Jets need to find happiness on the road
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan walks off the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Jets, 30-21. (Oct. 9, 2011) Credit: AP
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Jets have gone from road warriors to road worriers.
They are 0-3 in away games this season, and to have any shot at making a legit run at the AFC East title, they'll have to cure their road woes beginning with Sunday's divisional game against the Bills (5-2) at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
In Rex Ryan's first two seasons as coach, the Jets played like bullies who stormed into opposing stadiums, compiling an impressive 15-7 record that included playoff victories in Cincinnati, San Diego, Indianapolis and New England.
Now the Jets (4-3) face a team with realistic hopes of winning the conference title.
"Oh, no question, and this will be right up there," said Ryan. "They're undefeated at home and they are a tough team to play at their place. They're having a white-out. Oh, my goodness. We need to win, there's no question. You're not going to go anywhere if you can't win on the road.
"That's something that kind of digs at us right now. But I think we'll break the trend this week."
Avoiding a sluggish start would help. The Jets have been outscored 31-14 in the first quarter of their three matchups away from MetLife Stadium, constantly putting themselves in early deficits.
"I think it's about our focus, honestly," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "For us, the beginning of the game on the road is tough because the crowd is into it, and lately we've turned the ball over early, put ourselves in bad situations at the beginning of the game and really dug ourselves a hole.
"So for us, it's all about that focus, particularly at the beginning of the game, and starting out fast on the road. Trying to quiet that crowd down can help us."
In other words, the Jets need to play with same poise they displayed in those previous 15 road victories they've accumulated in Ryan's reign.
"Normally, the couple of years under Rex, in our home games, we weren't as strong," tight end Dustin Keller said. "Away games, we seemed like we were really good. This year, it's kind of flipped around the other way. So it's hard to put your finger on any certain thing that could be the cause of that, but it's a huge one for us, to get back on the winning track on the road.
"I think we've done good protecting our house, but on the road, we just haven't been that great. And this is the game. This is a big one for us to turn it around."
