The Jets’ season, technically not half complete, is in effect over. With the team 1-6, a playoff berth is all but impossible. Rex Ryan’s job may be beyond saving, but there is something he could do in his remaining games to change his reputation and the league’s: He could start the fourth-down revolution in the N.F.L.

Statistics and history make clear that teams today are punting and kicking field goals too often and not going for the first down often enough. In today’s N.F.L., with offenses more potent than ever, teams are usually successful on fourth-down-and-short. And punting is of modest value when the opposing offense marches right down the field.

We’re so obsessed with the topic at The Upshot that we built some software that analyzes every N.F.L. fourth down in real time and tweets whenever a coach makes a decision that goes against the math. (It’s called NYT 4th Down Bot, and it’s three times as popular on Twitter as this real-life reporter.)