Two matchups to watch in Browns vs. Jets

The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are two franchises that share more similarities than their fans would probably like to admit.

Consider that:

• Since the start of the 1999 season, the Browns have won just 143 games, while the Jets have won slightly more, with 182 wins.
• The Browns have finished last in the AFC North Division 17 times, and the Jets have hit the bottom of the AFC East Division nine times.
• The Browns have finished with double-digit losses 18 times, while the Jets have done so 13 times.
• The Jets have the edge in playoff seasons, six to three, but have not made the playoffs since 2010.
• The Browns are on their 10th head coach, while the Jets are on their ninth.
• Both franchises are still on a seemingly never-ending search for a franchise quarterback. The Browns have been looking since the Bernie Kosar days of the late 1980s, while the Jets have been trying since the glory days of Joe Namath.

The teams meet on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a game that will have implications on the 2026 NFL Draft order, as both the Browns and Jets have a pair of first-round selections to use in their latest attempts to fix the quarterback issue.

Here are two matchups to watch during the game.

CB Denzel Ward vs. WR Garrett Wilson

It has been a bit of a down year for both Ward and Wilson, at least by their standards. Wilson has missed the past two games after suffering a hyperextended knee injury in Week 6, while Ward has been mostly quiet as the leader of Cleveland’s secondary.

In a game that might be low scoring, the Browns are averaging 15.8 points per game, and the Jets are at 21 points per game, Ward vs. Wilson could be a difference maker, according to Pro Football Focus:

The Jets reportedly considered receiver Garrett Wilson (72.8 grade; 33rd) untouchable in trade talks. After missing the last two weeks through injury, Wilson is back at practice and should be ready to go vs. the Browns.

Wilson has caught 36 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns, and will face off against Browns’ CB Denzel Ward (50.4 grade; 95th) on Sunday. Ward’s 52.9 PFF coverage grade is the lowest of his career, but he’s still allowed just 230 yards in coverage. This battle could be a bright spot in an ugly game.

DE Myles Garrett vs. OTs Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou

Myles Garrett comes into Sunday’s game fresh off a five-sack performance against the New England Patriots. That big day put Garrett’s sack total for the season at 10, which is the eighth consecutive season of double-digit sacks for the game’s best defensive player.

As always, Garrett is putting up big numbers despite the best efforts of opposing defenses to slow him down, as ESPN highlights:

Garrett is second in the NFL with 10 sacks, trailing only...