Browns 24, Jets 18: Eric Mangini Doesn't Play to Win the Game So Browns Do

Once upon a time the New York Jets had a coach who preached that "you play to win the game." I wonder what Herman Edwards would have done on fourth and 10 from the Browns 20 with just under two minutes to play in today's game.

The score was 17-12 Jets and the home team had all of their time outs left when Eric Mangini sent Mike Nugent in to kick a 37-yard field goal. That set up an onside kick, something the Jets had pulled off moments earlier to set up the field goal, but Joe Jurevicius recovered the kick and returned it into Jets territory. When Jamal Lewis scampered 31 yards for a touchdown three plays later the game was over.

Why wouldn't Mangini go for it on that fourth down? If you have the confidence in your defense to hold after a failed onside kick why wouldn't you have the same confidence when, worst case scenario, the Browns are on their own 20? The Jets defense had been up to the task for most of the afternoon so Mangini had every reason to believe in them but his seeming lack of faith in Kellen Clemens cost the Jets a shot at the game.

Clemens didn't give his coach all that much reason to put the ball in his hands. He was erratic all afternoon and had thrown two picks inside Browns territory. His first, on the goal line, followed the only turnover forced by the Jets defense and cost Gang Green it's only shot at a touchdown before Clemens scored on a sneak with three minutes to play. His second pick was an underthrown deep ball at the Browns 30 early in the fourth. He also was sacked four times and again showed problems picking up the defense and knowing when to get rid of the ball.

Against a Browns defense that could graciously be called mediocre that's just not good enough. Clemens impressed against the Dolphins a week ago and the Jets had to be hoping for more of the same against another subpar opponent. The line play wasn't as good, either,

The Browns offense had issues of their own today. Derek Anderson didn't play poorly but his receivers let him down with several drops down the stretch that stopped them from killing clock and/or adding points. He hit Lewis, who ran for 118 as well, for a touchdown late in the first half and then, in their most impressive play of the game, found Braylon Edwards for 45 to open the second half. That drive ended with a touchdown toss to Edwards but for most of the rest of the game the Browns weren't able to get much going offensively.

That failure allowed the Jets to get back in the game. Down 17-6, Thomas Jones broke a couple of long runs to set up Clemens' sneak. The two-point conversion try failed but when Brad Kassell recovered the onside kick and Clemens found Jerricho Cotchery for a big gain momentum had completely swung to the Jets.

That's why Mangini should have tried for the touchdown or, at the very least, kicked the ball deep on the ensuing kickoff. Onside kicks are rarely successful. The Jets had just pulled one off moments before but the Browns didn't have a full hands team on the field, something they remedied on their second chance. Mangini's defense had proven itself up to the task, It's rare when you yearn for the late game management style of the clock-challenged Edwards but today was just such an occasion.