ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Jets brought Ed Reed in on Thursday to help a leaky pass defense, one that has proven vulnerable to the deep ball.
But despite being shoehorned right into the lineup, the future Hall of Famer couldn’t keep that Achilles’ heel from being exposed over and over in a 37-14 loss to the Bills.
“It’s a team game. As a team, we have to play better, as a team we have to execute,” Reed said. “We can’t make mistakes. This is the NFL, man. You make as many mistakes as we did — offense, defense — that’s what’s going to happen.
“You’re going to get beat no matter how the team on the other side is playing. You make mistakes like that, it’s going to cost you.’’
Reed, who is 35, had offseason hip surgery and was waived by Houston this past week. He started at free safety and played almost every snap. And while he wasn’t a solution on Sunday, coach Rex Ryan said the nine-time Pro Bowler wasn’t the problem.
“I don’t think that was the issue. They never threw it over Ed’s side on the deep ball. I don’t believe that was the case,’’ said Ryan, who coached Reed in Baltimore as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. “I don’t think Ed Reed was the problem.’’
The Bills only took half as many shots downfield as they had in the Sept. 22 meeting. But on the two they hit, Reed — who has 61 career interceptions, and is one of the best ballhawks in NFL history — was nowhere near either.
Reed blitzed on the first, and with Gang Green in zero coverage with no deep safety help, Bills wideout T.J. Graham beat Dee Milliner or a 34-yard touchdown. On the next, he was just late getting over to try and help Antonio Cromartie, beaten by Marquise Goodwin on a 43-yard fly pattern.
“I wasn’t shading. He quick-snapped and I’m going to the middle and he threw the ball. Not much more than that,’’ said Reed. “It was just a deep ball. They quick-snapped it, and he pretty much just threw it up, just let it fly. … Run deep and I’m going to throw it as far as I can. I think the wind calmed down on that particular play. On that particular play [the ball] did carry.’’
Reed said the Jets’ secondary communication will improve as he settles in, and insisted he has no second thoughts about picking a .500 team with a struggling rookie quarterback over the perennial AFC East powerhouse Patriots.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m familiar with the scheme and that makes all the difference,” Reed said. “I didn’t get many calls once I cleared waivers. I’m comfortable where I’m at. I believe this is the right decision and I’m not going back on that.
“That decision is already made. I’m here. I’m comfortable with the decision I made, I’m comfortable with the team I’m on. I’m comfortable with the scheme and that’s all the difference in the world.’’