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Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. Mariota scored a touchdown on the play.
He’s a flawless case study, the journeyman who played for six teams in 10 seasons, enjoying one of the best seasons any Jets signal-caller has ever had.
“One of the best things with Chan and his system and really just the offense in general is that there’s not an ego”, said Fitzpatrick, who has thrown for a career-high 25 touchdowns. With five more touchdown passes, he’ll break Vinny Testaverde’s record, set in 1998.
“There are some older guys”, Fitzpatrick said with a sly grin crawling on to his face, “that really understand how unique and what a great opportunity this is”.
If Fitzpatrick continues like this, Marshall and Decker might have plenty written about them as the best receiving tandem in football at the end of the season.
“It’s going to be exciting to see what happens the next few weeks with our group”. The Cowboys (4-9) will be the Jets’ fourth straight sub-.500 opponent.
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said the Titans did not play well “in all three phases”. “Try to win out in December”.
The Titans finally produced some offense in the third quarter, when they recorded three first downs on their second drive before Andrews’ 41-yard touchdown pass to Mariota out of the Wildcat formation. Sure, it’s on his non-throwing hand, but Fitzpatrick has played through it and thrived.
ILL COMMUNICATION: On Marshall’s 69-yard TD that put the Jets up 27-0 before halftime, Mularkey said the Titans’ headsets went out on them, adding to the confusion. The Titans blocked the extra point, but Da’Norris Searcy was offside and, 5 yards closer, Bullock made his next attempt. The Titans had a first down at the Jets’ 34, but were unable to move the ball, mostly thanks to sacks by Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson. Strong safety Calvin Pryor tackled wide receiver Harry Douglas from behind after a 51-yard reception. “Antonio made a great throw….” As a receiver, Smith was targeted three times but had no catches. Andrews, the Titans’ No. 1 back, was limited to eight yards, which tied a career-low, on a career-low four carries. LINE: Jets -7.5. O/U: 43.
Tennessee won the coin toss Sunday and elected to defer to the second half, the first of many mistakes the Titans would make on this day. Decker has 66 receptions for 875 yards and nine TDs. The only two kickoffs for the Titans were both touchbacks. This, of course, has been a fait accompli since a 1-6 start earned head coach Ken Whisenhunt his walking papers, but the disastrous state of the AFC South at least technically kept the Titans in the division race into week 13.
Even when Bowles proclaimed him the starter after IK Enemkpali broke Geno Smith’s jaw in an embarrassing locker-room fight early in training camp, Fitzpatrick didn’t get ahead of himself. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey drew up a versatile game plan (36 passes, 34 rushes).
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Does Brandon Marshall think Ryan Fitzpatrick has exceeded expectations as the Jets’ quarterback this season?
