New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan's Response Moving Forward Will Prove His True Worth

Isn't the experience of flying bad enough without a little turbulence? 

Perhaps it's a bit early to hit the panic button or squeeze your armrest, but so far the Jets have taken us on a really bumpy ride through Week 5 of the season.   

After losing to the Patriots 30-21 in Foxborough, the Jets are now 2-3, and from here on out, every game is a must-win with both the Pats and Bills currently at 4-1 to pace the AFC East.

For the Jets, following two home wins against Dallas and Jacksonville, a three-game road trip to Oakland, Baltimore and New England seemed like a challenge, but one this team could handle. 

In fairness, one loss would have been considered a successful trip, two losses would seem understandable, but three in a row would raise serious doubts.

Having now stumbled for three straight weeks, is it safe to say that Rex Ryan is about to face his first true bout with adversity since taking over the New York Jets? 

Ever since Bill Belichick scribbled, "I resign as HC of the NYJ" more than a decade ago, it's been an adventure with Al Groh, Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini, each experiencing the highs and lows of running Gang Green, and none of them making a lasting impact.

Rex Ryan's hiring was a breath of fresh air that has increasingly grown hotter over the course of time. With all of the bravado of a prize fighter, Rex has done wonders in taking a talented, but unfocused, team and making them winners over the past two-plus seasons with the look and feel of being a genuine contender. 

However, at the same time it's hard to see this team getting very far at the moment, given their current place in the standings, upcoming schedule and uneven play. Even before heading to New England you could sense that Ryan was hedging his bets by being uncharacteristically quiet, and even complimentary of the Patriots.

"Well I hoped we would beat them more where we would win a division. Clearly this is a great football team. They've got the best coach in the league, arguably the best quarterback in the league, so it's a huge challenge," Ryan stated earlier in the week.

Sure the Jets have lost games with Rex Ryan as coach, and some by a far more embarrassing margin than these three recent defeats, but to his credit the team has bounced back each time and responded in short order in the two seasons prior. 

Moving forward, next Monday night's Week 6 matchup at home against the Miami Dolphins could determine the fate of the season.

Unfortunately, a fourth straight loss which would come against one of the NFL's worst teams (at least by record) and could ground the Jets for good in 2011, given the team's upcoming schedule which includes the Chargers, Bills and Patriots the next four weeks. 

Rex Ryan has proven that he is a capable head coach with consecutive trips to the AFC Championship to his credit, but what he does next in getting this team prepared over the remainder of the season will make all the difference, showing whether he is a keeper or just another in a long line of "ManGeniuses."