12/09 — The rain predicted for early this evening has begun, streaking the pressbox window as I look down on the Browns mounting another impressive drive toward the red zone.

WR Joe Jurevicius is called for offensive pass interference on a third-down stop for an illegal pick, and the Jets take the penalty. It looks like a great call when Kellen Winslow can't handle a perhaps slick ball thrown behind him and Phil Dawson has to try a field goal from 49 yards out. But Dawson hits it, and without more of a response from the Jets offense in the final 13 minutes of this game, Cleveland will remain an AFC playoff candidate and the Jets will remain a three-win team.

Browns 17, Jets 6

Leon Washington muffs his second kickoff of the game, recovers but is stopped immediately at the Jets 20. Kellen Clemsn leads a drive to the Cleveland 37, where the Jets face a crucial third-and-5. And Clemens-to-Coles converts by inches just as Anderson-to-Jurevicius.

But then Clemens immediately gives the ball away when he tries to hit Wallace Wright, who comes on as Coles gimps off, down the left sideline. But the underthrown ball is picked off by rookie CB Brandon McDonald, and with 10:07 left, the Jets are up against it.

Jamal Lewis rips off a 28-yard run and CBS has a neat graphic showing Lewis' per-carry average increasing every set of five carries this season. Cleveland's big back has been more successful, with 82 yards on 17 carries, than the Jets' bopper, Thomas Jones, who has 52 yards on 18 carries. And TJ figures to be a bystander from here as the Jets need 11 points in an increasingly heavy rain in the next 7:47 of clock time.

But Clemens isn't having as good a day as Derek Anderson, his fellow Oregon resident and sometimes competitor. KC is sacked, throws a high, hard incompletion for Cotchery and then can get only 10 yards on third-and-13 to J-Co. Another punt.

Cleveland punts back but now there is 5½ minutes left, the Jets are at their 30 and the rain is coming straight down on the few fans still left in the Meadowlands stands.

I may have spoken too soon on Jones, who on this drive has ripped off runs of 11, 13 and 17 yards, the last down to the 1-yard line. Then Clemens keeps behind Nick Mangold for the Jets' first TD of the game with 2:59 to play.

In an unintentional homage to last year's finish at Cleveland, Clemens goes for the two-point fade to Baker, whose seeming game-tying TD catch a year ago was ruled out of bounds. But Baker can't bring it in over the defense of LB Leon Williams, so the Jets still need a TD.

Browns 17, Jets 12

But Mike Nugent hits the onsides kick perfectly, Brad Smith leaps high to first control it, and Brad Kassel recovers. Jets ball!

Fans are starting to come back to the front rows as the Jets move to Cleveland's 20, thanks to a 26-yarder to Cotchery and an 11-yard run by Jones. And we get a rest at the two-minute warning. Game reset: Jets are facing second-and-10 at the 20 with all their timeouts left.

The first play is a Clemens throw is to Cotchery at the goal line. He can't hold as Leigh Bodden defends. Third-and-10. Then K.C. is chased from the pocket, can't get enough height on a hurried throw, and it's incomplete. Fourth-and-10.

Instead of going for the TD, the Jets send out Mike Nugent for a 38-yard field goal, which he hits.

Interesting. No margin for error here, maybe not a winning hand. But the Jets have 1:43 left and all three timeouts to stop Cleveland's offense — if they don't recover another onside kick.

Browns 17, Jets 15

Jurevicius recovers this onside kick and takes it back to the Jets 37, so the Jets' work is cut out for them. They stop Jamal Lewis twice after a pair of 3-yard gains, calling timeouts after each.

But there will be no Sunday afternoon miracle today. Lewis bursts off his left tackle, rookie Joe Thomas, breaking one tackle (Eric Hicks), two tackles (Hank Poteat), three tackles (Bryan Thomas), four tackles (Kerry Rhodes). Lewis scores the unexpected 31-yard TD and puts this one out of reach, no matter what Leon Washington, Kellen Clemens and the Jets can do.

Browns 24, Jets 15

But it's not over yet. Another long ball from Clemens to Cotchery for 32 yards puts the Jets at the Browns 17. So Nugent comes on for a 35-yard field goal with 32 seconds left. One more onsides kick to come, and the Jets still have a timeout left.

Browns 24, Jets 18

Nugent punches his next kickoff through the Browns and it goes out of bounds all the way down to the Browns 5. But Leon Williams was offside for Cleveland, so the Jets will get another try for a last-gasp.

This time Nugent goes onside, and the ball is loose, but the Browns recover it. Two kneeldowns by Derek Anderson sandwiched around the Jets' final timeout finally put this one to bed.

And New England, 13-0 after defeating the Steelers at home, beckon in Foxboro in a week. I'll be back in a short while with the locker room scene.