Short leash for Josh McCown against Oakland Raiders

By Michael Pallas | Sep 14, 2017

ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets attempts to throw the ball during the first half against the Buffalo Bills on September 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

The New York Jets should consider benching Josh McCown early in Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders, similarly to what the Houston Texans did, if things start going like they did in Week 1.

The Week 1 loss in Buffalo was an atrocious display of offense for Josh McCown and the New York Jets. While McCown was efficient, the Jets as a team were not. Some are pointing to poor design by the coaches, and a lack of plays called down the field.

The Jets will play a team on Sunday, in the Raiders, that can and will score points. The Jets coaches shouldn’t allow a quarterback who’s unwilling take risks to play if he has the capability to do so. Otherwise, the Jets will get embarrassed on Sunday.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote that, despite the Bills playing a lot of zone defense, there were opportunities for McCown to take chances down the field. However, he didn’t take them, and he was, according to the team, “too cautious at times.”

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The Jets cannot afford for their quarterback to be cautious on Sunday against the Raiders. There are times to be cautious and times to take risks, but if someone is never willing to take a risk, the team can’t win.

In the NFL, risks have to be taken sometimes. Now, throwing caution to the wind is not the answer, because being prudent and living for another drive is ok. He will have to be like Brett Favre sometimes in order to win in Oakland.

If the Jets see any hint of an unwillingness to take chances, he should be removed from the game, and replaced by Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg. Both of those quarterbacks showed during the preseason that they can and will take shots down the field.

Sometimes it’s the plays you don’t make that cost you wins. If McCown had shots down the field he opted not to take, the Jets may have him to partially blame for the loss in Buffalo, and that can’t happen again in Week 2 against the Raiders.