New York Jets: Week 5 will be litmus test for Gang Green

The New York Jets have been a complete mess through three games. After a bye, Week 5 will be the true litmus test for Gang Green this season.

A Week 4 bye couldn’t have come at a better time for the New York Jets. They’re off to an awful start to the season, coming in at 0-3. It’s their first 0-3 start since 2003 when Herm Edwards opened up the 2003 season 0-4.

The Jets have looked like a complete mess. Their defense has been walked all over at times, and the offense has been even worse. Adam Gase’s offense has completely sputtered through three weeks, being ranked dead last in total yards. Not something you want to see when Le’Veon Bell is in your backfield.

Over the past two weeks, the Jets that we’ve seen take the field against the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots and it was ugly, to say the least. They were without its starting quarterback, tight end, and defensive play-caller. Not to mention the other numerous injuries the Jets have suffered.

The Week 4 bye seemed like a bad thing when the schedules were released during the offseason. However, it was the biggest blessing the Jets could have possibly been given. If not for this bye, the Jets would have likely played another game with Luke Falk, which would mean another week of the atrocious offense we’ve seen since Sam Darnold went down.

Now, the Jets get the week off to recover and get a solid opportunity to bounce back against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5. The Eagles cornerbacks haven’t looked great, to say the least, and it appears as if the Jets will be getting Darnold back for the game.

If the Jets offense doesn’t recover next Sunday, one man will be under intense scrutiny, and for good reason: Adam Gase.

Gase was labeled as an offensive guru when he was hired by the Jets, and he’s looked like the exact opposite of that the first three weeks. I mean, the defense is outscoring his offense 15-11. Seriously?

This extreme lack of efficiency has been partially excused by the absence of his quarterback, as well as the atrocity that the Jets’ offensive line is. In his defense, it is difficult to call plays with a practice squad quarterback at the helm and the makings of a high school offensive line. However, 11 points through 12 quarters are inexcusable, and if you’ve watched the games, his play-calling has been awful.

If Gase doesn’t turn the ship around when Darnold comes back, the Jets season will crash and burn and they just might wind up finding themselves in the top three of the draft yet again. The first three weeks of the season can be excused if the Jets find a way to win football games with their key players back on both sides of the ball.

You can arguably say that Gase is already on the hot seat. If he doesn’t turn this offense back in the right direction, his career with the Jets’ organization will be a short one. Hopefully, Sam Darnold, C.J. Mosley, and Co. can help Gase and Gregg Williams put the Jets back on track.