Jets coach Adam Gase says he's been big underdog before: 'I was in Detroit for 5 years'

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
New York Jets head coach Adam Gase was on the Lions staff from 2003-07.

Allen Park — In a league that takes pride in its parity, the gap between the NFL's best and worst teams is maybe at its worst point in decades. That's reflected in betting lines, where not one, but two teams are more than 20-point underdogs this week. 

The New York Jets, a team down to its third-string quarterback, travel to New England this weekend to play the undefeated, defending champs, who have outscored their first two opponents, 76-3.

Not surprisingly, the Jets are massive underdogs, currently giving 23 points. At his Wednesday press conference, Jets coach Adam Gase was asked if he's ever been such a big underdog during his career as a pro coach. 

"I'm sure. I was in Detroit for five years," Gase quipped. 

The Michigan State graduate from Ypsilanti was with the Lions, first as a scouting assistant, then a low-level coach from 2003-07. Those teams never won more than seven games in a season and bottomed out at 3-13 during the 2006 season. 

But they were never 23-point dogs. 

The biggest spread for a Lions game during Gase's time with the franchise was 15.5 points, in the 2005 regular-season finale against that season's eventual Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Lions lost the game, but managed to cover, 35-21. 

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers