Braelon Allen’s Standout Performance in Jets Win

Braelon Allen admitted he was a bit taken aback. He didn’t foresee the Jets opting to run on third-and-9 while trailing by two points at the Cleveland 22-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

But that’s what Frank Reich called for. Allen managed to shake off a tackle and surged toward the end zone, ultimately sealing the game with a touchdown in the Jets’ 17-12 victory over the Browns at MetLife Stadium.

Having missed most of last season, Allen was eager to prove he could handle the lead back responsibilities. With Breece Hall still nursing an injury, Allen showcased his potential, racking up a career-high of 116 yards on 24 carries—marking the highest total for a Jets running back since Hall’s 133 yards in Week 8 of the previous year.

“Honestly, I was just really hype,” Allen reflected on his touchdown run. “Once I broke past the first level, I knew I was in the clear.”

His opportunity might be short-lived with Hall’s status uncertain, yet Allen demonstrated what the Jets’ dual-threat running game could look like when both are healthy. During the Jets’ opening drive, he dragged three Browns defenders for a first down that ended in a touchdown. He also delivered impressive runs of 8 and 17 yards to finish the first quarter strong.

Allen had already well surpassed his previous career-high of 59 rushing yards—accomplished just last week against the Bears—long before his crucial touchdown sealed his first 100-yard game. This marked the Jets’ longest rushing touchdown on a third down since Bilal Powell in 2017, according to Stats Perform.

“Suddenly, defenders start taking weird angles, sort of running alongside him, looking like they want to catch him but not wanting to actually make contact,” Garrett Wilson noted.

The Jets see this kind of potential from Allen in practice, but, as Wilson pointed out, seeing it “on Sunday, it holds a little more weight.” Allen showed glimpses of his talent during his rookie season in 2024, but he experienced a setback in 2025 with a season-ending MCL injury. He needed to get back to the level of running back he believed he could be.

And, at last, that potential shone through on Sunday. Even though he lost a fumble that the Jets recovered and dropped a pass near the sideline, he also had impressive moments, like his third-and-4 run in the third quarter. There, he collided with a wall of Browns defenders, bounced outside, and turned what could have been a fourth down into an 18-yard gain through sheer physicality.

“It was good, man,” Allen shared. “It was fun. [Sunday] was perfect for running the football, so it’s a blast when you can do it well—especially when everyone knows you’re going to.”