Jets turn in sloppy performance in loss to Bills

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Rex Ryan approached the podium, his eyes tinged a light pink, almost as if he had just cried.

Maybe it was rage. Maybe it was sadness. Maybe it was pain, but most likely, it was a combination of several emotions and the imposing question the New York Jets face that won't go away: how did it ever get this bad?

"I'll tell ya," Ryan said, "I'm getting sick and tired of losing, that's for sure.

"I certainly didn't think we'd play this way. I thought we had a great week of practice and preparation. The execution fell flat. I have no idea why we're not playing better."

Ryan seemed almost perplexed after his team's 43-23 drubbing against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in which his team committed six turnovers and he benched starting quarterback Geno Smith eight minutes into the game.

Ryan faced a barrage of questions about the future of the Jets and whether he has a place in it.

Despite the uncertainty, Ryan insisted he's not thinking about his job security.

"I'm worried about our team," he said. "The team is always the focus. That's the truth. I tell you that because it's true. I'm not thinking about my future or anything else. I'm just trying to get this team to play better."

No matter how bad it gets for Ryan, his players always seem to fight for him. Several players polled after the Bills game all said they supported Ryan moving forward..

"He's hurt," Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson said. "He needs help. And we're not helping him out at all."

The biggest problem that plagues the Jets (1-7) is erratic play at quarterback. Ryan had long backed Smith as the team's starter. He stood behind the second-year pro. He said recently he thought Smith would be the team's franchise quarterback for years to come.

But when Smith completed 2-of-8 passes for 5 yards with three interceptions, Ryan had no other choice but to bench him.

In came Michael Vick, who led the offense on some successful drives, but not nearly enough to overcome the early deficit. There was no other way of putting it: the Jets offense played better with Vick in the game Sunday, which prompts the question about which player will start for the team moving forward.

"I have no idea," Ryan said. "We'll look at that later."

The Jets said Smith underwent X-rays to his right shoulder, but did not have the results available. Players declined to comment about their preference at quarterback.

"(Smith) got benched today, so you know, hey, he got three turnovers in the first quarter, and you can't do that," Richardson said. "So, hey, if he's the starter next week, he's the starter. If he's not, that's just the way the business works."

Both Vick and Smith said they had not heard from anyone on the coaching staff about whom the Jets would start at quarterback next week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I would love to start," Vick said. "I wouldn't mind that at all. Despite everything that happened, I just told myself: 'Go out there and just try to knock off some rust and have some fun.' It's difficult. If that does happen, I look forward to a full week of practice at some point. Going out there on Sunday and seeing how I fare, that's what it's all about."

Given the way the season has gone with Smith under center, and the jobs at stake if the losses pile on, the Jets may not have another choice but to hand the franchise to the 34-year-old Vick.

Smith, who has completed 56.2% of his passes for 1,370 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, insists he won't give up on his claim to the spot.

"I'm just worried about what I need to do to get better from today," Smith said. "I've got a lot of work to do. I've got work cut out for myself. It's something that I believe I can get turned around."