Rex Ryan on Winning Despite Twenty Penalties

Sep 22, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan before the game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

It is rare to see a coach upset after winning a football game in the NFL. This week, however, it is understandable. The Jets were able to achieve the rare feat of committing 20 penalties, and turning the ball over twice while still coming away with the victory. Yes it was the Buffalo Bills, that have a lot of work to do, but that doesn’t take away from what the Jets did.

20 penalties, two turnovers and a victory. It’s a rare triple achievement.

Despite the victory, these statistics cannot continue, and nobody understands that better than coach Ryan

It’s been a while since we had 20 penalties. I don’t know. We’ve just had a couple of weeks in a row (with a number of penalties). We have to get better. We have to work at it. We think we’re working hard at it, but we have to find a way to get better. How many games are you going to win when you turn the ball over twice and commit 20 penalties? We have to get rid of the self-inflicted things. Yeah, I’m upset because of this – the 20 penalties and all that. We’ve been one of the least penalized teams in the league, so I know we can get this fixed. That’s kind of what excites me. How good can this team be when we eliminate the self-inflicted wounds? We all can take responsibility for it, but it starts with me. We will get it corrected. I will get it corrected.

It comes down to one big word, “discipline”. Discipline to only hit a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Discipline to not hold, stay onsides,…etc. A lot of these come from being fired up, and I can appreciate that. However, contain it. It will bite them on the behind against a better team.

This team is very close to being a lot better than everyone thought they would be. The Jets must clean up those penalties, and fast.