Backup quarterback Michael Vick got just three plays in the Jets’ season-opening 19-14 win over the Raiders on Sunday. But considering the shaky results, Gang Green were smart not to run more plays for Vick because they were about the only thing the Raiders really smothered all afternoon in front of 78,160 at MetLife Stadium.
“We thought it’d be a pretty good wrinkle against them, because they hadn’t seen anything that we’d done with it,’’ coach Rex Ryan said. “But they did a nice job defending it.’’
Nice job is an understatement, the three snaps resulting in a handoff on a run, a Geno Smith fumble and an incompletion in the end zone. It was about one-third the work Tim Tebow got in his Jets’ debut, and Vick had to come in cold off the bench, but he wasn’t using that as an alibi.
“I wasn’t going to make an excuse; but thanks for saying it for me. Say it a little louder so [any doubters] can hear it,’’ Vick said. “It’s no excuse. We’re professional quarterbacks in this league. … I should’ve made that play. It’s killing me on the inside. Thanks for bringing it up.’’
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg gave Vick just those three snaps, two down in the red zone. On second-and-goal from the 3 in the second quarter, Vick got split out wide and Geno Smith scrambled for the end zone, getting hit by linebacker Sio Moore and fumbling the ball away to T.J. Carrie.
Then on second-and-goal from the 4 with just 39 seconds left in the half, Vick again went out wide, sprinted into the backfield and took the ball on an end around, but led a wide-open Eric Decker too much in the end zone for an incompletion.
“It was incomplete,’’ Vick said. “I tried to lead him and put it out there, but I don’t really know what to tell you. I was just off.’’
With Smith playing well and the offense piling up 402 yards — albeit with two turnovers — it was about the amount of snaps many seasoned observers expected Vick to get, despite all the work spent in training camp.
“I knew I had a package. I didn’t know exactly when I was going to be going into the game. So, you just have to stay ready over there,’’ said Vick, who plans to do his radio spot Tuesdays on WFAN. “Just having a couple of plays I was able to keep my mind in it, keep my head involved and keep me ready.’’