In a stunning display of embarrassment, the New York Jets suffered a humiliating 37-20 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The Jets, known for their long history of embarrassing moments, managed to reach a new low in front of a national TV audience.

The focus of the game was on Joe Flacco, the 38-year-old quarterback who played for the Jets in the past three seasons. Flacco, now playing for the Browns, had a standout performance, carving up the Jets defense and throwing for 309 yards with three touchdowns. His performance in the first half alone, where he threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, showcased the dominance of the Browns.

The Jets' defense, which had prided itself on being in the conversation with the legendary "85 Bears defense" before the season began, was completely dismantled by Flacco. The Jets had gone 33 consecutive games without allowing a 300-yard passer, but Flacco shattered that streak with ease.

The fact that the Jets did not call Flacco after Aaron Rodgers' injury earlier in the season remains a mystery. Flacco's performance against his former team was a painful reminder of how badly the Jets missed out on his talent. Flacco himself had expressed no hard feelings towards the Jets, stating that he would have re-signed with them if they had offered.

The game was a moment of redemption for Flacco and a moment of embarrassment for the Jets. As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, the capacity crowd chanted Flacco's name, highlighting the magnitude of his performance and the Jets' failure to recognize his potential.

The Browns' offensive possessions were marked by Flacco's precision and ability to exploit the Jets' defense. On the first drive, Flacco threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford. On the second drive, he connected with tight end David Njoku for a 43-yard pass play. In the second quarter, Flacco capped off a series with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Moore, a receiver whom the Jets drafted but fell out of love with.

Flacco did have one hiccup when he threw an interception to Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who returned it for a touchdown. However, Flacco quickly made up for it by connecting with Ford on a wild 50-yard scoring pass, effectively crushing any hope the Jets had of a comeback.

The Jets' defense, which had been their strength throughout the season, had no excuses for their poor performance. Despite facing a Browns team with their fourth quarterback and backups along their offensive line, the Jets failed to stop them. The Browns racked up a total of 428 yards, the most the Jets have allowed this season.

The loss dropped the Jets to a record of 6-10, marking their fourth straight season with double-digit losses. The Browns, on the other hand, improved to 11-5 with Flacco at the helm, securing a playoff berth.

The embarrassing defeat puts Jets head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas under scrutiny. Jets owner Woody Johnson has already stated that Saleh and Douglas will be back in 2024, but performances like this one may test that decision.

The Jets will now head to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in their final game of the season.