Adam Gase has gone wherever special coaches go to take their franchises to unimaginable depths.
He is the Bizarro Einstein.
This Houdini with a headset is on a relentless pursuit. And he will not be denied until his mission is accomplished.
The foulest stench was in the air, the funk of 40,000 years, but this was no thriller in America's heartland Sunday afternoon. It was just another good ol' fashioned 35-9 butt kickin' to the Chiefs that helped the Jets remain the only winless team in the NFL.
Gase has the 0-8 Jets exactly where he wants them at the mid-point of the season.
Gang Green is halfway home, halfway to Trevor Lawrence and halfway to the single most memorable season since Joe Willie Namath prevailed in the face of unspeakable odds.
While the rest of the NFL world points and giggles at a lost franchise for not putting Gase out of his misery by now, the HC of the NYJ soldiers on with remarkable proficiency.
It's not easy being 0-8 for only the second time in the 61-year history of the franchise. It takes extraordinary talent to give Rich Kotite a run for his money.
The layman likely has no idea how difficult it is to have more losses by at least 20 points (eight) than total wins (seven) in your first 24 games in charge. Gase deserves kudos for that.
Do you know how much skill it requires to be 7-17 as the Jets head coach with an average margin of defeat of 18 points? That doesn't just happen. You need to work at it.
Frustrated fans, who will endure a 10th consecutive season missing the playoffs, simply don't appreciate Gase's many gifts.
How many head coaches out there could lead a team to eight consecutive losses by more than seven points to start a season? Heck, the last time it happened was in 1984 with the defunct Houston Oilers.
It takes a rare guy to lead a team to a franchise worst minus-144 point differential through eight games.
But here we are.
I didn't think so.
The Jets are in pole position to get the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. Only a pair of 1-6 teams (Giants and Jaguars) are within striking distance.
But Gase still has plenty of work left as he continues his onslaught on the record books. Thankfully, his latest defeat gives fans hope he, indeed, is the right man for the job.
Gase made sure not to upset the apple cart on Halloween weekend. His guys continued to masquerade as an NFL team, but fooled nobody. Even in costume, they stunk.
The rudderless outfit took turns making mistakes, while the defending Super Bowl champions revealed the chasm between the haves and have-nots. Patrick Mahomes had more touchdown passes (5) in a little more than three quarters than the Jets have had all season (four in 32 quarters).
In a master stroke, Gase handed the keys to his green-and-white Ford Pinto to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for a second consecutive week. Gase is nothing if not magnanimous. Why should he get all the glory?
Sharing is caring.
The Jets sputtered to their second-lowest offensive output (221 yards) a mere seven days after posting their lowest mark (190 yards). They managed two first downs and 63 total yards after halftime.
They allowed six plays of at least 25 yards en route to giving up 496 total yards in a game in which the opposing head coach pulled his star quarterback for the final 10 minutes.
This does not happen by accident.
"I'm doing this job to win," Gase insisted. "Not to go out there and get my face stomped in."
No need to be humble. Embrace this. All of this.
The only disappointing part of Gase's latest masterpiece is that he didn't shoehorn in a few more carries to a 37-year-old running back in the waning minute. You can't get too much Frank Gore when you're on a collision with history.
Truth be told, Gase's brilliant offensive mind has been something to behold. We should consider ourselves lucky for getting a front-row seat as he coaches to where football is going.
This relentless pursuit of infamy seemingly will not be denied. The Jets are bent on making sure Gase leaves an indelible mark on this star-crossed franchise.
His march on history would make the '97 Buccaneers, 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns so damn proud.
"We'll go back to work," Gase said. "On Monday, we'll get things corrected."
Whoa, whoa. There's no reason to spoil a good thing.
