The Jets spotted the Browns a 10-0 lead on Sunday and it looked like things could be headed toward the kind of loss that could turn word on the street about his firing into word from a Jets press conference about his firing.
The Jets rallied to tie the game before the half, though, and they rolled over Cleveland in the second half for a 24-13 victory that should help Ryan’s cause if there’s still a decision pending. His defense held the Browns to 283 yards, picked off two passes and sacked Jason Campbell three times, but everyone already knew Ryan can do a good job on that side of the ball.
Offense has been the eternal problem during his tenure with the Jets and it’s success today could help Ryan. The Jets ran for 208 yards, providing the ground and pound that’s been heard more than seen with the Jets in the last couple of years, and Geno Smith played one of the best games of his rookie season. Smith was 20-of-36 for 214 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 48 yards and a touchdown to offer some hope of a strong finish to his rocky rookie season.
Impressing against a 4-11 Browns team may not be enough to save Ryan’s job and shouldn’t stop the Jets from bringing in competition for Smith this offseason, but it did offer some promise of better days before the end of the season. Cleveland didn’t have as much of that on Sunday. Their two first round picks should provide plenty once the offseason does arrive, however.