Michael Vick named Jets starter over Geno Smith

The quarterback change the New York Jets made on Sunday will carry over into Week 9. Michael Vick will replace Geno Smith as the starter against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Rex Ryan announced Monday.

Smith was benched late in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills after throwing interceptions on three consecutive drives, marking the low point of a sophomore season that has failed to deliver improvement. He's thrown 10 interceptions to seven touchdowns, completed just 56.2 percent of his passes and carries the worst passer rating among starting quarterbacks in the league.

Vick, who was brought in during the offseason as insurance against this very situation, led the Jets to a touchdown on his first drive in relief of Smith, but did little else. He finished 18-of-36 passing for 153 yards, with an interception and two lost fumbles. It wasn't the first time Vick came off the bench for Smith -- he completed 8 of 19 passes for 47 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 5. Vick's own struggles are perhaps a major reason why Smith lasted even this long as the starter.

With the Jets having lost seven games in a row since winning their season opener against the Oakland Raiders, the change at quarterback is just as much a PR move as it is a football one. Rex Ryan is likely facing the end of his tumultuous tenure in New York unless he makes a drastic turnaround and general manager John Idzik is on the hot seat as well.