Jets' Braelon Allen got a chance to show what he can do, and he put on quite the show against the Browns

One of the things Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich said throughout training camp is Braelon Allen is a starting-caliber running back. Allen is proving them right.

He is taking full advantage of his first real opportunity to be the Jets' featured back.

The Jets hope to have Breece Hall back for their first divisional game Sunday against New England. They would much rather have Hall and Allen as a one-two punch. But if Hall misses his third straight game with a quad injury, the Jets know Allen can deliver.

The third-year back set career-high in rushing attempts (24) and yards (116) and ran for the winning 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help lift the Jets over the Browns, 17-12, on Sunday and snap a three-game losing streak.

“I try to do my part in making sure that the team can count on me,” Allen said. “I said after the game, we have one of the best running backs in the NFL. It's my job if he's not able to be out there, the style of play doesn't change and the production doesn't drop. So that's what's on my mind every day, just trying to be best I could be.”

Allen delivered that message to his teammates in the raucous celebratory locker room after Glenn gave him a game ball. It was especially gratifying for Allen because the Browns knew the Jets would be run-dominant on this rainy afternoon and Cleveland couldn’t stop him.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Allen has always been a physical runner. He used his power and speed to churn out some big gains en route to his career day.

Allen had five runs of 10 yards or more, joining Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs as the only players with at least five this week. Allen bulldozed his way to 88 yards after contact and forced seven missed tackles. Garrett Wilson said defenders don’t want to get in Allen’s way for fear of being run over.

“That boy’s a man-child,” Wilson said. “Just all in all a great game from Braelon. It’s something we see every day at practice but when you do it on Sunday it holds a little more weight.

“All of a sudden, defenders start taking creative angles is what I call them. They start running next to him. They’re acting like they trying to catch him. They’re just running next to him. They don’t want to touch him. He’s special, bro.”

It’s also meaningful for Allen after what he had to overcome. He suffered a season-ending knee injury that required surgery in Week 4 last season. It was a long and difficult road back.

A self-proclaimed “gym rat,” he eventually loved being able to focus all his energy on getting bigger, stronger and faster. Feeling he accomplished all of those things, Allen said his main goal this season was “to earn respect from my teammates and around the league and prove myself as a workhorse back.”

He is doing just that.

“It shouldn't be a surprise,” Glenn said. “He went out there and he did his job. No one was surprised. We’re all happy for him. Happy for him that he had a chance to go out there and really show what he can do on a consistent basis. That was good to see. It was really good to see.”

Allen leaned on his faith when things got tough and he was working to “build myself back up to what I knew I could be.” Allen also credited the Jets’ offensive line, for making his job “pretty easy.”

It will be up to Reich to utilize both backs when Hall is healthy. Reich has said he would like to play them both together at times.

Reich needs to be a little more creative and should be able to with the Jets appearing to be getting healthy. They haven’t had all of their top skills players healthy since their first series in Week 1.

Hall, receiver Adonai Mitchell and rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. could return against New England. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq is in concussion protocol, but he could be cleared later in the week.

At full strength, the Jets “could be the best” offense, according to veteran receiver Tim Patrick.

“We have so much talent, it’s insane,” Patrick said. “I've never been around this much talent.”

It was a strong statement since Patrick previously played for the high-powered Lions. The Jets’ talent and depth at tight end make them better, Patrick said before pausing and adding, “That’s going to backfire on me.”

The Jets have playmakers. Allen is one of them. Reich has to find ways to feature different players and create mismatches with this talented group or it could backfire on the Jets.