EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A few thoughts on the New York Jets' 43-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium:
What it means: There are bad seasons, and there are really bad seasons. The Jets (1-7) shifted into the latter category, falling to a mediocre Bills team at home. It's one thing to lose to Peyton Manning on your own field, but quite another when it's Kyle Orton, who didn't have Fred Jackson or C.J. Spiller.
It was the Jets' seventh straight loss, their longest skid since 2005. They committed six turnovers, all in their own territory -- three by Geno Smith, three by Michael Vick. Some perspective: The Bills had twice as many takeaways as the Jets have generated for the entire season. The Jets are an embarrassment, and Rex Ryan is toast. This was the kind of loss that gets coaches fired during the season.
Stock watch: Smith's stock is so far down, it might be time to declare bankruptcy. He was brutal, finishing with the dreaded Blutarsky passer rating -- 0.0, a career first. In a 12-play outing, he completed more passes to the Bills (three interceptions) than his own teammates (two completions). This was a crushing setback for Smith, who took some baby steps in the previous two games. He was in a fog, making bad decisions and overthrowing receivers. He became the first quarterback since Matt Ryan in 2012 to have three interceptions in the first quarter. Smith has 12 multiple-turnover games in 24 career starts. Should Ryan stick with Vick? Better question: Does it matter? Both quarterbacks are turnover machines.
The Percy Factor: So much for the theory that Percy Harvin would make Smith a better quarterback. As expected, the desperate Jets tried to force-feed Harvin into the offense, playing him 37 snaps, unofficially. His impact was minimal, as he finished with three receptions for 22 yards and four rushes for 28 yards. They tried to reinvent Harvin, using him mostly as an outside receiver -- something he requested. Now we know why the Seattle Seahawks didn't use him in that fashion. His only catches came on quick-hitting throws. The Jets took him out of his comfort zone, trying to show everyone they could make him something he's not. John Idzik's "potential coup" was a nonfactor.
Laugh track: Of all the slapstick moments -- and there were plenty -- the most ridiculous was an attempted razzle-dazzle on a kickoff return. Harvin looked to throw a lateral across the field -- in the end zone -- to T.J. Graham, who tried to dupe the Bills by lying on his stomach during the kickoff. He popped to his feet, but no one was fooled. Harvin held the ball and was smothered inside his 5.
The defense rests: No one will ever confuse Orton with any of the future Hall of Fame quarterbacks the Jets faced in recent weeks, but he threw four touchdown passes. If you're scoring at home, the Jets have allowed 20 touchdown passes, with only one interception, in the past seven games.
Game ball: Linebacker Quinton Coples, perhaps motivated by last week's demotion, finished with 1.5 sacks, giving him 2.5 for the season. He was one of the few bright spots.
What's ahead: The Jets hit the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3).
