EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In perhaps a last-ditch effort to save his job, New York Jets coach Adam Gase relinquished the offensive playcalling Sunday -- but the result was yet another dreary performance in an 18-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
With offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains calling plays, the Jets took a 10-0 lead, but the second half was a rerun of their first six games. They had as many total yards (4) as sacks allowed over the final 30 minutes to remain the NFL's only winless team at 0-7.
"I've been thinking about it for a while, just trying to figure out what's going on, how come we're not consistent and productive," said Gase, who had called the plays in his previous 70 games as a head coach.
"I just felt like it was the time to do it and see how the guys would respond and what our offensive staff would put together. It looked like things were going well in the first half."
This was a significant move by Gase, who has been under fire for an offense that has ranked at the bottom of the league in most categories. Gase has been a playcaller since 2013, when he became the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator. It was an odd sight seeing Gase on the sideline without his menu-size play sheet.
Gase came close to making the move a couple of weeks ago, but he said he decided to retain the duties after consulting with his staff. Under mounting pressure, he finally opted for Loggains after last week's shutout loss to the Miami Dolphins. Gase said he's not sure if it will be a permanent change.
"My big thing was, it allowed me to take a step back and just really just focus on every phase of our organization," said Gase, claiming it was his decision and not a suggestion from management.
Gase's job security is eroding by the week. His record dropped to 7-16. Since the start of last season, the Jets have scored a league-low 361 points.
Loggains, a longtime Gase ally, hadn't called plays since 2016, when he served as the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator. With Sam Darnold back in the lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury, Loggains tried to utilize his quarterback's mobility by calling plays to get him outside the pocket.
It worked -- briefly.
The Jets took a 10-0 lead on rookie La'Mical Perine's 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. After that, they managed only 25 total yards on 23 plays.
Afterward, Darnold was visibly frustrated.
"They made some good adjustments," Darnold said of the Bills, who brought more pressure in the second half. "I just think we have to adjust to their adjustments. We have to beat man coverage and protect. I have to throw accurate football. That's it."
Moments later, Darnold added, "We have to adjust to their adjustments better."
Darnold, claiming there were no residual effects from his injury, passed for only 120 yards and threw a costly interception late in the first half. He was under pressure throughout the game, as the Jets struggled against blitzes. He completed only 12 of 23 passes.
He said he was "comfortable" with Loggains, adding, "With Dowell calling plays, it was just going out and executing it. It's the same for us as players. It's getting a playcall and executing. That's it."
Darnold has struggled in five starts, having thrown only three touchdown passes -- the worst stretch of his young career.
"At the beginning of the game, he was getting the ball out, he was seeing things well," Gase said. "He was in a great rhythm. In the second half, it just seemed like we didn't have a lot of plays."
Darnold completed only 1 of 8 pass attempts in the second half.