NY Jets: The Dowell Loggains era was fun until it wasn’t

NY Jets’ head coach Adam Gase gave up play-calling duties in Week 7 against the Bills.

The NY Jets made a significant chance just prior to their Week 7 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. No longer would it be Adam Gase calling plays on offense as the often-criticized head coach relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

Loggains, hardly an accomplished play-caller in his own right, looked to jump-start an abysmal Jets offense that once again ranked near the very bottom in essentially every metric.

And for around a half of football, that’s miraculously exactly what he did.

The Dowell Loggains era got off to a rocking start following an 11-play, 67-yard drive on the team’s opening possession that culminated in a 29-yard Sergio Castillo field goal.

The Jets’ offense looked competitive for perhaps the first time this year as the running game flourished and the team got the likes of Breshad Perriman and the debuting Denzel Mims involved in the passing game.

In fact, the drive likely would have led to a touchdown if Sam Darnold had spotted a wide-open Mims in the flats just a few yards shy of the end zone.

Nonetheless, the offense didn’t slow down holding the ball for over 12 minutes in the first quarter amassing over 100 yards. After another impressive drive, the Jets stalled on 4th-and-1, but still looked the part.

Loggains and the Jets finally found paydirt on their third possession, a seven-play, 80-yard drive that was finished off by a five-yard La’Mical Perine rushing touchdown — the first of his NFL career.

On three drives, the Jets managed as many first downs, 13, as they did in their entire Week 6 game against the Miami Dolphins. But just as quickly as Jets fans were ready to crown Dowell Loggains the savior of the franchise, it all came crumbling down.

The Jets drove near midfield on their next possession before an ugly Darnold interception put an end to their drive. And after that, the incompetence returned.

The NY Jets’ offense eventually came back down to earth.

For the remainder of the game, the Jets would not have a single drive that lasted longer than four plays — and only one drive lasted longer than three. In total, the Jets managed just four yards on 16 plays in the second half.

Four yards. 16 plays. It was fun while it lasted, Dowell.

Loggains very clearly isn’t the answer for the Jets’ offensive woes — the team’s issues extend well beyond the coaching staff.

But for one half of football, for 30 minutes of game time, the Jets’ offense looked competitive. There was optimism surrounding the team’s young rookies. There was hope.

That was fun Dowell, let’s do it again sometime.