EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets were lifted Sunday by a 23-year-old pass rusher who doesn't have a sack dance, who shies away from the spotlight and -- OMG! -- doesn't do social media.
Rookie David Bailey delivered his breakthrough performance, recording three sacks, eight quarterback pressures and seven tackles to help the Jets snap a three-game losing streak with a 17-12 win over the Cleveland Browns at a rain-soaked MetLife Stadium.
"I've said all along that his time is going to come," said coach Aaron Glenn, who desperately needed the win.
Bailey became the first Jets rookie since Hugh Douglas in 1995 to have three sacks in a game, the first in the league to do it since James Houston of the Detroit Lions in 2022.
The second overall pick spearheaded a New York defense that sacked Deshaun Watson eight times -- tied for the most by the Jets in any game in the past 40 seasons. The Browns quarterback was 1-for-3 with five sacks on the day when Bailey applied the first pressure, according to ESPN Research, including Cleveland's final offensive play -- a sack.
It allowed the Jets to exhale.
"I would go as far as to say this was a historic win for this organization," said linebacker Demario Davis, meaning it could be a turning point.
They can thank Bailey, one of three 2026 first-round draft picks.
His relatively quiet start to the season prompted some criticism among fans and media. Bailey did have two sacks in the first four games, but they were non-impactful plays totaling only minus-2 yards. He became a talking point -- not that he heard any of it.
"I'm not really on social media, so I can't really speak on what was said," said Bailey, who now has five sacks this season, tied for the most by any player in his first five career games in the past decade.
Bailey said that he huddled with his coaches last week and that they "drew a picture of what I could do better, how I could elevate my game. I just kind of relied on that."
It was picture-perfect.
Bailey sacked Watson for a 6-yard loss in the first quarter, and he didn't stop. All told, he was on the field for seven of the Jets' eight sacks.
The defense, on the field for 89 plays in an embarrassing performance to the Chicago Bears, held the Browns to 198 total yards. The Jets became the first team since the 1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to hold three of their first five opponents to under 200 yards. It also was a franchise first.
"He was phenomenal," linebacker Jamien Sherwood said of Bailey. "Awesome."
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who scored the Jets' first touchdown, said: "It was fun to watch him, man. I found myself over there watching every play, just celebrating his sacks."
The Jets' front four had no sacks in the previous two games. Glenn, who calls the defensive plays, used a more aggressive game plan this week, blitzing on 52% of Watson's dropbacks. In fact, nickelback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. blitzed seven times from the slot, making one sack and three pressures.
"A.G. made it a point throughout the week that we wanted to make the quarterback uncomfortable," safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "We wanted to smash and run."
Despite the dominance, the Jets nearly blew the game, falling behind in the fourth quarter 12-10 on Watson's 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie Denzel Boston. Quarterback Geno Smith fumbled on the ensuing possession, and it looked like the Jets were headed to their fourth straight loss.
Then came a gift: A high snap from Cleveland's Rex Sunahara went through punter Corey Bojorquez's hands, and the Jets recovered at the Browns' 23 to set up the winning touchdown. Braelon Allen, who rushed for 116 yards, rumbled for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:01 left in the fourth quarter.
Watson, looking for his fourth game-winning fourth-quarter comeback, was chased by Bailey and Will McDonald IV on the final play, with McDonald making a strip sack.
Afterward, several players acknowledged the importance of the win.
"When you're talking about a team that had lost the last three games, and when you're going through that type of adversity, it can weigh on you emotionally," Davis said. "It can weigh on your faith, it can weigh on your belief, and it can weigh on an organization that has historically been disappointed."