CLEVELAND — The Browns have already shown they can win close games. Sunday gives them a chance to show they can handle the kind of opponent good teams are supposed to beat.

Cleveland travels to MetLife Stadium at 3-1 after winning three straight, including last week’s 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh. The Jets enter at 1-3 after dropping three consecutive games, most recently a 23-12 loss at Chicago.

That makes this an interesting measuring stick for the Browns.

Usually, that phrase gets saved for games against elite opponents. But beating bad teams consistently is every bit as important. If Cleveland wants to prove its strong first month is legitimate, this is exactly the kind of game it cannot give away.

The Browns have made real progress offensively since their ugly opening-week loss at Jacksonville. Deshaun Watson has been uneven at times, but he has also helped Cleveland produce three straight wins and has shown an increasing ability to make plays late in games.

The defense has been the more consistent side of the ball, but Cleveland will enter New York severely depleted along the defensive interior. Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., and Kalia Davis have all been ruled out, leaving the Browns without three defensive tackles and forcing backups into larger roles against a Jets offense led by Geno Smith.

New York has struggled to turn yards into enough points, but Smith has been efficient. He has completed 85 of 117 passes for 902 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions through four games.

That makes Cleveland’s ability to create pressure without its normal interior rotation one of the biggest questions Sunday.

Players to Watch

• Deshaun Watson — Watson still has moments where the offense looks uneven, but there are also clear signs of progress. He followed a rough opener with an excellent performance at Tampa Bay, led a late comeback against Carolina, and threw for a season-high 268 yards in last week’s win over Pittsburgh. He has also been a factor with his legs, rushing for 127 yards through four games. Watson does not have to play like the version who once led the NFL in passing every week, but if he continues moving in that direction, Cleveland becomes considerably more dangerous. The defense is already good enough to win games. If Watson can keep raising the ceiling of the offense, the Browns become a much harder team to deal with.

• Defensive Line Depth — Cleveland is going to be tested inside. Graham, Hall, and Davis are all out, which creates opportunities for players further down the rotation to prove they can hold things together until the group gets healthy. Maliek Collins gives Cleveland veteran experience inside, while Adin Huntington and others could see larger roles. Head coach Todd Monken called it a “next man up” situation this week, and that is exactly what it is. Nobody is asking the backups to suddenly become Graham. They just need to be solid, stay disciplined, and keep the Jets from exploiting the middle of the defense.

• Quinshon Judkins — We have talked about Judkins plenty in these previews already, but the point has not changed because the importance of it has not changed. Cleveland needs a consistent running game. Judkins leads the Browns with 177 rushing yards on 59 carries through four games and is coming off 96 yards from scrimmage against Pittsburgh. The raw rushing numbers have not been spectacular yet, but the formula remains obvious. If Judkins can consistently move the chains, it takes pressure off Watson, shortens the game, and allows Cleveland to play complementary football with a defense that has already shown it can carry a heavy load. Against a Jets defense allowing 123.5 rushing yards per game, this would be a good week for the Browns to finally establish that identity for four quarters.

Game Information

Notes

• Watson has completed 80 of 115 passes for 855 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
• Watson has also rushed for 127 yards on 31 carries.
• Judkins leads Cleveland with 177 rushing yards on 59 attempts.
• Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., and Kalia Davis have all been ruled out.
• Dillon Gabriel, Teven Jenkins, Carsen Ryan, and Tylan Wallace are also out.
• New York beat Cleveland 27-20 last season at MetLife Stadium.
• The Browns and Jets are tied 15-15 in the all-time regular-season series.

Prediction

Much like Cincinnati, Cleveland gets an opponent this week it should handle.

The Jets are not completely devoid of talent, and Smith has taken care of the football, but good teams do not make a habit of turning games like this into four-quarter coin flips.

That is why this game is every bit as much of a measuring stick as facing an undefeated contender.

Cleveland has built its 3-1 record by finding ways to win close games, and that deserves credit. But there is another step in a team’s development where it begins to control games against weaker opponents instead of simply surviving them.

The Browns should be able to do that Sunday if Watson continues his progression and Judkins gives the offense enough balance to stay out of obvious passing situations. The defensive-line injuries are a concern, but Cleveland still has enough talent elsewhere on that side of the ball to keep the Jets from controlling the game.

This should not require anything spectacular.

It should require the Browns to play like the better team.

Final Score: Cleveland 24, New York 13