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Jets defense preparing for all three Browns quarterbacks

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — David Harris and the New York Jets’ defense watched the film of their stingy performance last week against the Baltimore Ravens and liked what they saw.

Thumbs up all around — and it had been a long time coming.

“It was probably our best game of the year,” Harris said Thursday. “We got turnovers, limited them in running the ball and had a good day all around. We didn’t give up any touchdowns, so that’s a huge plus for us.”

In New York’s 24-16 victory last Sunday, the Ravens managed just 245 overall yards while the Jets put consistent pressure on quarterback Joe Flacco.

This week, the Jets aren’t sure what quarterback they will be facing when they visit Cleveland to face the winless Browns.

Josh McCown was medically cleared to play after breaking his left collarbone in the second game of the season. Cody Kessler, who started last week, is in the NFL’s head injury protocol after being hurt last Sunday in Tennessee, and Kevin Hogan finished up in his place.

“With their current situation, it forces us to prepare for all of them,” Rodgers said. “We played against McCown last year and then we watched a lot of tape on Cody. He’s doing some good things with them, and Hogan comes in last week and then they played (Terrelle) Pryor against Miami. We have to prepare for it all.”

The Browns are tied for 16th in total offense, putting them right in the middle of the pack. But they’ve allowed 21 sacks, which is topped by just two other teams.

Last week was the type of defensive dominance the Jets have been expecting all season, more befitting of a Todd Bowles unit than the inconsistent bunch that had marked most of New York’s first six games.

“I thought that we did some really good things,” defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “You kind of look at a few things that happened that hadn’t been happening for us, guys getting their hands on the ball, we disrupted the quarterback a little bit. It was kind of the way we wanted to play.”

Entering the game against Baltimore, the Jets were ranked 23rd in total defense, 28th in passing defense and sixth against the run.

Those rankings improved a bit heading into this week’s matchup with the 0-7 Browns. New York is 16th in total defense, while it’s 27th against the pass and second versus the run.

“It was nothing special,” Bowles said, downplaying the performance. “I just think everybody did their jobs. Everybody did their jobs, we came together and we made some plays.”

The defense had just four takeaways through six games but got interceptions by Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. The Jets turned the first of those turnovers into a field goal.

“It was great, definitely great,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “That’s what we definitely want to do. We did a lot of that last year and we had a slow start this year. Now, we are starting to pick it up a little bit more and once you get a feel, they come in bunches.

“So, I’m sure you’ll start seeing more guys making more plays on the ball.”

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