Jets backup quarterback Kellen Clemens: When you’re 1-3, the future starts now.

Well, it’s nice to know that I’ll be getting my Sunday afternoons back soon, since the Jets have managed to find a way to make this season feel pointless and futile an entire four weeks in.

As a Jets fan, I’m more than familiar with defeat, heartbreak, and disappointment. But something about yesterday’s 17-14 loss to Buffalo seemed deeply ominous on so many levels. Losing to New England at home and Baltimore on the road wasn’t surprising; they’re simply better teams (and the Ravens are very tough in Baltimore). The win over Miami looked a bit sloppy, but panic seemed premature. But the Bills… the Bills were, and are, a team in real trouble, decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, starting a rookie quarterback… and he absolutely tore up the Jets defense. Little or no pressure, despite all kinds of blitzes. Some okay run defense on some plays, but bad ones on a lot of others. Buffalo converted a lot of third downs. Little or no fire, spunk, aggressiveness, or appetite coming out of the Jets defense.

On the other side of the ball, even more depressing. I was a Chad Pennington fan going into this season. After yesterday, I don’t know if I can be. The knock on Pennington was always his arm, but his good decision-making was supposed to balance it out. Yesterday, he threw two fourth quarter interceptions, two ugly, what-was-he-thinking lobs that opposing defensive backs snatched with glee. You turn the ball over twice late in the game, you’re just not going to win. The picks aren’t on anybody but him, and of his 32 completions, most of them were dump-offs. One almost got the feeling that Pennington has gotten used to his receivers Coles and Cotchery successfully fighting for possession on a “jump ball” of a pass. You throw enough of those passes, you’re going to get intercepted, and sooner or later they’re going to occur when you can afford them least; yesterday was that day for Pennington.

Pennington first started for the Jets in 2002. It’s been five years since opposing teams feared the deep ball. The Jets offense shrinks the playing field; any pass attempt beyond 20 yards is an absolute rarity. Kellen Clemens, the second-year backup, isn’t experienced. Fine. He can throw the deep ball, stretch the field, put the defensive backs out beyond eight yards and open up room for the running game.

Might as well see what the kid can do, and if he can get the offense going, maybe we’ll score enough points to make up for the severely underperforming defense. At 1-3, there’s not much point in playing it safe any more.