Frank Reich Says Analytics Played Role in 4th-and-1 Shotgun Run Play Call in Jets' Loss to Packers

New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich says analytics backed his decision to call a shotgun play rather than attempting to throw the ball on fourth-and-1 late in a tied Week 2 game last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Braelon Allen failed to run in the final yard to extend the Jets' final offensive drive of regulation. The Packers went on to win on an overtime field goal.

"I'm comfortable and confident in the calls that we called," Reich told reporters Thursday.

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Reich said "context" for the decision to use the shotgun play included studies that showed teams, excluding quarterback sneaks, convert 71 percent of shotgun runs on fourth-and-1.

Teams recorded a 67 percent conversion rate when under center for the same play, Reich said.

"The reason it's better, percentage-wise over a five-year period, is because there's a threat of a pass, and they don't get so tight," Reich said. "So, we had that perspective going in."

Reich continued, "Unless you're an elite quarterback sneak team, and there's only three or four of those... if you're not one of those, the analytics would say a gun run, a gun direct run, is the best percentage call in that play."

He indicated he would have been more likely to attempt a sneak had the Jets been attempting to cover half a yard rather than a full yard on the fourth down.

Reich will get his next chance to put together clutch down conversions against a defense that has had one of the NFL's roughest starts to the 2026 season.

The Lions, which have allowed a league-worst 457 yards against per game through Week 2, are preparing to host the Jets this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.