New York Jets coach Adam Gase didn't hesitate to accept blame for a fourth-down decision that cost the team a win.

 It all started when Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez hit receiver Santonio Holmes for a 40-yard touchdown with 9 minutes 53 seconds remaining to give New York a 24-17 lead over the Buccaneers. But instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer called for a running play that left more than four minutes on the clock. When Schottenheimer called timeout after Holmes scored, he tried to explain his actions.

The Jets' fourth-quarter decision to not have quarterback Sam Darnold run the play on fourth-and-2 against the Patriots came from a directive by offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur that Darnold should throw the ball instead of run on the play. But LaFleur "looked around and saw four guys in formation," he said in a news conference Monday, referring to safety Duron Harmon, center David Andrews and both tackles. "It was my call. It was my decision. It's hard to justify a quarterback sneak getting stuffed like that with no one open."

The only two offensive coordinators Mike McCarthy has ever had were Joe Philbin and Tom Clements. So it's understandable why, when McCarthy fired LaFleur on Friday after the Packers' 38-27 loss to the Cardinals, there was an element of surprise from the outside world. LaFleur becomes the fifth NFL head coach to be fired so far this season -- joining Todd Bowles, Vance Joseph, Adam Gase and Steve Wilks -- but unlike those names, he's one who hasn't been on the hot seat for most of this season despite a 3-5-1 record.