Quarterback Josh McCown had a strong first half in his return from a broken collarbone and the Browns captured a 20-7 halftime lead against the New York Jets on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
After missing the previous five games with the fractured left collarbone he suffered Sept. 18 in a 25-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, McCown completed 16-of-27 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown with a rating of 99 through the first two quarters against the Jets.
The Browns struck on the game's opening possession with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. McCown capped the march by rolling to his right and delivering a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andrew Hawkins as the Browns took a 7-0 lead with 11:45 left in the first quarter.
McCown showed no rust early against the Jets. He went 4-of-6 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown with a rating of 146.5 during the first drive.
The Browns later extended their lead to 10-0 when Cody Parkey made a 41-yard field goal with 3:11 left in the first quarter. The eight-play, 59-yard drive stalled when McCown threw incomplete into the end zone with no one nearby on third-and-2 from the Jets' 23-yard line.
After forcing three-and-outs on the Jets' first two possessions, the Browns' defense surrendered a 12-play, 87-yard scoring drive. On third-and-10, the Jets ran a draw, and running back Bilal Powell broke loose for a 35-yard rushing touchdown. The play allowed the Jets to trim the Browns' lead to 10-7 with 12:44 left in the second quarter.
The Browns countered with 10 points late in the second quarter, though.
On third-and-6 from New York's 13, Jets strong safety Calvin Pryor was penalized for pass interference as McCown threw to tight end Gary Barnidge in the end zone. On the next play, running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to finish a nine-play, 70-yard drive and help the Browns go ahead 17-7 with 1:51 left in the first quarter.
The Jets then went three-and-out, and the Browns got the ball back at their 42 with 1:25 left in the second quarter. Running back Duke Johnson had a 32-yard catch-and-run and a 16-yard run on back-to-back plays to set up first-and-goal at Jets' 10.
The Browns ultimately settled for Parkey's successful 27-yard field goal with no time left in the second quarter and earned a 13-point halftime lead.