Dave & Busted! Geno Channels Inner Sanchez, Jets Fall Flat in Buffalo

BILLS 37
JETS 14

If the Jets season falls apart and they miss the playoffs, the events that led up to and including the 37-14 embarrassment will weigh heavily in the minds of the decision makers at the end of the season. It could weigh heavily on the future of the head coach, and oh, by the way the Jets have another quarterback controversy to boot.

The Jets were in control of their own destiny; in the lead of the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs, needing a victory over the Bills to set up a crucial two game stretch against the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, the two teams the Jets are competing with for that wild card slot.

Instead the Jets came out flatter than flat.

It was their most listless performance since the Bengals disaster earlier in the year, and to think a move by the head coach could have prevented it.

Reports surfaced late Saturday night that Jets head coach Rex Ryan ditched the clubs defensive and offensive meetings and took the entire team to a night of wings, drinks and arcade games at Dave & Buster's in Buffalo.

This for a team that was coming off a bye week and needed to be prepared to take on the Bills; the lack of preparation showed in every phase of the game.  Rex's feet will be held to the fire for taking this team out for a night of partying instead of getting ready for a divisional opponent. No one can blame the Buffalo Bills for taking this move by the Jets as a sign of disrespect.

Yet, when asked about the Dave & Buster's night, Ryan tried to avoid it saying he's taken his team out before, but it has never been reported before until now. Ryan should never have taken his team out the night before the game -- a huge mistake that could ultimately cost Ryan his job at the end of the year.

As for the game the Jets resembled zombies from the Walking Dead. Geno Smith looked more like Mark Sanchez with every snap. He turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions. He was totally lost, completing only eight of 23 passes for 103 yards and a rating of 10.1.

When asked about Smith's performance, Rex Ryan said "Even if you had Joe Namath back there you won't do anything with that protection." Haven't we heard that before? Haven't we seen this movie previously?

We have with Mark Sanchez, and Geno Smith is becoming Ryan's new Sanchez. He has played poorly in three straight games, and continues to be a turnover machine for the Jets.

Only once did Smith complete one nice pass to Santonio Homles on a cross route in the third quarter and that was it. He did nothing.

With the Jets trailing 10-0, Smith was stripped sacked by Kyle Williams giving Buffalo the football deep in Jets territory. Three plays later Frank Summers plowed through the Jets defensive line for the touchdown to make it 17-0.

Fast forward to the third quarter, and the Bills put their hooves on the throat of the Jets. EJ Manuel looked like Warren Moon hitting T. Graham for 40 yards and finally M. Goodwin for a 43 yard touchdown to make it 27-0.

Finally Smith turned into the Mark Sanchez show. He threw a pick to Jairus Byrd, and and a pick six to  Da'Norris Searcy to give the Bills a 34-7 lead.

It was a total smack-down.

The only saving grace in this drudgery was the play of Matt Simms who lit it up on a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Simms was very accurate completing four of six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. With the way Simms played it is fair to say that a quarterback controversy now exists for the Jets once again.

Now the Jets get set for the Ravens in what figures to be the game of the year for Gang Green.