\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n
Up front, the obvious needs to be stated for the record: As a Jets fan, you would much rather have a head coach who does not make critical mistakes in endgame situations than a head coach who admits his critical mistakes in endgame situations. <\/p>\n
Robert Saleh understands this. At 43, in only his second year, he is still learning on the job. It’s a hard thing to manage when your second-year quarterback is learning on the job too. <\/p>\n
But the Jets coach screwed up on that final drive against the Lions on Sunday, when Zach Wilson was operating at a higher level than his coach was as both raced against the clock. Down 20-17, Saleh should have called one of his three available timeouts after that second-down completion to Garrett Wilson with 48 seconds to go. Had he done so, Wilson would have gotten an extra snap, and kicker Greg Zuerlein might have gotten an easier assignment than the 58-yarder he missed. <\/p>\n
Oh, and Saleh wouldn’t have walked out of MetLife Stadium with one unused timeout tucked inside his travel bag. <\/p>\n
Working on only a half-hour’s sleep, a frayed Saleh might’ve risen Monday morn and held on for dear life to his initial explanation \u2014 that he feared a timeout could lead to a reversal of the first-down spot on that 10-yard Garrett Wilson catch. He could’ve focused on the defensive breakdowns that allowed the immortal Brock Wright to score the winning touchdown, and on the singles and doubles his quarterback couldn’t deliver in between his home runs. <\/p>\n