Jets Ride Ryan's Power of Persuasion to Victory Over Browns
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rex Ryan stomped. He screamed. He cursed and snarled and appealed, unleashing all the passion he could muster on a man who was about to make a very important decision. When he had finished pleading, when his tirade was over, Ryan had gotten what he wanted.
A penalty.
This was late in the first half of the Jets' 24-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns, when he raged at the line judge, who had yet to call a personal foul for what Ryan (correctly) deemed was a late hit against quarterback Geno Smith. Ryan was so incensed that he tried to slam his headset to the ground. Somehow, he held on.
Whether he has as strong a grip on his job will not be known until Dec. 30, the day after the Jets' season ends at Miami. That is when the owner Woody Johnson and General Manager John Idzik are expected to reveal Ryan's fate, one that on Sunday morning was widely seen as ending after next week's game.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports posted on Twitter that Ryan told his players at the team meeting Saturday night that 'word on street' was that he would be fired and to fight with him in these last two games. Glazer's two previous tweets directed his followers to prepare for 'a wild story' and 'news on a wild motivational speech last night.'
It was unclear whether that street was One Jets Drive or Fleet Street. In the name of motivation, Ryan has buried footballs, invoked Spanish conquistadors. and distributed schedules that map out Super Bowl parade routes. Among other things. And so it would not be unlike Ryan to use his uncertain status as a ploy, to further rile a team that has pledged its support and fondness for him over the last few weeks.
Divining any correlation between Ryan's job security or the message he delivered Saturday night and the Jets' performance against Cleveland is futile.
But the Jets, after falling behind by 10-0, scored 17 consecutive points - including 10 in the final 1 minute 18 seconds before halftime. Smith delivered his second encouraging outing in three weeks, completing 20 of 36 passes for 214 yards without committing a turnover. He threw two touchdown passes, both to David Nelson, and ran for another, a 17-yard scamper with 3:19 left that extended the Jets' lead to 24-13 and, in essence, secured the victory.
With it, the Jets (7-8) surpassed their win total from last year and ensured they will not end the season on a three-game losing streak, as they did in 2011 and 2012.
A cast of thousands braved 70-degree weather to watch - rubberneck, perhaps - two eliminated teams at MetLife Stadium. The fans were treated to a woefully executed fake punt by the Jets; Calvin Pace's 10th sack of the season; a defense that stopped Cleveland seven times from inside the 10; and three Jets touchdown drives of at least 80 yards. They also watched the Browns' Josh Gordon, one of the N.F.L.'s elite receivers, have minimal impact, grabbing six passes for 97 yards but also dropping a touchdown.
As is their tradition, the Jets disembarked school buses outside the stadium and walked a path lined by fans. After all of his players had filed past, and the coaches and cheerleaders had, too, Ryan came strolling by. He wore a wide smile and slapped fans' hands to shouts of 'Come on back, buddy!' and 'We love you, Rex!'
Post a Comment for "Jets Ride Ryan's Power of Persuasion to Victory Over Browns"