SAN DIEGO — Rex Ryan went to the bullpen Sunday, but this was a game not even Mariano Rivera could have saved.
The Chargers embarrassed the Jets 31-0 at Qualcomm Stadium, pounding the Jets in every conceivable way to drop them to 1-4 and put the 2014 season on life support.
Ryan benched quarterback Geno Smith at halftime, replacing him with Michael Vick. After the game, Ryan said Smith would start next week against the Broncos.
The quarterback switch did nothing to change the outcome and the Jets were handed their fourth consecutive loss, the longest losing streak since 2007 — predating Ryan.
“First off, I apologize to our fans, those that are left,” Ryan said. “This is on one person and that’s it. It’s certainly not on the quarterback, on one individual that way or anybody else. It’s on me. I clearly got out-coached. I thought we had a good plan going in and obviously, that wasn’t the case.
“It was a complete ass-whipping and it was me that was getting my ass kicked.”
It is admirable that Ryan would want to take the heat off his players, but misguided. On Sunday, the Jets looked like the JV playing the varsity. The Chargers simply had better talent from quarterback to defensive back and everywhere in between.
The beatdown was as thorough as it was severe:
- The Chargers outgained the Jets 439-150.
- The Chargers had three drives of 90 yards or more. They converted 12-of-18 (67 percent) on third down while the Jets converted only 1-of-11 (9 percent).
- The Jets, who entered the game as the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL, allowed 162 rushing yards. The Chargers’ fourth-string running back had 182 total yards from scrimmage.
- The Jets did not cross the 50-yard line until midway through the fourth quarter.
- Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had a passer rating of 125.3, despite throwing an interception.
When it was suggested to Ryan that the Jets might simply lack the talent to compete with teams like the Chargers, the coach refused to concede that.
“I don’t believe that for a minute. I don’t,” Ryan said. “We have a lot of talented players on this team. We just have to play a 60-minute game to our capabilities. I think when we do that, we’ll have a chance. I don’t think there’s a doubt. Today, you take a whipping like that I know in my heart it’s on me. That’s an excuse. It’s not the case. We have enough talent here.”
Ryan pulled Smith at halftime after Smith went 4-for-12 for 27 yards with an interception in a totally ineffective first half. Smith had a staggering 7.6 quarterback rating. Vick did not fare much better. He failed to move the Jets and finished 8-of-19 for 47 yards, all of that in garbage time.
Fans have been clamoring for a quarterback change for weeks, but Ryan made it clear after the game the move was temporary.
“I’m going with Geno Smith [against Denver],” Ryan said. “It wasn’t on him. He wasn’t the guy out there blocking or blowing assignments or whatever.”
Smith said it was hard to take getting benched, but he understood.
“Obviously what we did today was not enough,” Smith said. “It was definitely a pathetic showing on my part. I think I didn’t help at any part during the game. What I’m going to do is look myself in the mirror. I know every guy in the locker room is going to do the same thing. We’re going to get better and find a way.”
This is the first four-game losing streak for the Jets under Ryan. This leaves the Jets at 1-4 and staring at their most challenging week of the season. They face Peyton Manning and the Broncos on Sunday at MetLife Stadium and then travel to Foxborough to play the Patriots four days later on “Thursday Night Football.” The Jets could easily be 1-6 when it is all through.
The Chargers jumped on the Jets, driving 90 yards on 11 plays on their opening drive. Rivers, who threw for 288 yards on 20-of-28 passing, hit tight end Antonio Gates for an 8-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
The Jets hung around despite doing nothing offensively. Cornerback Phillip Adams picked off Rivers early in the second quarter and it felt like the Jets might take the momentum, but running back Chris Johnson fumbled on the first play after the pick and the Chargers recovered.
Three plays and two Jets’ penalties later, Rivers found Gates again, this time from 12 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0.
Running back Braden Oliver, who replaced a concussed Donald Brown, gashed the Jets’ defense. Rivers, on a play he was nearly sacked, found Oliver along the sideline and Oliver ran 50 yards through the Jets. He scored a 15-yard touchdown moments later to give San Diego a 21-0 lead and basically finish the game off. Smith threw an interception just before halftime, his final pass of the day.
Jets players said Ryan should not take the blame for this game.
“Rex is not playing,” defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said. “He can put it on himself all he wants, but as men out here we’ve got to do our job. We get paid to [bleeping] play football.”
Linebacker Demario Davis said the Jets’ problems begin in practice.
“Right now we’re not practicing like a championship football team,” Davis said. “I take responsibility for that because I expect guys to do what I do. If we’re not giving effort in practice, that means I’m not giving the effort in practice.”
As Davis spoke, his teammates packed up their bags and headed to the waiting buses. It was going to be a long flight home.