
An offside on CLE gives the Jets a 3rd and 1 from the 34, but Abanikanda was stopped at the line for no gain!
4th and short coming up from the NY 34.
Dye gets the handoff and picks up 4 yards on the left side.
2nd and 6 from the NY 29.
NY get the ball to start the half and they begin their drive at the 25.
Boyle tried a slip pass up the middle to Dye but the pass hit him in the helmet before he could turn around.
2nd and 10 from the 25.
WE ARE BACK IN ACTION FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
It took almost 30 minutes, but Mond and Kelly looked like they were finding their groove at the end of the first half. Let's see if they get to comeback to action in the second half.
Abanikanda punched it in for the opening TD of the HoF Game to take a 13-0 lead late in the first half.
The Jets turned the Browns over on the first play of another possession in the second quarter and that led to the first TD of the night.
Schwartz was stripped by Sherwood and Guirdy picked up the loose ball on the first play of the Browns possession after NY went up 3-0.
Zach Wilson got the start for the Jets and didn't put up jaw dropping numbers but had this incredible throw to Taylor for 57 yards!
FIELD GOAL JETS!!!
Zuerlein drills his third FG of the night as time expires in the first half.
NY leads 16-7 after 30 minutes from Canton.
Boyle with three straight incompletions, although Brownlee had a chance at the third down throw, but the DB made a great play.
4th and 10 from the CLE 35.
Boyle couldn't find Brownlee and on the short throw to the right side.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 35 coming up.
Boyle looks to Erickson over the middle for a 19 yard gain and they will take a timeout after a first down.
1st and 10 from the CLE 35.
Good return from Fiposon puts the Jets at their 46 yard line with 31 seconds left in the half.
1st and 10 from the 46.
It took a little while, but the Browns get on the board after Kelly turned it on late in the first half.
TOUCHDOWN BROWNS!!!
Mond finds Kelly out of the backfield on the left side for a three yard touchdown catch!!!
CLE cut into the lead 13-7.
Kelly moves the chains with a run to the left side for 7 yards.
1st and Goal from the NY 3.
Kelly gets the handoff again and picks up 3 yards.
3rd and 3 coming up from the NY 10 after the Browns second timeout of the half.
Kelly goes up the middle on a first down run and he picks up four yards.
2nd and 6 from the NY 13.
TWO MINUTE WARNING!!!
Mond finds Tillman on the hitch route and that goes for a gain of 20 yards! Best play of the night for the Browns and that will take us to the Two Minute Warning!
1st and 10 from the NY 17 coming up.
Mond's pass over the middle was almost intercepted as he looked for Greaney but hit the defender in the facemask.
3rd and 13 coming up after the Browns first timeout of the first half.
CLE try a screen pass to Felton and the Jets sniffed it out and cut him down for a three yard loss.
2nd and 13 from the NY 37.
Felton was wide open out of the backfield for a gain of 12 yard and a first down!
1st and 10 from the NY 34.
Felton on the sweep and he picks up 9 yards on a shifty run from the speedster.
2nd and 11 from the NY 46.
A holding call on first down will wipe out a three yard screen pass to Mitchell-Paden.
1st and 20 from the CLE 45.
Mond tried the QB sneak on 4th down and he picks up 2 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NY 45.
Kelly was cut down short of the marker, and we have 4th and short coming up.
Mond's deep shot down the right sideline overshot Tillman, but an offside on NY will give CLE another chance of third down.
3rd and 1 from the NY 47.
Mond to Bell on the left side, but that completion goes for no gain.
3rd and 6 from the CLE 44 coming up.
Kelly picks up 4 yards on the first down run up the gut.
2nd and 6 from the CLE 44.
Mond finds Kelly out of the backfield and he gets 11 yard to move the chains for the first time in a long time for CLE.
1st and 10 from the CLE 44.
Mond finds Bell over the middle for 6 yard to make it third and managable.
3rd and 6 from the CLE 33.
Mond's pass is incomplete to Harley on 2nd and 12.
3rd and 12 coming up from the CLE 27
CLE start their drive from the 29 and look to Kelly on the screen pass which went for 27 yards, but it's coming back after a holding penalty on the Browns.
1st and 12 from the CLE 27
TOUCHDOWN JETS!!!
Abanikanda takes it to the left side and beats everyone to the pylon for a diving 10 yard TD!!!
New York leads 13-0 with 9:04 to go in the first half!
Boyle goes back to Brownlee on the left side and he turns the corner for 9 yards and a first down.
1st and Goal from the CLE 10.
Boyle looks for Brownlee on first down and that pass goes for a gain of 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the CLE 19.
INTERCEPTION!!!
The Browns start their drive from their 27 yard line and Mond throws a pick on the first play of the drive! Surratt jumped the route and that's the second drive that the Jets have turned the Browns over on the opening play of a possession.
1st and 10 from the CLE 27 after the pick.
Boyle's first pass is complete to Yeboah to the right side and for 10 yards, but after a false start penalty on the previous play the Jets will punt.
4th and 5 from the NY 25 with 10:28 to go in the second quarter.
Abanikanda loses a yard on a run to the right and that will bring up 3rd and 10. from the NY 20.
Delay of game on Tim Boyle who has taken over QB duties for the Jets.
2nd and 9 from the NY 21.
New York starts their drive from the 20 yard line and Abanikanda picks up 6 yard on a spurt up the middle.
2nd and 4 from the NY 26.
Mond goes over the middle to Greaney but he falls right at the line and they will mark him short of the first down.
4th and 1 from the CLE 34 and the Browns will punt.
Mond starts the second quarter with a short pass to Greaney on the stop route for five yards.
3rd and 4 from the CLE 31.
We are heading to the second quarter from Canton with the Jets leading 6-0!
The Jets double there lead after a Schwartz fumble that led to a second Zeurlein FG of the first quarter.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Zuerlein comes back on and drills the 44 yarder to double the Jets lead.
Zuerlein will come back on after Abanikanda got stopped on second down, and Wilson's third down pass was batted down at the line.
4th and 5 from the CLE 26.
Abanikanda gets the pass out of the backfield after the turnover and picks up five yards.
2nd and 5 from the CLE 26.
FUMBLE!!!
CLE start their third drive of the night at the 22 and Schwartz got the jet sweep but got the ball knocked out his hands after a decent pick up. New York scoops the ball up and will take over from the 32 after the turnover on the opening play of the Browns drive.
1st and 10 NYJ.
Zuerlein puts the Jets on the board first after a 57 yard pass from Wilson to Taylor to set up the field goal.
Zuerleiin comes on to the field for the first time and drills a 54 yard field goal! He's in midseason form as always!
After a false start on Yeboah the Jets back up to 3rd and 11 and Wilson's pass on the out route to Gipson was to far out in front of his WR.
4th and 11 coming up from the CLE 37.
Abanikanda gets another hand off and takes it to the left side for a three yard gain.
3rd and 5 from the CLE 32.
Abanikanda gets two yard on a run up the middle on first down.
2nd and 8 from the CLE 34.
Wilson goes deep down the left sideline looking for Taylor and he drops it into the bread basket for a 57 yard gain!!!
1st and 10 from the CLE 36
Wilson and the Jets start their drive at their five yard line and Abanikanda gets a couple yards on a first down run.
2nd and 8 from the NYJ 7
Mond looking down the left sideline for Baldwin, but it was almost picked! CLE were called for another illegal formation but the Jets decline it on fourth down.
4th and 5 from the CLE 37 and the Browns will punt.
Kelly with a sweep to the right side and he picks up 5 yards.
3rd and 5 from the CLE 37.
Mond got hit in the backfield after McDonald got to him and the QB just had to get rid of it.
2nd and 10 from the CLE 32.
Incomplete touch pass from Mond to Greaney but a defensive hold in the secondary will give the Browns a first down.
1st and 10 from the CLE 32.
Kelly was wrapped up in the backfield but that's because Smart jumped offside.
1st and 5 from the CLE 27 after the five yard penalty.
Kelly starts the drive with a run out of the shotgun and he picks up 10 yards off the draw play to the left side.
1st and 10 from the CLE 22.
Cleveland will take over inside their 15 yard line mid way through the first quarter.
Wilson spins out of the pocket and looked to scramble for the first down but slipped in the backfield and the Jets will punt on 4th and 2.
Wilson with a strike to the sideline for Yeboah for a gain of three yards on the right side.
3rd and 2 from the NY 47
So here comes Zach Wilson and the Jets starting their first drive with a handoff to Abanikanda on first down for five yard.
2nd and 5 from the NY 44.
York misses the FG from long range and the Jets will get the football for the first time this preseason.
We are through five minutes of play from Canton.
Mond is sacked on 3rd and 10 as the Browns crept inside the 30 yard line and the Browns will try a 54 yard field goal.
Kelly gets the swing pass on 3rd and 1, and got a big chunk but penalties on both sides, an illegal formation on CLE and a personal foul late hit on NY will give the Browns 15 yards from the spot of the last play.
Great rule from the NFL, who had adjusted the way that is enforced over the year.
Kelly gets back to back hand offs and picks up 9 after getting stuffed on first down.
3rd and 1 coming up from the 48
Mond looks wide for another screen to Mictchell-Parden for a first down after a 7 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the CLE 39
Screen pass to Kelly out of the backfield to start the drive for Kellen Mond.
2nd and 5 coming up after a five yard gain.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM CANTON AND THE 2023 NFL PRESEASON HAS KICKED OFF!!!
The Jets kick off to the Browns who will start their drive at the 25 after a touchback.
Star Spangled Banner sang by Ware
Hall of Fame inductee Demarcus Ware is singing the National Anthem before the game. Not terrible, but a little pitchy at times. The rock and roll Hall of Fame won't come knocking anytime soon, but don't tell this Hall of Fame defensive end I said that.
No Super Bowl Champ coming out of HoF Game
The people in Canton probably don’t want us sharing this stat, but in the over 60 year history of the Hall of Fame Game, no team that has participated in the exhibition game has gone on to win the Super Bowl. There have been three teams who make it to Super Bowl Sunday, but no team has ever started their season in Canton and ended the season lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
Cleveland opens preseason in their back yard
The Browns didn’t have to travel too far for their opening preseason game. It’s less than an hours drive from their training camp base in White Sulphur Springs, Ohio. You can bet they will have the home field advantage at Tom Benson Stadium tonight as Cleveland gets ready for their sixth Hall of Fame Game. They are 2-3 in their five previous games in Canton. The Browns are listed as the home team, despite this being a neutral site game, and every time the Browns have come into this game as the home team they have treated their fans with a win.
Jets preseason takes flight
The focus tonight will be centered around the second and third string guys tonight and even more so the guys who are flirting with making a roster spot. Rodgers won’t be suited up tonight, neither will a handful of other stars and while Jets fans are itching to see Rogers and this new look offense, the rest of us are just happy to have football back in our lives.
Hackett's Jets debut after a rough week
Nathaniel Hackett has been freed of the nightmare in Denver. Well, he may have been let go, but the former Broncos coach was looking to put last year in the rear view, but new Denver coach Sean Payton opened up some old wounds with his comments about the Hackett regime in the Mile High City. Tonight Hackett has a chance to escape some of those statements and focus on football. He is debuting as the Jets’ offensive coordinator tonight and we will get our first look at this new look offense in New York.
Wilson on the mend
One Quarterback we are bound to see tonight is Zach Wilson. We may not see too much of him, but after a turbulent last season he is looking to make amends with teammates and fans. The former BYU QB has battled through injuries in the first two years of his NFL career, but injuries you can overcome. Losing the locker room as the starting quarterback is a little harder to recover from. Last year Wilson had some interesting postgame comments in the Jets’ 10-3 loss to the Patriots in New England.
No Aaron, No Deshaun tonight
It’s much too early to expect Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson to be under center tonight. At this stage of the preseason only the QBs whose jobs aren’t as certain as the Jets and the Browns signal callers will be playing in these stages of the preseason. We are certain to see both Watson and Rodgers later on in the preseason, but tonight is not the night. After all, both Cleveland and New York will play one more game than the rest of the league because of their involvement in Hall of Fame weekend.
Browns last year
The Browns started their season without what is likely to become their franchise quarterback after signing him last offseason. Jacoby Brissett filled in for the former Texans gunslinger, but by the time Deshaun Watson was reinstated after a long suspension, the Browns were essentially out of the playoff hunt. This year things are looking up as Kevin Stefanski will have his QB1 under center from Week 1, and will be hoping that the running game looks just as impressive as it has over the last three years.
Jets last year
There was plenty of promise surrounding the New York Jets through the first seven weeks of the season. Robert Saleh’s team sat at 5-2 and things were going unusually smooth for the green part of New York. The fall would come. Starting quarterback Zach Wilson was battling injuries, and would eventually lose a large chunk of the locker room with some postgame statements that didn’t sit well with many of his teammates. The Jets went through a handful of quarterbacks and still had a chance to make the playoffs late in the season, but fell short. This year their expectations are much higher.
We are live from Canton!
Hello everyone and welcome to Tom Benson Field where the festivities are just getting started. A weekend full of football awaits us as Hall of Fame weekend begins tonight with a couple of classic NFL teams lining up to commence the football season. Later this week the enshrinement for the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be commemorated to bring a close to a much anticipated weekend on football’s holy ground.
FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!
The wait is finally over. Take a breathe. Sit back and enjoy the next three hours, the next twenty some odd days, and the next seven months of football. The NFL is back and as always we are kicking off the preseason from Canton, Ohio with the Hall of Fame Game as the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns start us off with the first of 49 preseason games to come over the month of August. AS English will be with you all night long providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s game from Tom Benson Field.