“Where the hell has this been all year? ”
That’s what Jets 23, Browns 16 at MetLife Stadium must have done for all Jets fans screaming at their television screens on Sunday.
Just a week ago, the Jets were at 0-13 and on a collision course towards 0-16, being the No. 1 choice in the general draft. They had just come out of a 40-3 loss in Seattle, entering a game against a 9-4 Rams team that came in first in the league in defense.
The Jets beat Rams 23-20 in Los Angeles to end the 0-16 conversation and in the process gave up control of the draft’s No. 1 overall choice and the chance to get Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
And then there was Sunday, the Jets controlling a Browns team that entered the 10-4 with their eyes set on the AFC North victory next Sunday with an imminent divisional clash against the Steelers.
But just like the Jets did with Rams last week, they landed an uppercut to the Browns’ chin, got an impressive 20-3 lead to start the second half and held on with some defensive cunning at the end.
So, to review: in the last two Sundays, the Jets defeated two teams with a collective record of 19-8, both likely to play in the playoffs.
What does all this mean?
What did the 6-2 gold result last season mean for this season?
This is the question that Jets CEO Christopher Johnson should ask himself and answer with a cold and truthful answer, regardless of any warm feelings he may have for his head coach.
Because the answer is this: too late.
Johnson, in his right mind, cannot sell another year of Adam Gase (9-22) to his fan base.
Johnson, in fact, should have been at the front of the queue for the past two weeks wondering, “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
For the dynamic pass from the 43-yard TD from the Jamison Crowder receiver to the Braxton Berrios receiver, Johnson should have asked himself, “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
For Sam Darnold TD’s 11-yard pass to tight end Chris Herndon, arguably the team’s biggest disappointment this season, another: “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
For the 30-yard Darnold TD, pass to Crowder on a third downhill to open the second half and give the Jets that 20-3 lead, another: “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
For the Browns quarterback’s strip-sack, Baker Mayfield, by linebacker Tarell Basham, another: “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
For Basham forced Mayfield fumble in a quarter and a goalkeeper on the Jets’ 16-yard line to freeze the game with 1:16 remaining, a final: “Where the hell has this been all year? ”
“You will always ask yourself, ” admitted Gase after the game.
What does this mean in the big picture?
There was a report late on Saturday that the Jets were prepared to fire Gase pending the outcome of Sunday’s game against the Browns.
How and why any ownership decision on Gase’s future should have depended on a result of Week 16 against the Browns is totally absurd. If the decision on Gase has not yet been made and is awaiting the results of some games for the time of trash, this is negligence of property.
“I didn’t think about it, ” Gase insisted after the game when asked about his future. “I had no argument with Christopher about any of this. My job is to prepare for the next game, so that’s what I’m going to worry about. ”
Asked if he is “hopeful” that the results of the last two games will have an “impact” on the ownership decision, Gase said: “It is something I cannot worry about.”
Asked if he “believes” that he is the coach to lead this team, Gase soliloquized his players, saying: “I cannot say how much I appreciate what these guys have been doing to fight week after week. It is difficult to put into words. ”
It’s not as difficult as asking yourself, “Where the hell was that all season? ”
“Obviously, it’s too late,” said Darnold. “But it is going very well. ”
Crowder, who had one day, taking seven passes for 92 yards and a TD and throwing the TD pass to Berrios, admitted that it is “the middle of human nature” to wonder where that has been all season.
“We are moving forward,” said central Connor McGovern. “We are looking at what we can be, what we will be. We are learning valuable lessons for the future. ”
But what exactly is this future?
Certainly, Gase cannot be part of this. What about Darnold?
“I think we have a great base,” said McGovern. “Whoever is leading us next year – whether it’s Coach Gase or anyone else – starts by taking this lost culture out of the facility and putting in a new one.