All signs point to Kevin Hogan starting at QB for Browns

Both teams are 3-2, with the Patriots’ struggles almost as stunning as the Jets’ early-season success.

The Browns pulled rookie DeShone Kizer at halftime of Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Jets and they aren’t saying who will start in Houston next Sunday.

“Too much” came in the first half against the Jets, with Kizer’s goal-line interception putting the coach over the edge. Zane Gonzalez, however, couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. Their running game has been poor, but they also haven’t featured the run almost enough.

Garrett added a second sack with just under two minutes left in the first half of the game. The probability to get a first down is already low based on the long yardage to gain, but the play calling did quarterback Kevin Hogan and the offense no favors. Nassib would later return and Garrett wouldn’t play again.

He finished with two sacks in limited time.

Okay, fine, it was against the Jets.

We’re only five weeks into the National Football League season, and we already know how it’s going to end. However, this still has to count for something.

Myles Garrett’s transition to the National Football League won’t take as long as other rookie defenders.

Hogan played far better than Kizer on Sunday, going 16-for-19 and leading the offense to 14 second-half points. Of course, that meant that Kevin Hogan would come in to try to win the game. Those three clubs are averaging 16.2 points in games that aren’t played against the Browns. Once Hogan was inserted into the game, he immediately led Cleveland on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown and the Browns taking a 7-3 lead over the Jets. Was there ever any doubt?

-PASS DEFENSE: C-minus – Jets quarterback Josh McCown passed for only 194 yards, but he threw two touchdown passes and completed 76.6 percent (23 of 30) of his passes. However, Kizer threw an option pitch out of the reach of running back Isaiah Crowell, and the Jets pounced on the loose ball for the fumble recovery at their own three-yard line. However, he did show that maybe he can be a starter in the NFL.

On Monday the team announced that linebacker Jamie Collins, who has missed three consecutive games with a concussion, has been medically cleared and can resume practicing this week as the Browns prepare to take on the Houston Texans. He’s been failed many, many times by his receivers, and Kenny Britt has truly been a liability (like he was here). Earlier in the week, he was ruled out with a groin injury. This might be the week against a vulnerable Arizona defense, especially considering that Peterson will likely be preoccupied with star wide receiver Mike Evans.

Hogan’s 41-yard TD pass to Duke Johnson with 1:49 left pulled the Browns within 17-14, but Julian Stanford recovered the onside kick for NY and McCown knelt three times to run out the clock. Sure, Cleveland was going about it in an unorthodox manner: Doing everything possible to accumulate an insane amount of draft capital and salary-cap space, truly building the Browns from the ground up exactly how this administration wanted to at every position.

The coach and the Browns are reeling in sync.

Jimmy Haslam, who fired Rob Chudzinski after one season and Mike Pettine after two years, has preached patience with the current Browns regime.

However, Kizer’s four picks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line have hurt the Browns’ chances to win and Jackson has to weigh whether to put the young QB’s development ahead of wins.