Frank Reich unveils key Geno Smith decision that saved the Jets vs. Browns

The New York Jets desperately needed a win this past Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, and they got it. It wasn't always pretty, and they weren't exactly in cruise control down the stretch, but with their backs against the wall, Aaron Glenn and his team managed to pull out the win.

It came down to the wire, with the Jets scoring the go-ahead touchdown with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter. On 3rd & 7 from the Browns' 22-yard line, Geno Smith handed the ball off to Braelon Allen, who scampered through Cleveland's defense for the score. It was the longest run of Allen's career.

While the play seemed pretty simple at first, offensive coordinator Frank Reich revealed on Thursday that the Allen handoff wasn't the initial play call. The Jets had initially dialed up a pass play, and Smith audibled into the game-winning play.

"That was an instance where I was calling it aggressive; honestly, I was thinking three wasn't enough... we were going for the touchdown. So, I made the play call, which was a pass, and Geno got to the line of scrimmage, saw something that made him check to the run, and he checked to the perfect play."

Geno Smith saved the New York Jets with his brain rather than brawn

Now, this past Sunday wasn't exactly Smith's best outing as the Jets' starting quarterback. He only completed 56.6% of his passes for 182 yards and threw one touchdown. He also nearly cost his team the game with a late fumble in the fourth quarter.

But the Jets' special teams and defense did their jobs, getting the offense back on the field. Instead of winning the game with his arm, Smith won the game with his football IQ and years of experience as an NFL quarterback, which is arguably just as good as throwing the game-winning touchdown.

"Every game, your playmakers need to make plays. Sometimes it's a great catch, a great run or a great block. Sometimes it's a quarterback seeing something and making a check," Reich continued.

Last year, the Jets didn't have an experienced enough starting quarterback, outside of maybe a handful of games from Tyrod Taylor, to make a check like that.

To take it back a few years further, Aaron Rodgers may have made that audible, but there's also a chance that he would've drained too much time off the play clock diagnosing the opposing defense and drawn a delay of game penalty.

Having Smith feels like the perfect blend of leadership and ability. He may not be the most talented quarterback in the league, but he has enough time under his belt in the league that the Jets can trust him to make these types of decisions in the heat of the moment.

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