EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets wasted no time having a special performance on special teams Sunday.
Kene Nwangwu returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and moments
later, Isaiah Williams brought back a punt 74 yards for a score against the Cleveland.
It marked the first time in franchise history that the Jets had a kickoff return and a punt return for TDs in the same game. The Jets had one previous game with two kickoffs returned for scores and another with two punts returned for TDs. But never one of each in the same game.
And they both came in the opening quarter Sunday, giving the Jets an early 14-7 lead.
The previous time an NFL team had kickoff and punt returns for scores in the same game was Baltimore against Chicago on Oct. 15, 2017. The Chargers were the most recent team to accomplish the feat in the first quarter in 2007.
After the Browns took a 7-0 lead, Nwangwu took the ensuing kickoff up the middle and evaded would-be tacklers — including kicker Andre Szmyt's diving attempt — and returned it up the right sideline 99 yards for a touchdown.
After forcing the Browns into a three-and-out, Williams then returned Corey Bojorquez’s punt 74 yards, also going up the right sideline untouched for another touchdown to make it 14-7 with 5:45 left in the opening quarter.
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AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.
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