NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

December 20, 2015

1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Cowboys finally out of playoff chase, lose 19-16 to Jets (Stephen Hawkins) ............................................................ 2

Jets top Cowboys 19-16, keep pressure on in AFC wild card (Schuyler Dixon) ......................................................... 3

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Tougher than expected, but Jets escape Dallas with win (Neil Best) ........................................................................ 4

Randy Bullock’s 40-yard FG with :36 left bails out Jets (Kimberley A. Martin) ......................................................... 6

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Bloodied Fitzpatrick pilots Jets to 19-16 win over Cowboys (J.P. Pelzman) .............................................................. 7

THE NEW YORK TIMES ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Stymied and Error-Prone, Jets Secure Winning Record (Ben Shpigel) ...................................................................... 9

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 11

Ryan Fitzpatrick does it again, rallies Jets to another comeback win (Rich Cimini) ................................................ 11

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick up, K Randy Bullock down and up in Jets' win (Rich Cimini) ................................................... 12

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 13

Jets can still dream after rallying for grotesque win (Brian Costello) ...................................................................... 13

Run defense’s baffling meltdown nearly cost Jets dearly (Brian Costello).............................................................. 15

Decker’s knee scare turns out to be nothing to worry about (Brian Costello) ........................................................ 16

Fitzpatrick is definitely a keeper … as if there was ever any doubt (Mark Cannizzaro) .......................................... 16

Woody Johnson raises money for Jeb Bush at tailgate party (Aaron Short) ........................................................... 18

Jets kicker’s leg goes from hated goat to hero in an instant (Mark Cannizzaro)..................................................... 18

Ex-Patriot comes from nowhere to save Jets’ season (Bart Hubbuch) ................................................................... 19

Jets report card: Bowles with same mistakes, same answers (Brian Costello) ....................................................... 20

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 21

Jets 19, Dallas Cowboys 16: The good, the bad, and the ugly from a frantic escape victory (Darryl Slater)........... 21

Jets stave off disaster, keep playoff hopes alive with 19-16 victory at Dallas Cowboys (Dom Cosentino) ............. 22

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Jets' Kenbrell Thompkins gets ahead of himself (Manish Mehta) ........................................................................... 23

Eric Decker is the model of success for Jets and easily the most underrated receiver in the NFL (Manish Mehta) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 24

Bloodied QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's rally is late gift for Jets, fans (Manish Mehta) ....................................................... 26

Jets survive awful Cowboys 19-16, while going against QB Kellen Moore (Seth Walder) ...................................... 27

WALL STREET JOURNAL ....................................................................................................................................... 29

Daily Clips Cont.

2 | P a g e

Jets Have Chance to End Quarterback Controversy—for Now (Stu Woo) .............................................................. 29

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 30

Superstitions fueling success of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (Kristian Dyer) .................................................................... 30

SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 31

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cowboys finally out of playoff chase, lose 19-16 to Jets (Stephen Hawkins) Associated Press December 20, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/cowboys-finally-out-playoff-chase-lose-19-16-jets

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — No more maybe for the Dallas Cowboys. They are finally eliminated from the playoff chase.

Maybe no more Matt Cassel, either.

Kellen Moore replaced an ineffective Cassel and threw a touchdown pass to Dez Bryant in his first game action in four seasons as a pro, but the Cowboys lost 19-16 to the New York Jets on Saturday night after Randy Bullock kicked a 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining.

Dallas (4-10) is done in a division that doesn't have a winning team, a year after winning 12 regular-season games and the NFC East title.

"We've got a long time left here this month and of course a long January. You want to be a part of this thing at this particular time. It's very disappointing," owner Jerry Jones said. "This is nothing like I could have envisioned. Our plan sitting here was we'd really have it together at this time."

Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants are all 6-7 going into home games Sunday. The Redskins and Eagles each have two division games left, including head-to-head in Philadelphia next Saturday night, so at least one of them is assured of avoiding 10 losses.

Bullock missed a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half, but kicked the winner eight plays after Dan Bailey's tying 50-yard field goal, which hit the right upright and barely ricocheted through and over the crossbar with 1:55 left.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the AFC wild card-contenting Jets (9-5) have their first four-game winning streak since 2010.

Cassel once won 10 games filling in for Tom Brady in New England. But he has won only one of his seven starts for the Cowboys, the latest with two bumbling plays and not playing past the first series of the second quarter against New York.

After faking a throw and stumbling when he tried to change directions, Cassel threw blindly to a spot where Darrelle Revis was by himself for an easy interception.

Cassel came out the series after taking a 19-yard sack, which wasn't long after he left the field to loud boos following a three-and-out. He finished 3 of 8 for 37 yards with the pick.

"Didn't seem like we were able to get in a rhythm," coach Jason Garrett said. "At that time wanted to give Kellen a chance to see if he could jump start the offense."

Moore went 15 of 25 for 158 yards with the 10-yard touchdown to Bryant to put the Cowboys up 10-9 at halftime. The lefty also had three interceptions — ending his first series, another picked off in the end

Daily Clips Cont.

3 | P a g e

zone midway through the third quarter after driving to the Jets 6, and then a desperate deep heave in the closing seconds.

Garrett said he wasn't ready to talk about whether Moore or Cassel would start next week at Buffalo.

"It was not an easy situation just because I've been here to support Matt in any way and help him," Moore said. "I felt good. I felt like communication was pretty good. ... We'll see what happens. Obviously, I took this opportunity for what it was. We'll grow from it and learn from it and see what happens."

Tony Romo started only four games this season, the first two games in September before breaking his collarbone, and then two games after his return before suffering the same injury.

Brandon Weeden lost his only three starts before being replaced by midseason acquisition Cassel. Moore, the former Boise State quarterback, was moved from practice squad to active roster after Romo got hurt again Thanksgiving Day against Carolina.

Notes: Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar tore his Achilles tendon and will need surgery. ... The Jets are coached by Todd Bowles, a former assistant in Dallas who was interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching position before Garrett got the job. ... Eric Decker caught a 3-yard scoring pass with 8:58 left to put New York up 16-13 and set a franchise record with Brandon Marshall with 21 combined touchdowns receiving.

Back_to_Top

Jets top Cowboys 19-16, keep pressure on in AFC wild card (Schuyler Dixon) Associated Press December 20, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-top-cowboys-19-16-keep-pressure-afc-wild-card

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick threw his first interception in almost a month and probably should have ended up with one or two more.

Still, the New York quarterback was on target when he needed to be, and the Jets kept the pressure on Pittsburgh and Kansas City in the race for two wild-card spots in the AFC.

Randy Bullock kicked a 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left and the Jets moved a half-game ahead of the Steelers and Chiefs with a 19-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.

Fitzpatrick's 43-yard pass to Kenbrell Thompkins put the Jets (9-5) in position for their first four-game winning streak since 2010.

"Kind of had tough sledding for a while," Fitzpatrick said. "There's going to be adversity throughout the game and I thought that was a great sign for us to show that the belief is always there. This is a winning football team."

Kellen Moore replaced an ineffective Matt Cassel at quarterback and gave the Cowboys (4-10) a spark, but it wasn't enough to keep last year's NFC East champions from being eliminated with two games remaining.

Eric Decker caught a 3-yard scoring pass to set a franchise record with Brandon Marshall with 21 combined touchdowns receiving as the Jets won their fourth straight for the first time since 2010.

Fitzpatrick threw his first interception since Nov. 22 to give the Cowboys a field goal and a 13-9 lead in the third quarter, but came back to direct a 70-yard drive to Decker's score. He finished 26 of 39 for 299 yards.

Daily Clips Cont.

4 | P a g e

"He made some timely throws," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "He took a bunch of hits during the game. They weren't clicking like they have been the last couple of weeks, but he was calm and he was good and the guys believed in him."

Decker and Marshall broke the franchise mark of 20 combined TDs that they shared with Art Powell-Don Maynard (1960) and Al Toon-Wesley Walker (1986).

Dan Bailey tied it at 16 on a 50-yard field goal that caromed through off the right upright with 1:55 remaining. Moore got the tying drive going by sneaking a pass behind Buster Skrine for a 23-yard gain to Cole Beasley.

The first play after a near-fumble by Fitzpatrick on a sneak for a first down was held up on review, Thompkins got behind rookie cornerback Byron Jones along the sideline before stepping out of bounds at the Dallas 26.

The last chance for the Cowboys ended on Moore's third interception when his desperation heave for Dez Bryant went over the outstretched arm of the All-Pro receiver and was caught by Marcus Williams. The Cowboys had four interceptions overall.

"We all start with aspirations," said Jason Garrett, who had already clinched his first losing season as Dallas coach. "For some teams it works out and you get to play in the playoffs. For us this year that is not going to happen. But that doesn't diminish the work everyone has put in."

Cassel was replaced after two bumbling plays in the first half.

On the first, he stumbled trying to change directions after faking a throw and threw to blindly to a spot where Darrelle Revis was by himself for the easy interception. Cassel came out the series after taking a 19-yard sack, which wasn't long after he left the field to loud boos following a three-and-out.

Moore played in the regular season for the first time in four years in the NFL. His second pass was intercepted by Marcus Gilchrist, but he rebounded to beat a New York blitz by slinging the ball in the flat to Bryant, who got around Revis for the touchdown and a 10-9 lead.

Moore, the fourth quarterback used by Dallas this year with Tony Romo twice breaking his left collarbone, had a chance to add to that lead but threw his second interception to Calvin Pryor in the end zone in the third quarter.

But Fitzpatrick then threw it directly to Terrance Mitchell for the first interception by a Dallas cornerback this season. Mitchell was signed to the practice squad and activated this week after a hamstring injury sidelined Morris Claiborne.

NOTES: Jets TE Kellen Davis left with a back injury after a hard blind-side hit by Dallas LB Sean Lee. CB Dee Milliner (hamstring) and DE Muhammad Wilkerson (head) also left the game. ... Cowboys RB Darren McFadden had 100 yards on 16 carries — his fifth 100-yard game of the season. ... Marshall tied Toon's franchise record of 93 catches in a season. He had four grabs for a team-high 74 yards. ... Dallas TE Gavin Escobar tore an Achilles tendon, ending his season.

Back_to_Top

NEWSDAY

Tougher than expected, but Jets escape Dallas with win (Neil Best) Newsday December 20, 2015

Daily Clips Cont.

5 | P a g e

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/neil-best/jets-win-over-cowboys-was-tougher-than-expected-but-they-escape-dallas-with-victory-1.11247574

It would have been a ridiculous, inexcusable loss, the sort of thing that happens even to good NFL teams now and then, but that the Jets could not afford to happen at this late stage.

And it might have turned out to be exactly that kind of night earlier this year, especially during the Jets’ seemingly long-ago midseason slump.

But not now, not to these Jets, who feel better about themselves by the week, even in a week when they did what good teams do: beat an inferior opponent even when they played like an inferior version of themselves.

“These are the kinds of games we were losing in the first half of the year or middle of the season that we’re starting to win now, so I’m happy about that,” coach Todd Bowles said after a 16-13 victory Saturday night over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium that improved the Jets’ record to 9-5 and their winning streak to four.

When someone noted that the Jets nearly blew the game, Bowles responded with a bit of a Yogi-ism: “You don’t ‘nearly blow a game’ when you win ’em. You blow ’em when you lose ’em.”

Fair enough. But they very nearly did blow a game against a now 4-10 train wreck that started with Matt Cassel at quarterback, gave up on that idea after he threw a memorably ridiculous interception, and switched to Kellen Moore, who threw three more.

The Jets helped the Cowboys with untimely penalties, a missed extra point, a missed field goal, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s first interception in four games and a general malaise that did not fully lift until Randy Bullock kicked a 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left to win it.

Blech. But much better than the alternative.

Bowles referred to a similar victory over the Giants two weeks earlier, saying: “You have to win the tough, gritty ones and we’ve won two of them now. So we’re building some character.”

Character, yes, but also resourcefulness. Arguably the two biggest plays were receptions by players who are not Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker.

Quincy Enunwa made a nifty catch on a third-and-14 pass from Fitzpatrick that set up a 3-yard TD pass from Fitzpatrick to Decker with 8:58 left that gave the Jets a 16-13 lead.

Then Kenbrell Thompkins, who entered the night with 11 receptions this season, caught a 43-yard pass that set up Bullock’s game-winner after the Cowboys had tied it with 1:55 left.

“Sometimes we may need them, fourth quarter, overtime, it may be just one play,” Marshall said of Enunwa and Thompkins. “We talk about it all the time, everybody just buying in and doing their job.”

Thompkins, who had advised Fitzpatrick to be on the lookout for him when Dallas was in a cover-2 defense, said, “I’m just honored to be in the locker room with these guys.”

Again, good teams find someone to do something when no one else seems to be doing it.

Said linebacker Calvin Pace: “In these types of games, you have to find a way. You have to keep grinding. Kenbrell Thompkins made a big play. That’s what it takes, man.”

Now what? Now they wait to see if they get some help Sunday when their rivals for AFC wild-card playoff spots, the Chiefs and Steelers, try to match them with nine wins.

Daily Clips Cont.

6 | P a g e

Marshall insisted he would spend all day in church and not focus too closely on what those teams do, but he did finally admit he will be keeping an eye on them.

For most of Saturday night’s game, it appeared the Jets would be keeping an eye on them from behind rather than a half-game ahead against a lousy Cowboys team.

“It was a big stadium, but it wasn’t a big team,” defensive end Sheldon Richardson said.

The Jets looked like guys who had spent too much time the previous week reading and hearing how good they were.

The fact that they won anyway indicates they really are pretty good after all. But there still is work to do.

Said Marshall, “We can’t hang from the rafters right now because we have a little win streak.”

Next up: the Patriots.

Back_to_Top

Randy Bullock’s 40-yard FG with :36 left bails out Jets (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday December 20, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-bailed-out-vs-cowboys-by-randy-bullock-s-40-yard-fg-with-36-left-1.11247582

ARLINGTON, Texas — There was no room for error for the Jets, and they had everything to play for. And just when it seemed Todd Bowles’ team would fold under the pressure, his players did just enough to squeak out a win in Jerry’s World.

A 40-yard field goal by Randy Bullock and Marcus Williams’ deflected interception in the final 36 seconds sealed a 19-16 win over the Cowboys on Saturday night at A&T Stadium. The Jets (9-5) won their fourth consecutive game and continued their push toward the playoffs.

Ryan Fitzpatrick — who was dangerously close to being called for a lost fumble in the waning minutes — connected with seldom-used receiver Kenbrell Thompkins on a 43-yard downfield catch along the right sideline. The play helped set the stage for Bullock’s winning kick.

Wins are wins, no matter how ugly, and luckily for the Jets, the Cowboys (4-10) are their own worst enemy.

For more than three quarters, it was unclear which team wanted to lose more. The Jets’ offense finally found its groove. Trailing 13-9 with 12:38 to play, Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall on a 20-yard completion for his 93rd catch of the season, tying Al Toon’s team record set in 1988. Fitzpatrick then found Quincy Enunwa, who fought for every inch of a 24-yard reception. Two plays later, Fitzpatrick hit a wide-open Eric Decker near the goal line for a 3-yard TD.

The score, which put the Jets ahead 16-13, was the 21st combined TD for Decker and Marshall, most by any receiver tandem in Jets’ history.

But the Cowboys refused to go quietly. Kellen Moore — who replaced Matt Cassel minutes into the second quarter — marched the Cowboys down the field. They tied it on Dan Carpenter’s 50-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright with 1:55 remaining.

Safety Calvin Pryor recorded the Jets’ third interception when he picked off Moore in the end zone with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter. But Fitzpatrick gave the ball right back, throwing directly into the hands of cornerback Terrance Mitchell at the Jets’ 19. It was Fitzpatrick ’s first pick in four games (147 passes).

Daily Clips Cont.

7 | P a g e

The Cowboys threw two interceptions and made a quarterback switch in the second quarter, yet somehow they held a 10-9 lead at halftime.

Once again, the fast start on the road the Jets had hoped for never materialized. And once more, Bowles’ defense was tricked by a gadget play. Dallas had the momentum early, thanks to a 15-yard reception by Jason Witten on its first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Cassel pitched the football to running back Darren McFadden, who flipped it to Lucky Whitehead on the reverse. The receiver weaved his way through the Jets’ porous coverage for a 33-yard gain.

After the Cowboys were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead, they received help from the Jets’ offense and special teams. A three-and-out by Fitzpatrick & Co. was compounded by Ryan Quigley’s shanked punt that went 25 yards before sailing out of bounds.

That gave the Cowboys the ball on the Jets’ 43, but Jerry Jones’ team found a way to squander the gifted opportunity. Facing pressure from nickel corner Buster Skrine to his left, Cassel stumbled and threw an ill-advised pass toward the right sideline. Unfortunately for Dallas, no one was in the vicinity except for cornerback Darrelle Revis, who scampered 24 yards on the return.

With 35 seconds left in the first quarter, the Jets took the lead on a 12-yard run by Bilal Powell. But Bullock was wide right on his first PAT miss as a Jet.

Just seconds into the second quarter, Cassel was sacked for a loss of 19 by linebacker Calvin Pace. It wasn’t long before Jason Garrett pulled Cassel and went to the inexperienced Moore. Cassel, who is 1-6 as a starter for the Cowboys, played only four series, completing 3 of 8 passes for 38 yards.

The Moore experiment got off to a rocky start. The 26-year-old lefthander threw an interception on his second NFL snap, an ill-advised pass easily plucked by safety Marcus Gilchrist.

But, as Bowles noted at halftime to CBS, the Jets continued to shoot themselves in the foot. Penalties — including three in the half on guard Brian Winters, a questionable horse-collar call on Pace and an illegal shift by special-teamer Leger Douzable — stalled drives, and a missed field-goal try proved costly.

Pace’s penalty, a 15-yard infraction, helped set up Dez Bryant’s 10-yard TD catch on Revis with 1:25 to go in the half.

The Jets apparently regained the lead when Bullock connected on a 40-yard field goal. But Douzable’s 5-yard penalty negated it, forcing a re-kick from 45, and Bullock missed with seconds left in the half.

Complicating matters for the Jets, linebacker David Harris — the “glue” of their defense, according to Bowles — did not play much of the first half because of a lower back injury. Cornerback Dee Milliner hurt his hamstring in the first half.

Back_to_Top

THE RECORD

Bloodied Fitzpatrick pilots Jets to 19-16 win over Cowboys (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 20, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/bloodied-fitzpatrick-pilots-jets-to-19-16-win-over-cowboys-1.1477006

ARLINGTON, Texas – Ryan Fitzpatrick stood at the lectern late Saturday night. He sported a small gash between his eyes, a souvenir of a first-half scramble.

Daily Clips Cont.

8 | P a g e

“I’m done with photoshoots with [Eric] Decker,” Fitzpatrick laughed, referring to his photogenic--and clutch--teammate.

No matter. When it mattered most, Fitzpatrick’s stats were almost immaculate, and plenty eye-catching.

Fitzpatrick connected on 10 of 12 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter, and directed two go-ahead drives. The last one proved to be enough, as Randy Bullock’s 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left enabled the Jets (9-5) to escape with a 19-16 victory over woeful Dallas at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys (4-10) finally were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Meanwhile, the Jets can sit back Sunday while their main competitors in the AFC wild-card chase, Kansas City and Pittsburgh, face Baltimore and Denver, respectively.

The Jets won their fourth consecutive game and clinched their first winning season since 2010, which also was the last year they qualified for the postseason.

“It’s good to string some [wins] together,” coach Todd Bowles said.

As for Fitzpatrick, Bowles said, “He found a way to make a play. He’s been doing it all year.”

Bowles was referring, in particular, to a 24-yard completion to Quincy Enunwa on the Jets’ first fourth-quarter scoring drive, which gave the Jets a first down at the Dallas 3. But he could have been talking about almost any of Fitzpatrick’s crucial fourth-quarter passes.

Fitzpatrick twice needed to put together go-ahead drives for the Jets in the fourth quarter. So, of course, the 11th-year veteran who is having a magical season, did just that.

With the Jets down, 13-9, Fitzpatrick coolly led a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive and connected with Decker on a 3-yard touchdown pass to give the Jets a 16-13 lead. On the TD, Decker went in motion from right to left and no defender picked him up. Fitzpatrick spotted him immediately and threw to him in the left flat, and Decker eased into the end zone.

“They had man coverage,” Decker said, “and we expected a footrace to the [front] left pylon, and we made it happen.”

Fitzpatrick and the offense needed to make it happen all over again after Dallas responded with a 50-yard field goal by Dan Bailey, tying the score at 16 with 1:55 left. Bailey banked the kick off the right upright and it went through. The kick finished off an 11-play, 51-yard drive.

After sneaking for a 2-yard first down, Fitzpatrick hit Kenbrell Thompkins with a 43-yard pass to set up Bullock’s eventual game-winner.

The catch put the ball at the Dallas 26. Three plays later, Bullock, who had missed a PAT and a 45-yarder earlier in the game, didn’t miss this time.

“That’s part of being a specialist,” said Bullock. “You have to have a short memory and be ready for the opportunity when it does come. I was frustrated with how I started out. … I focused, got back into it and did my job at the end when it really counted.”

The huge fourth quarter erased the memories of a sloppy first three periods in which the Jets’ offense often sputtered, and the defense had a couple of key breakdowns. Dez Bryant’s 10-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Kellen Moore gave the Cowboys a 10-9 lead with 1:17 to go in the first half. Moore, who threw three interceptions, relieved an ineffective Matt Cassel in the second quarter.

Daily Clips Cont.

9 | P a g e

Fitzpatrick appeared to have led the Jets to a go-ahead field goal in the waning seconds of the first half, but Bullock’s 40-yarder was erased by an illegal shift penalty on Leger Douzable. He then was wide right on a 45-yarder on the final play of the half.

“The good teams win the ugly games,” Bowles said. “We’re on our way to becoming one of those type of teams if we can keep it up.”

“Truth be told, we shouldn’t have been in that situation,” defensive end Sheldon Richardson said of the fourth-quarter deficit. “It was a big stadium, but it wasn’t a big team. We should have beat them [by] a lot more than we did.”

Richardson and the Jets’ normally-stout run defense allowed 133 yards on the ground and 6.3 yards per carry, and a reporter asked Bowles why that happened.

Evoking some football-ese, Bowles said, “We mis-fit some plays.”

Fortunately for Bowles, Fitz missed any hardly plays down the stretch.

BRIEFS: Fitzpatrick said he wouldn’t need stitches for the small gash. … Veteran ILB David Harris left the game in the first quarter with a bruised lower back and didn’t return. He was replaced by Erin Henderson. … DE Muhammad Wilkerson left with a head injury in the second half. Tests for a concussion were negative and he returned.

Back_to_Top

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Stymied and Error-Prone, Jets Secure Winning Record (Ben Shpigel) New York Times December 20, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/sports/football/new-york-jets-beat-dallas-cowboys.html?ref=football&_r=0

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Here came the Jets, soaring, striving, believing. The playoffs beckoned, if they could just get there.

“If it all comes together,” Coach Todd Bowles said last week, “we can be very dangerous.”

To the rest of the league, Bowles presumably meant — not to themselves or to the welfare of their fans. Because on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, the Jets lacked offensive continuity. Their special teams were dreadful. Their drives stalled in a haze of penalties.

They also won, 19-16, against the Dallas Cowboys, to secure their first winning season since 2010, the last time they made the playoffs.

“You don’t nearly blow games when you win them,” Bowles said after the game.

Whether the Jets (9-5) reach the playoffs as a wild card again hinges on factors out of their control, on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, the teams that entered the weekend tied with them.

The Jets will worry about that later, though, after they finish digesting another fourth-quarter comeback orchestrated by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He lofted an inch-perfect pass down the Jets’ sideline to Kenbrell Thompkins for a 43-yard gain that put the Jets at the Dallas 26-yard line with less than a minute remaining. Randy Bullock — who had previously missed a field goal and an extra point — drilled a 40-yarder with 36 seconds left, and the Jets had won their fourth consecutive game.

Daily Clips Cont.

10 | P a g e

In the previous three games, Fitzpatrick had also rescued the Jets. By shaving his beard, he changed their mojo, and his: nine touchdowns, three victories, no interceptions. With Fitzpatrick at quarterback, the Jets looked formidable, if not unstoppable.

And then came Saturday night, when some passes drifted long and others wide. Fitzpatrick offset a possible momentum-changer — Calvin Pryor’s end-zone interception with just over five minutes left in the third quarter — by throwing a pick two plays later, to Terrance Mitchell, who had been promoted Friday from the practice squad.

The Cowboys converted that takeaway — their first interception by a cornerback this season — into a 38-yard field goal by Dan Bailey that pushed their lead to 13-9 with 3 minutes 44 seconds left in the third, and it stayed there into the fourth quarter.

Fitzpatrick, who finished 26 0f 39 for 299 yards, revealed his fourth-quarter sang-froid two weeks ago against the Giants, when he led the Jets to the tying score in the waning seconds, and then to the go-ahead field goal in overtime.

Presented with a similar opportunity Saturday, Fitzpatrick connected with Quincy Enunwa on the Jets’ biggest play to that point: a 24-yard reception on third-and-14 from the Dallas 27-yard line. Two plays later, Fitzpatrick found his favorite intermediate target, Eric Decker, for a 3-yard touchdown, to put the Jets back in front, 16-13.

Jets wide receivers Brandon Marshall, left, and Eric Decker after Decker’s 3-yard reception gave the Jets a 16-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Credit Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Four weeks after succumbing to a backup quarterback in Houston, the Jets, on their return to the Lone Star State, nearly lost to another. And this one, Kellen Moore, had not taken an N.F.L. snap before entering on the Cowboys’ fifth series. Moore, a left-hander, did what Matt Cassel could not: move Dallas downfield

Moore completed critical passes to Cole Beasley to keep alive a drive that ended with Bailey making a 50-yard field goal that caromed off the right upright with 1:55 left, tying the score at 16-16.

The last time the Jets entered a game 8-5, in 2011, it was under very similar circumstances: coming off a rout of a conference foe before facing a middling N.F.C. East opponent on the road.

Destroyed by Philadelphia, the Jets lost their final three and fell out of contention.

No way it could happen again? Right?

For the Jets, the first half unfurled in as hideous a fashion, with a shanked punt, a bungled fourth-and-1 from the Dallas 3-yard line, a dropped deep ball by Brandon Marshall — and that was only in the first quarter.

Aside from two interceptions handed to the Jets by poor throws, the team’s lone redeeming moment, a Bilal Powell 12-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, was marred by Bullock’s missed extra point, his third of the season.

When the first quarter ended, the Jets led by 6-3, and though they would soon add a field goal, their woes continued. A 15-yard horse-collar penalty on Calvin Pace positioned the Cowboys for their lone touchdown.

After replacing an ineffective Cassel in the second quarter, Moore flipped a screen to Dez Bryant, who zipped past Darrelle Revis for a 10-yard touchdown that put Dallas ahead, 10-9, with 1:17 left before halftime.

Daily Clips Cont.

11 | P a g e

With Fitzpatrick content to use Powell out of the backfield, the Jets reached as far the Cowboys’ 22-yard line before setting up for a field goal on the last play of the half. Bullock made the 40-yarder, but an illegal-shift penalty cost the Jets five yards, and Bullock’s 45-yard attempt sailed right.

Given another chance when it mattered most, Bullock converted, and the Jets are thrilled that he did.

EXTRA POINTS

Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall set a franchise record with 21 combined touchdowns receiving for the season.

Back_to_Top

ESPN NEW YORK

Ryan Fitzpatrick does it again, rallies Jets to another comeback win (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 20, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57210/ryan-fitzpatrick-does-it-again-rallies-jets-to-another-comeback-win

ARLINGTON, Texas -- FitzMagic lives.

For the second time in three weeks, Ryan Fitzpatrick rallied the New York Jets to a fourth-quarter comeback, orchestrating a last-minute drive to lift them to a 19-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a thrilling Saturday night game at AT&T Stadium. Randy Bullock, atoning for a missed extra point and a missed field goal try, won it with a 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Maybe the Jets are a destiny team.

After a sloppy game, Fitzpatrick delivered in the clutch, leading an eight-play, 58-yard drive to set up Bullock's winner. The big play was a 43-yard strike to Kenbrell Thompkins, a seldom-used backup who was thrust into a prominent role because of injuries at the wide receiver position.

Jets receivers Eric Decker, who had a fourth-quarter TD, and Brandon Marshall should be sky-high. They helped the Jets clinch their first winning record in five seasons on Saturday night. Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports

Fitzpatrick led the Jets to 10 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 13-9 deficit. For fleeting moments, it looked as if they were going to lose to a fourth-string quarterback, Kellen Moore, who replaced the ineffective Matt Cassel. Quite frankly, the Jets' defense allowed too many plays. But it was bailed out by FitzMagic.

This was all about mental toughness. There's no way the Jets would have won this game earlier in the season, but Todd Bowles' team showed its mettle.

What it means: You can't call them losers anymore.

After four years of bad to mediocre football, the Jets secured their first winning season since 2010. It was a 60-minute struggle for the Jets, but they won their fourth straight, improved to 9-5 and stayed in the AFC wild-card hunt.

Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

One reason to get excited: Fitzpatrick completed 26 of 39 passes for 299 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. His two biggest throws were to backups, Thompkins and Quincy Enunwa, who made a third-and-14 conversion that set up a touchdown. The Jets have quality depth at receiver.

A reason to panic: This was yet another disastrous performance by the special teams, which cost the Jets four points. Bullock missed a PAT (the Jets' first miss in 289 attempts, including the postseason), and he was wide right on a 45-yard field goal attempt. Actually, he was successful from 40 yards, but it didn't count because of a penalty on Leger Douzable. The re-kick was ... well, you know. It's hard to win high-stakes football games when you're giving away points in the kicking game.

Another reason to panic: The Jets' top-ranked run defense allowed 133 yards, including 66 yards on two runs. One came on a reverse, continuing a recent trend: The Jets are suckers for gadget plays. Darren McFadden was tough at the point of attack, gashing the Jets for 100 yards on the ground. Obviously, the Jets missed linebacker David Harris, who went out with a back injury in the first quarter. Nevertheless, they should have been able to stifle the Dallas rushing attack, especially with no threat at quarterback.

What were they thinking? A Bowles blitz backfired at the worst possible time. He threw the kitchen sink at Moore on a first-and-10 from the Jets' 10, but the neophyte quarterback didn't panic. He threw a quick pass to Dez Bryant in the left flat. It was Bryant versus Darrelle Revis -- two of the best players in the league -- in the open field. Revis took a bad angle, allowing Bryant to blow past him for a touchdown. Revis usually is a dependable tackler, but he whiffed in a big way. On the previous play, Antonio Cromartie failed to wrap up a ball carrier.

Fantasy watch: Bilal Powell scored for the third straight week, this time on a 10-yard run for his first rushing touchdown of the season. He also added seven catches for 54 yards. Eric Decker scored his 10th touchdown, giving him and Brandon Marshall a combined 21 touchdowns -- the most by a Jets tandem.

Game ball: Fitzpatrick. Who else?

Ouch: The Harris injury was a killer. Only a few days ago, Bowles said the defense couldn't function without Harris. It turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. He was replaced by Erin Henderson. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was evaluated for a head injury in the third quarter, but he returned.

What's next: The Jets return home to face the New England Patriots (11-2) with the hope of splitting the season series.

Back_to_Top

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick up, K Randy Bullock down and up in Jets' win (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57229/qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-up-k-randy-bullock-down-and-up-in-jets-win

ARLINGTON, TEXAS -- A look at the New York Jets players who were “up” and those who were “down” in Saturday night's 19-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium:

UP

Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback: The best players step up in the biggest moments, and that's what Fitzpatrick did in the fourth quarter, rallying the Jets to a touchdown and a game-winning field goal on their final two possessions. He completed 10 of 12 for 132 yards and a touchdown on those final two drives, including a third-and-14 conversion to Quincy Enunwa -- the play of the game. This was Fitzpatrick's second fourth-

Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

quarter comeback in three weeks. He finished with 299 passing yards, and he also made a couple of key runs. What can you say? He's on the roll of his life.

The secondary: The Jets intercepted four passes, bringing their total to 17. Darrelle Revis, Marcus Gilchrist, Calvin Pryor and Marcus Williams made one apiece. Pryor made an end-zone interception, which was huge, and Williams sealed it with a pick in the final seconds. Williams is a ball magnet; he has a team-high six interceptions. The Jets faced two of the worst quarterbacks they'll encounter this season, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore. They held them to 195 passing yards and a 42.7 passer rating.

The unheralded pass catchers: Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker get most of the publicity, but this game belonged to three backups who played significant roles. Enunwa made the biggest play of his career, the third-and-14 catch in traffic. It went for 24 yards, putting the ball at the Dallas 3-yard line and setting up Decker's touchdown in the fourth quarter. On the next series, Kenbrell Thompkins -- inactive in four of his nine games with the team -- beat a poorly played Cover-2, gaining 43 yards on a sideline 'go' route. Third-down back Bilal Powell delivered another big game, making a team-high seven catches for 54 yards.

UP/DOWN

Randy Bullock, kicker: Since replacing the injured Nick Folk last month, Bullock has had a fairly uneventful run with the Jets. That changed in a big way. He could've cost the Jets the game by missing an extra point and a 45-yard field attempt, but he wrote a redemption story by delivering in the clutch -- a 40-yard game winner with 36 seconds left. Bullock said, "I felt like, at times, I didn't do my job. So to do that, when I felt like the team needed it, it felt great."

DOWN

The run defense: Facing one of the league's best offensive lines, the Jets knew it wouldn't be easy -- and it wasn't. They allowed 133 yards on the ground, their second-highest total of the season. They surrendered a pair of 33-yard runs, accounting for half the damage. Todd Bowles attributed most of the yardage to improper "run fits." Clearly, they missed middle linebacker David Harris (lower-back contusion), who was sideline for the final three quarters.

Brian Winters, guard: The Jets committed eight penalties for 61 yards, including three on Winters. Tackle Breno Giacomini also had a costly holding call.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK POST

Jets can still dream after rallying for grotesque win (Brian Costello) New York Post December 19, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/19/jets-can-still-dream-after-surviving-horrendous-nfl-game/

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ryan Fitzpatrick’s face told the story of the game for the Jets — bloodied but still smiling.

The Jets quarterback had a nice cut on the bridge of his nose, but you could not get the smile off his face after the team’s 19-16 win over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Saturday night.

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

It was not as pretty as last week’s domination of the Titans, or as exhilarating as the win over the crosstown Giants two weeks ago, but it was the Jets’ fourth straight victory and moved their record to 9-5, keeping them in the thick of the AFC wild-card race.

The Jets trailed 13-9 in the fourth quarter before scoring 10 points in the final nine minutes of the game to get the win over the 4-10 Cowboys.

“The belief is always there,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is a winning football team. We felt like we were going to win even when we were losing in the second half there.”

The Jets put forth a lackluster effort over the first three quarters in all three phases. The offense failed to move the ball. The defense gave up 133 rushing yards. Kicker Randy Bullock missed a field goal and an extra point.

But the Cowboys were even worse, benching quarterback Matt Cassel for Kellen Moore, who was playing his first game in the NFL. The duo combined for four interceptions and the defense finally wore down in the fourth quarter.

Bullock’s 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left broke a 16-16 tie and gave the Jets their first four-game winning streak since 2010.

“All of them ain’t going to be 15-, 16-, 20-point wins,” Jets coach Todd Bowls said. “You’ve got to win the tough, gritty ones, and we’ve won two of those now, so we’re building some character.”

The Jets are now a half-game ahead of the Chiefs and Steelers in the AFC wild-card race. Both of them play Sunday. The Jets know they must keep winning to earn a spot in the postseason.

“That’s the ultimate goal but I think right now we’re just focusing on stacking these wins up because we’ve got to win out,” linebacker Calvin Pace said.

Not every Jet was thrilled with the win, though.

“We should never have been in this situation,” defensive end Sheldon Richardson said. “This is a big stadium, but not a big team. We should have beaten them by more than we did. We started out too slow.”

The Jets pulled the game out with a final-minute drive, highlighted by a 43-yard pass from Fitzpatrick to Kenbrell Thompkins that set up Bullock’s game-winner.

The Jets took a 16-13 with 8:58 remaining in the game when Fitzpatrick found Eric Decker for a 3-yard touchdown. The touchdown was set up by a clutch third-down catch from Quincy Enunwa. Fitzpatrick went 10-of-12 for 132 yards and the touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“He’s an awesome player. I’m glad we got him,” Pace said. “Steady, steady. Making plays with his legs, making throws. He’s a big-time player. I’m hoping he got enough votes for our team MVP because he deserves it.”

The Cowboys were not dead, though. They drove down the field for a game-tying field goal. Moore, who has been in the NFL since 2012 but never played, was good enough to move the Cowboys into field-goal range, including a fourth-and-2 pass to Cole Beasley for a 9-yard gain. Kicker Dan Bailey hit the 50-yard field goal with the ball bouncing off the right upright to tie it up 16-16 with 1:55 remaining.

The Jets have shown mental toughness over the last month. After losing four of five, they have put together this winning streak and now look like they may be ready for a run into the playoffs.

“It’s good to string some games together,” Bowles said. “Playoffs or not, we’ve got to string some games together. It’s a good time to start playing good football. It wasn’t pretty today. All of them are not going

Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

to be pretty, but the good teams win the ugly games and we’re on our way to becoming one of those types of teams if we can keep it up.”

Next up are the Patriots.

“We’ve got the G.O.A.T. coming in in Tom Brady,” Pace said. “We’ve got to be on point. We know what kind of challenges he brings to us.”

Fitzpatrick won’t win a beauty contest against Brady, that’s for sure. He cut his nose on a play in the second quarter when he was sacked and his helmet cut the skin on the top of his nose.

“I’m done with photo shoots with Decker I guess,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s out the window.”

Back_to_Top

Run defense’s baffling meltdown nearly cost Jets dearly (Brian Costello) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/run-defenses-baffling-meltdown-nearly-cost-jets-dearly/

ARLINGTON, Texas — To borrow a popular phrase around these parts, the Jets’ vaunted run defense was all hat and no cattle Saturday night.

The league’s No. 1-ranked unit against the run certainly didn’t play like it with their playoff hopes on the line. Luckily, it didn’t cost the Jets in the end as Ryan Fitzpatrick rallied them to a 19-16 victory over the Cowboys in the final seconds at AT&T Stadium.

Nevertheless, it was a performance by the run defense as unexpected as it was baffling. The Jets had allowed just 110 rushing yards in their previous three games combined, but were gouged for 133 yards by a mostly middling Dallas ground game.

It was the second-most rushing yards allowed by the Jets all season, behind the 148 yards given up in a 22-17 loss to the Bills at home in Week 10.

“They’ve got one of the better offensive lines in the NFL,” Jets outside linebacker Calvin Pace said when asked to explain the sudden run troubles. “Tip your hat to them. We’ve been in that situation where your record isn’t what you want it to be and a lot of people count you out, but you’ve got to keep fighting.

“They fought hard,” Pace added. “It was probably one of the toughest tests we’ve had all season.”

The outing was even more troubling considering the Cowboys’ quarterbacks, Matt Cassel and replacement Kellen Moore (who came on in the second quarter), were more of a threat to throw an ugly interception than make a big play through the air.

Yet despite totally lacking the element of surprise, the Cowboys — led by Darren McFadden — ran through and around Gang Green from the outset.

A 33-yard run by Lucky Whitehead on a reverse pitchback on Dallas’ third play from scrimmage set the tone, and the Cowboys averaged 6.3 yards per carry overall against a unit that came into the game allowing an NFL-low 3.6 yards in that department.

Almost all of the Cowboys’ output on the ground came from McFadden, the former Raider in his first season with Dallas, who finished with 100 yards on just 16 carries.

Aside from the different uniform, McFadden running wild was a familiar sight for the Jets. He had 171 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a 34-24 win by the Raiders over Gang Green in 2011.

Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

At the same time, it was hardly shameful for the Jets — or any team, for that matter — to struggle against a Cowboys offensive line that is widely considered the best in football.

And to the Jets’ credit, they stiffened when it counted. Dallas was held to just one yard on three carries in the decisive fourth quarter.

“Scheme blocking,” Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson said when asked to explain the Cowboys’ rushing success. “They’re good run blockers and they caught us in some calls. It is what it is, though. We won.”

Back_to_Top

Decker’s knee scare turns out to be nothing to worry about (Brian Costello) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/deckers-knee-scare-turns-out-to-be-nothing-to-worry-about/

ARLINGTON, Texas — It looked as if Jets wide receiver Eric Decker had suffered a potentially serious knee injury, but it turned out he was fine.

Decker caught a third-down pass in the first quarter, but twisted his knee on the tackle. He had suffered a knee injury early this season against the Colts that he has been dealing with all year. As he fell to the ground, the injury looked scary.

“Just kind of the way I fell and the position of my knee, it scared me more than anything because of the injury I had this year and what I’ve been dealing with all year,” Decker said. “Living right or whatever it is, but came out fine. It was not as bad as I first thought so I’m thankful for that.”

Decker returned to the game shortly after and finished with six catches for 55 yards and had a 3-yard touchdown catch that put the Jets ahead in the fourth quarter.

The touchdown was Decker’s 10th of the season, moving him into a tie for fifth place in franchise history. He and Brandon Marshall have combined for 21 touchdowns this season, a new franchise record for a duo.

Marshall had four catches and now has 93 this season, tying Al Toon’s franchise single-season record, which was set in 1988.

LB David Harris has a lower back contusion and will need more tests. Harris left the game in the first half and did not return. Erin Henderson replaced him and did a good job, finishing with four solo tackles.

DE Muhammad Wilkerson was checked for a concussion in the second half, but was cleared to return.

Oft-injured CB Dee Milliner injured his hamstring. he did not play defense, so he must have suffered the injury on special teams.

The Jets will try to win their fifth straight game for the first time since the 2010 season.

Back_to_Top

Fitzpatrick is definitely a keeper … as if there was ever any doubt (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/fitzpatrick-is-definitely-a-keeper-as-if-there-was-ever-any-doubt/

Daily Clips Cont.

17 | P a g e

ARLINGTON, Texas — There was a narrative related to the Jets and their quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick being passed off as news during the past week that was so comical it should have been submitted to the “Saturday Night Live” writers as a skit called “Captain Obvious.’’

Jets coach Todd Bowles was asked if he wanted Fitzpatrick back with the team next season.

Bowles, of course, answered, “Yes,’’ because what other answer should — could — he have given about the most valuable player on his team that marched triumphantly out of AT&T Stadium on Saturday night with a 9-5 record after beating the Cowboys, 19-16?

Fitzpatrick — who completed 26 of 39 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the win — has been one of the revelations in the entire league this season. He is as much the reason the Jets are in the thick of the AFC wild-card race as any player on the team.

So, in what universe would Bowles and the Jets not want him back next year?

Bowles and the Jets brass not wanting Fitzpatrick back next season would serve as actual news.

All Fitzpatrick has done this year is put together his finest season, with a career-high 26 TDs and just 12 INTs. He’s done this as a backup who was not even expected to play this season, and on the cheap.

All Fitzpatrick did Saturday night was erase what seemed like a month’s worth of bad football by the Jets in one nationally televised night by calmly leading them back in the fourth quarter with two exquisitely clutch drives.

Fitzpatrick completed 9 of 11 passes for 127 yards and a TD on the last two drives in the fourth quarter, producing 10 points.

After the Cowboys had tied the game at 16-16 on a 50-yard Dan Bailey field goal that bounced off the right upright and through with 1:55 remaining, Fitzpatrick calmly engineered a 58-yard game-winning drive in 1:19 to keep the Jets’ playoff dreams alive.

He completed 3-of-3 passes for 52 yards on the drive that was climaxed by a 40-yard game-winning field goal by Randy Bullock with 36 seconds remaining. The biggest play was a 43-yard completion to little-used receiver Kenbrell Thompkins that put the Jets in field-goal range.

Earlier, with the Jets trailing 13-9, Fitzpatrick marched the Jets 70 yards down the field and connected with Eric Decker on a 3-yard TD pass to give the Jets a 16-13 lead with 8:58 remaining. He was 6-of-8 for 75 yards on that drive with the big play a 24-yard pass to Quincy Enunwa to the Dallas 3-yard line on a third-and-14.

“He’s an awesome player,’’ linebacker Calvin Pace said. “I’m glad we got him. He’s steady. Making plays with his legs, making throws. Big-time, man. Big-time player. I’m hoping he got enough votes as our team MVP, because he deserves it.’’

In the locker room after the game, Decker quietly walked up to his quarterback, who had a gash on the bridge of his nose from a first-half face plant, and gave him a bear hug. There hardly any words were spoken, because there didn’t need to be.

“Amazing,’’ receiver Brandon Marshall said of Fitzpatrick. “Amazing. He did a lot tonight getting us in the right formations, in the right place.’’

One of those plays was the pass to Thompkins.

“Decker went underneath, and he was going to go there,’’ Bowles said of the play. “We thought they’d be in cover-two, but the [Dallas] corner kind of squatted a little bit and Fitz saw it. He’s a heady guy. He made a good play.’’

Daily Clips Cont.

18 | P a g e

He made a lot of good plays.

Fitzpatrick’s fourth-quarter performance masked what had been an awful night of football for the Jets. It’s difficult to imagine a team in a playoff hunt delivering a more putrid performance than the Jets gave in the first half. There was a missed extra point attempt, missed field goal, stupid penalties and blown opportunities on offense after turnovers on defense gave the Jets great field position.

“You win football games all kinds of different ways,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “We’re developing a strength, a confidence.’’

A huge part of that is a direct result of Fitzpatrick’s play.

“He’s had success in this league, maybe not this consistent, but he’s had success in this league and he’s found a place,’’ Bowles said before the game. “He’s at peace with himself, so I’m happy for him.’’

Happy enough to want him back in ’16. Start spreading the news.

Back_to_Top

Woody Johnson raises money for Jeb Bush at tailgate party (Aaron Short) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/woody-johnson-raises-money-for-jeb-bush-at-tailgate-party/

J-E-B! Jeb! Jeb! Jeb!

The Bush campaign held a high-stakes fund-raiser with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson before Saturday’s showdown between Gang Green and the Cowboys in Dallas.

Johnson, Bush’s national finance chairman, was to join former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush for the pre-game tailgate party at a private home.

Donors who give $10,000 or more to the Bush campaign also scored seats in a suite at AT&T Stadium.

And the pro-Bush fat cats can also attend a “special VIP event” in Florida in January with Jeb.

Back_to_Top

Jets kicker’s leg goes from hated goat to hero in an instant (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/jets-kickers-leg-goes-from-hated-goat-to-hero-in-an-instant/

ARLINGTON, Texas — For Randy Bullock, the waiting was the hardest part.

As the time passed in the second half of the Saturday night’s game against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, the clock seemed to stand still for Jets kicker.

It was agonizing.

“You could see it in Randy’s eyes the whole game,’’ Jets holder and punter Ryan Quigley said. “As a specialist, you want that second chance, you want to come back. You ask any specialist in the league, you’ve got to love those opportunities, you’ve got to love those moments.’’

Bullock, who missed an extra point following the Jets’ first touchdown (the first such miss after 289 successful tries by the franchise since a Mike Nugent miss in 2007) and a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half after a 40-yarder he had made was negated by a penalty, got his moment.

Daily Clips Cont.

19 | P a g e

It was a long wait, but he got it, kicking a 40-yard game-winning field goal with 36 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Jets to a 19-16 win over the Cowboys.

“It’s tough to watch,’’ Bullock said of the second half. “At one point it’s a couple-point game and you’re thinking, ‘I hope I get another opportunity to make this right.’ That was my mindset. It was nice to get out there and get into a groove and finish out the game.’’

It was the third game-winning field goal of Bullock’s career. Saturday night was his sixth game as a Jet; he was signed when incumbent Nick Folk got injured.

He said he had to “flush’’ the earlier-game failures when he walked onto the field for the game winner.

“That’s part of being a specialist in the NFL, you’ve got to have a short memory,’’ Bullock said. “I was frustrated with how I started out with that missed PAT. I focused, got back into it and did my job at the end when it really counted.’’

Jets coach Todd Bowles said: “You never like to miss those [PATs]. But he came back and made the game winner. So that says a lot about the guy.’’

Said Quigley: “We knew there was a lot of game left and we knew we were going to play a big part in the game. When [bad] things happen early, you’ve got to stay strong and keep your head up. Everybody is going to make mistakes. It happens, it’s part of the game.’’

Bullock had made a 40-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the first half that would have given the Jets a 12-10 lead at intermission. But an illegal shift penalty was called on Leger Douzable on the left end of the line.

That took the three points off the board and pushed Bullock 5 yards back, to a 45-yard attempt, and he pushed the do-over wide right — the same direction in which his PAT had sailed errantly earlier.

“It’s disappointing,’’ Bullock said of the second field goal try he missed. “But at the end of the day I’ve got to make that kick. But all you can do is flush it and get ready for your next opportunity.’’

Fortunately for Bullock and the Jets, he got another opportunity — and it was worth the wait.

Back_to_Top

Ex-Patriot comes from nowhere to save Jets’ season (Bart Hubbuch) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/ex-patriot-comes-from-nowhere-to-save-jets-season/

ARLINGTON, Texas — A former Patriot saved the Jets’ season Saturday night.

Ex-New England wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins came up with one of the biggest plays of Gang Green’s entire year in the fourth quarter, hauling in a 43-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick with 53 seconds left that paved the way for a 19-16 victory over the Cowboys.

Thompkins’ clutch play down the right sideline and along the Jets’ bench set them up at the Dallas 26-yard line, and Randy Bullock followed with the decisive field goal three plays later to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It was the culmination of a game-long lobbying effort of Fitzpatrick by Thompkins, who had noticed a big hole on that side of the field when the Cowboys went to two-deep zone coverage with rookie Byron Jones.

Daily Clips Cont.

20 | P a g e

“I wasn’t surprised to get the ball,” Thompkins said. “I thought we had that look the whole game. In Cover 2, cornerbacks get a little lazy sometimes. I told [Fitzpatrick] not to fall asleep on it, and I guess on that play, he was wide [awake].”

The result was the biggest play by Thompkins since catching a game-winning TD against the Saints in the final seconds from Tom Brady as an undrafted rookie in 2013.

It certainly was the biggest play of Thompkins’ brief career with the Jets. The former University of Cincinnati standout has been active for just five games with the Jets this season, and his two catches for 50 yards Saturday were his first in either category in the entire month of December.

Not that Thompkins is in any mood to grumble about playing time.

“It’s great just to be out there,” he said. “It’s a great group of guys the Jets have here, and I’m honored just to be in the locker room with them. It’s a blessing.”

Thompkins felt especially blessed to be catching passes Saturday from Fitzpatrick, who was on fire in the decisive fourth quarter. The Jets’ veteran quarterback completed 10 of 12 passes for 132 yards in the final stanza.

“He was great,” Thompkins said of Fitzpatrick. “He was tremendous. He’s a hard-nosed guy. His effort is just tremendous. When you watch him play, that’s all you can say. It lifts us up as a team, and I was able to feed off him and make the play when I had a chance.”

Thompkins’ crucial catch also raised the stakes for next week’s AFC East showdown with his former team the Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Of course, Thompkins knew better than to fan any flames with Brady.

“New England is our next opponent,” Thompkins said, smiling at his diplomacy. “We just have to make sure we’re ready for when the time comes.”

Thompkins was certainly ready for his big moment Saturday.

Back_to_Top

Jets report card: Bowles with same mistakes, same answers (Brian Costello) New York Post December 20, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/20/jets-report-card-bowles-with-same-mistakes-same-answers/

Offense

It was not pretty for most of the night, but they figured out a way when they needed to in the fourth quarter. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (26-of-39, 299 yards, 1 TD , 1 INT) did not have his best game, but was huge in the fourth quarter, going 10-of-12 for 132 yards and the touchdown. Kenbrell Thompkins and Quincy Enunwa both had huge catches in the fourth quarter that led to scores.

Grade: B-

Defense

The secondary kept the Jets in the game by making four interceptions. The run defense had a bad night, allowing 133 yards, including 100 to Darren McFadden. The Jets gave up the touchdown right before halftime, but did not allow many big plays and kept the Cowboys out of the end zone for the rest of the night. Nose tackle Damon Harrison had a big game with a team-high eight tackles.

Daily Clips Cont.

21 | P a g e

Grade: B

Special teams

Kicker Randy Bullock missed an extra point and a field goal, but got redemption with the game-winning 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left. The Jets had some bad penalties on special teams, including an illegal shift on Leger Douzable that nullified a field goal in the first half. The return game did nothing for the Jets and punter Ryan Quigley was inconsistent with a 25-yard punt early in the game, but two that landed inside the 20.

Grade: C

Coaching

The Jets started out slow again, but showed tremendous poise in finding a way to win the game. Todd Bowles has the Jets at 9-5, their first winning season since 2010, and that shows what kind of job he has done. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey got away from the running game at times, but he called all the right plays in the fourth quarter. Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers brought the heat on Kellen Moore, flustering the inexperienced quarterback.

Grade: B

Back_to_Top

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

Jets 19, Dallas Cowboys 16: The good, the bad, and the ugly from a frantic escape victory (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media December 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/jets_xx_dallas_cowboys_xx_the_good_the_bad_and_the.html#incart_river_index

ARLINGTON, Texas — Months from now, if the Jets wind up making the playoffs in coach Todd Bowles' first season, nobody will remember how awful Bowles' team looked for most of Saturday night's game at the Cowboys.

But if the Jets stumble in their final two games, after escaping Dallas with a 19-16 victory, Saturday will stand out as an evening of troubling flaws.

For now, the Jets will take what they got Saturday — their fourth straight victory (for the first time since 2010), as they kept pace in the AFC wild card race.

The Jets (9-5) have an extra day of rest, Sunday, before next week's massively important home game against the 11-2 Patriots.

Bowles can spend that time correcting the miscues that cropped up against the 4-10 Cowboys, quarterbacked by Kellen Moore, who made his NFL regular season debut Saturday. He replaced the putrid Matt Cassel in the second quarter.

When Moore entered, the obvious question became: The Jets, if they want to be a playoff team, can't lose to these Cowboys? Can they?

Daily Clips Cont.

22 | P a g e

They sure could have. It appeared, at times, like they might. But they didn't.

The good: The Jets got the fourth quarter scoring drives they needed. Their offense had performed poorly for most of the evening. Then the Jets took over on their own 30-yard line with 14:05 remaining. They trailed 13-9. They responded by marching 70 yards for a touchdown — a 3-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver Eric Decker. The key play was a 24-yard Quincy Enunwa catch on third-and-14 from the Dallas 27. Before that, the Jets had converted just 3 of 11 third downs Saturday. The Jets' offense again responded after Dallas tied the game on a 50-yard field goal with 1:55 left. Fitzpatrick hit receiver Kenbrell Thompkins with a 43-yard deep ball, putting the Jets in field goal range, at the Dallas 26. Randy Bullock — who had already missed a field goal and extra point — knocked a 40-yard field goal through with 36 seconds left. And the Jets escaped, 19-16 victors.

The bad: What the heck was with that first half? The Jets trailed 10-9 at halftime. They looked nothing like a playoff team. Their offense gave them far too little. The Jets gained 175 yards, yes, but also went 1 of 7 on third down and scored just one touchdown in three red zone trips. In their previous two games, the Jets were 3 of 7 in the red zone, compared to 27 of 37 before that this year. A bit of a lull for what had been the NFL's best red zone offense. The Jets' top wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, had just one catch in Saturday's first half, for 25 yards, on four targets. He dropped a deep ball — his 10th drop of the season, according to Pro Football Focus, which is tied for second most in the NFL.

The ugly: OK, so it's one thing to have a poor first half, and get in a hole against a team you should beat. It's another thing to do it like the Jets did Saturday — in dumpster fire fashion. Right guard Brian Winters was flagged for three penalties before halftime. The Jets had seven total penalties for 51 yards. Bullock missed an extra point — the Jets' first miss in 289 tries dating to 2007. (Of course, the extra point is longer this year.) Bullock also missed a 45-yard field goal to end the first half. Bullock had initially connected from 40 yards, but the Jets were backed up 5 yards because Leger Douzable was flagged for an illegal shift penalty. So the Jets went into halftime down 10-9 instead of up 12-10. Cornerback Darrelle Revis also whiffed on a tackle attempt on wide receiver Dez Bryant's 10-yard catch-and-run screen pass touchdown from Moore in the second quarter, which put Dallas up 10-9. Revis took a bad angle on the play. An ugly first half all around for the Jets.

Back_to_Top

Jets stave off disaster, keep playoff hopes alive with 19-16 victory at Dallas Cowboys (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media December 20, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/jets_stave_off_disaster_keep_playoff_hopes_alive_w.html#incart_river_index

ARLINGTON, Texas — It won't matter how they got it done. All that matters right now, in the wake of the Jets' 19-16 victory at the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, is that it got done, period.

The Jets (9-5) stumbled and scuffled for most of Saturday night, unable to take advantage of takeaway after takeaway after takeaway, even after the Cowboys had yanked starting quarterback Matt Cassel in favor of Kellen Moore, who had never thrown an NFL pass before.

Even after the Jets put together a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to take the lead, they let the Cowboys (4-10) come back and tie it. But quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick stitched together a long drive in the final two minutes that led to kicker Randy Bullock's 40-yard field goal with 36 seconds left to win it.

At long last, on an otherwise brutal night, the Jets were able to stave off what would have been an absolute disaster of a defeat against a dreadful team.

Daily Clips Cont.

23 | P a g e

All that matters is that the Jets won their fourth in a row, that they secured their first winning season in five years, and that they kept themselves at the front of the pack in the AFC's frantic wild-card playoff race. Their closest competitors, the Chiefs and Steelers, are both 8-5, and both play on Sunday.

Let's break it down ...

• Ryan Fitzpatrick big when it mattered most. Fitzpatrick struggled for three quarters against a heavy rush, and he threw a third-quarter interception inside his own 20, but he orchestrated that fourth-quarter touchdown drive by going 7-for-8, topping it off with a three-yard touchdown pass to wideout Eric Decker two plays after an enormous third-down catch by wideout Quincy Enunwa kept the drive alive. In the closing minutes, Fitzpatrick nearly fumbled on a quarterback sneak, only to have replay (correctly) confirm he was down. On the very next play, he connected with wideout Kenbrell Thompkins—only playing because rookie Devin Smith is out for the year with a knee injury—on a 43-yard pass that set up Bullock's game-winner.

• Bullock big when it counted, too. Bullock, whom the Jets signed with Nick Folk (quad) on IR, had missed a field goal (see below) and an extra point earlier in the game. But he nailed the game-winner.

• Offensive line woes. All night long, the Jets' O-line had difficulty blocking the Cowboys' defensive front, particularly ends Jeremy Mincey and DeMarcus Lawrence. That meant quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was forced to rush a number of throws and to check down frequently to his running backs.

• Solid—but sloppy—on defense. The Jets came away with three picks, they held the Cowboys to 2-for-11 on third down, and they limited wideout Dez Bryant to four catches for 50 yards. But they tackled poorly on the Cowboys' touchdown drive, which ended with Bryant catching Moore's first career touchdown pass, and they gave up a seven-minute drive that led to a 50-yard Dan Bailey field goal just after Fitzpatrick had put them in front in the fourth quarter.

• Penalties. The Jets had seven of them in the first half, including three by right guard Brian Winters (false start, holding, illegal use of hands). Two others were exceptionally costly: A horse-collar tackle on outside linebacker Calvin Pace just before the Cowboys scored a touchdown late in the first half, and an illegal shift on defensive end Leger Douzable as Bullock made a 40-yard field goal just before halftime. Bullock thus had to try again from 45 yards out, and missed. But the Jets were flagged just once after halftime.

• Injuries. Inside linebacker David Harris left the game with a back injury in the first quarter and didn't return. Same with backup cornerback Dee Milliner, who playes exclusively on special teams. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was taken to the locker room in the second half with a head injury but later returned. And tight end Kellen Davis left the game with a back injury. He did not return.

• Up next. The Jets host the hated Patriots (11-2) at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 27. But first they'll no doubt be peeking at Chiefs-Ravens and Steelers-Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

Back_to_Top

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets' Kenbrell Thompkins gets ahead of himself (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 20, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-kenbrell-thompkins-article-1.2471767

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Kenbrell Thompkins’ heroics started before he hauled in a critical, 43-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to set up the Jets’ winning field goal in their 19-16 victory against the Cowboys Saturday.

Daily Clips Cont.

24 | P a g e

Thompkins, a backup receiver who had just 11 catches for the Jets heading into the game, noticed that he could get open down the sideline against cover-two coverage and alerted Fitzpatrick.

“Pretty much just the whole shot. In cover-two, sometimes corners, they get a little lazy sometimes,” Thompkins said. “Like I told Fitz early in the ball game, I thought we had that look. If that look comes again, just don’t fall asleep on it.”

Fitzpatrick lauded his receiver for noticing he could get open. And boy, was Thompkins open.

“We talked about it early in the game, he came up to me,” Fitzpatrick said. “Again, just a smart football player, and said, hey, versus this particular coverage I can get down the sideline. We called the play, got the coverage, and really, I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown that one to him before, was just kind of a trust throw, had to get rid of it, and he made a great play.”

The 43-yard reception helped set up Randy Bullock’s game-winning field goal in the final minute.

Before Bullock hit a game-winning 40-yarder, he was having a rough night. The kicker had missed a PAT — which is the sort of thing that caused him to be cut by Houston earlier in the year — and also missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.

But in the end Bullock, who replaced an injured Nick Folk earlier this season, came through.

“You never like the missed (field) goals...but he came back and made the game-winner so that says a lot for the guy,” Bowles said.

WHAT A CATCH

Brandon Marshall tied Al Toon’s single-season franchise record for receptions with 93... The offensive line had a tough day, but perhaps no one had it rougher than Brian Winters, who picked up three penalties in the victory.... David Harris has a bruised back.... Dee Milliner injured his hamstring and is day-to-day.

NICE AND CLEAN

Marshall was so effusive in his praise for the Jets organization after the win that he made sure to praise everyone that works for the team.

“Everything, from our janitors...does a great job,” Marshall said. “I’m honest, like you go to the bathroom and then two seconds later, he’s right in there.”

Back_to_Top

Eric Decker is the model of success for Jets and easily the most underrated receiver in the NFL (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 19, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-eric-decker-model-success-jets-article-1.2470405

He has dispelled every imaginable stereotype through the years, including a really weird one, to become an integral piece in the Jets’ December playoff push.

He has thrived with flawed young quarterbacks, climbed out of a legend’s shadow and helped a journeyman thrive. He has proven that he’s much more than the locker room Zoolander.

Daily Clips Cont.

25 | P a g e

Eric Decker isn’t flashy, cocky or so caught up in himself to lose sight of the big picture. He’s dependable and trustworthy at a position where both traits are in desperate supply. He is a lot better than anyone has ever given him credit for.

“I think he is underrated,” Jets wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s had production every place he’s been. ... He should be considered one of the better players in this league.”

Decker has produced with every imaginable quarterback. He played with Kyle Orton, caught nearly a third of Tim Tebow’s career touchdown passes (five of 17), excelled with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and made Geno Smith look good. Now, he’s helping Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Decker has been a constant without any continuity at quarterback in his career. He’s caught touchdowns from six signal callers in six years. It’s easy to overlook him, but he’s far from just a heady player. He might not have mind-blowing explosiveness, but he’s plenty athletic. Little known fact: Decker can dunk a basketball.

Decker ranks among the top five receivers in touchdowns since he came into the league in 2010. He has more TD receptions (46) than Pro Bowlers Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson since 2011.

“Whenever my career is done, I think you’ll look back and there will be a tale of consistency that will hopefully get recognized,” Decker told the Daily News. “For me, right now, it’s not a big deal. I want to be able to be productive for however long a career I have. When I look back, it’ll be satisfying that there was individual success along with team success, for sure.”

Decker was a statistical giant with Manning before the Jets signed him last year to be their top pass-catching option. He slid into a more familiar role this year with Brandon Marshall’s arrival. Decker’s most productive seasons in Denver were with Thomas, so he embraced the decision to trade for Marshall.

“It’s not an ego burn or anything,” Decker said of moving from No. 1 to No. 2 receiver this year. “I was actually excited. Also, for some reason, the pressure’s not as much. You feel like you got somebody to work with. It’s more fun and competitive on the practice field. When he makes a play on Sunday, I say, ‘I want to make a play.’ You try to go back and forth. When you have that balance, the pressure is a lot less. When every ball is going your way, that’s when you start to feel, ‘You know ... too much pressure.’ ”

Decker has been dangerous as an inside-outside threat in Chan Gailey’s offense. He’s played 66% of his snaps (292 of 444) in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.

Decker enters Saturday night’s contest in Dallas with 66 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games, including 44 catches for 569 yards and four touchdowns in the slot. He has the league’s top WR rating, which calculates a quarterback’s passer rating throwing to a particular wideout. Jets signal callers have a 120.0 rating when targeting Decker, per PFF.

He has been integral to Fitzpatrick’s career revival.

“We knew that he had an uncanny ability to separate and get open,” Dorrell said. “He’s crafty.”

Decker might not feel the burden to carry the Jets on every play like last season, but he’s proven that he can deliver in the red zone and on the money down. His success on third downs has been critical entering Saturday’s game against the Cowboys.

“You know you only can be great when you’re successful in critical moments or pressure-filled moments,” Decker said. “Throughout a game, you get ‘X’ amount of chances on third downs. That’s part of what my role is.”

Decker has proven that he’s more than just a product of Manning, but there’s one lingering stereotype.

Daily Clips Cont.

26 | P a g e

Does Decker not get enough credit because of his appearance? The receiver doesn’t believe it even if his wife sometimes wonders.

Center Nick Mangold razzes him with the Zoolander reference from time to time. After all, Decker did have ads for a blue jeans company last year.

“He’s a male model,” Mangold said. “He’s pretty.”

Back_to_Top

Bloodied QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's rally is late gift for Jets, fans (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 20, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-bloodied-qb-rally-late-gift-jets-fans-article-1.2471765

ARLINGTON, Tex. — The hideous gash on his nose will probably frighten his children, disfigure what was a mediocre face to begin with and leave a scar for the rest of his days. It will also serve as an eternal reminder of the season of his life.

Ryan Fitzpatrick resembled a prize fighter in another clutch performance Saturday night, battered, bruised and ultimately victorious.

He had his own cut man on the sideline after a second-quarter scramble and sack tore the skin at the top of his nose.

“I’m done with photo shoots with Decker, I guess,” Fitzpatrick cracked.

He was under duress for the better part of three quarters before rallying to help the Jets to a wild 19-16 win over the Cowboys that kept his team squarely in the wild-card hunt with two games left.

FitzMagic was alive and well to jumpstart a sputtering team on the precipice of losing to a hapless squad down to its fourth quarterback. The Jets journeyman thrust into the spotlight by circumstance led Todd Bowles’ team to a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives to win their fourth in a row and keep the playoff dream alive.

While neither he nor the Jets were anything great for most of the game, Ryan Fitzpatrick gets it done in the fourth quarter, leading Jets on late scoring drive that helps Gang Green beat the Cowboys on Saturday night in Texas to stay firmly in the playoff hunt.

“He finds a way to make a play. He’s been doing it all year,” Bowles said. “I’m getting used to it… He has a good feel. He’s a competitor. The guys believe in him.”

Fitzpatrick made every important throw in every important moment during a frenetic fourth quarter that ensured that the 9-5 Jets will finish with a winning record for the first time since 2010.

“I’m glad we got him,” outside linebacker Calvin Pace said. “He’s steady. He’s making plays with his legs, making throws. He’s a big-time player. I’m hoping he got enough votes for our Team MVP because he deserves it.”

The Jets were a disjointed mess in the first half. Drops, penalties and general malaise marked a forgettable first 30 minutes. Fitzpatrick & Co. converted just one third down before intermission, missed a PAT and field goal and looked lost against a hapless Cowboys team that replaced a horrible quarterback (Matt Cassel) with one who had never thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season game (Kellen Moore).

Daily Clips Cont.

27 | P a g e

“I wish I had an answer on why we didn’t perform better on offense earlier,” Fitzpatrick said. “But we did when we needed it.”

Bowles’ team trailed 13-9 after three quarters before Fitzpatrick rallied his team when it mattered most.

His 24-yard completion from the Dallas 24 to Quincy Enunwa set the stage for an unforgettable final 10 minutes.

“That was the play of the game,” said Fitzpatrick, who went 26-for-39 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one INT. “It was a horrible pass.”

Enunwa hauled in the wobbly throw and fought his way to the 3-yard line before Fitzpatrick found a wide-open Eric Decker for a 3-yard touchdown to help the Jets re-take the lead with nine minutes left in regulation.

After the Cowboys tied it at 16-16 on Dan Bailey’s 50-yard field goal with 1:55 left, Fitzpatrick struck again. He heeded wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins’ suggestion from the first half to make another difference-making play. Thompkins told the quarterback that he believed that he could beat his man down the sideline when the Cowboys’ showed a split safety look.

Fitzpatrick stored it away in his memory and trusted his teammate at the critical juncture. He heaved it deep for Thompkins, who beat safety-turned-cornerback Byron Jones down the sideline for a 43-yard catch and run that set up Randy Bullock’s 40-yard game-winning field goal.

“In Cover-2, cornerbacks sometimes get a little lazy,” Thompkins said. “I told Fitz earlier in the ball game (that) I thought we had that look. If that look comes again, just don’t fall asleep on it. I guess on that play he was wide awake.”

Fitzpatrick’s second fourth-quarter comeback during this four-game winning streak wasn’t a surprise for anyone.

“You win football games in all kinds of different ways,” Fitzpatrick said. “The belief is always there. This is a winning football team. We felt like we were going to win even when we were losing…. It’s a fun locker room right now.”

He left the building ugly and happy.

Back_to_Top

Jets survive awful Cowboys 19-16, while going against QB Kellen Moore (Seth Walder) New York Daily News December 20, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-survive-cowboys-19-16-late-thompkins-touchdown-article-1.2471717

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Disaster averted.

By the skin of their teeth, the Jets escaped an improbable loss against a quarterback making his NFL debut to quite possibly keep their season alive. The Jets beat a horrible Cowboys team 19-16 in Dallas on Saturday night, but somehow played down to the level of their opponents, who benched Matt Cassel for Kellen Moore in the second quarter, for most of the contest. What a way to go down that would have been.

“Truth be told we shouldn’t have been in that situation. It was a big stadium, but it wasn’t a big team, you feel me?” Sheldon Richardson said. “We should have beaten them (by) a lot more than what we did. We made that game too close.”

Daily Clips Cont.

28 | P a g e

But the Jets did survive, and continued their fight for a playoff spot. The win on Saturday night extended the Jets’ winning streak to four games.

“This time we grew as a team,” Todd Bowles said. “We didn’t blow the game like we did (against) Buffalo, we didn’t blow it like we did in New England. We continued on what we learned from the Giants and came out and played a good second half.”

With the victory, the Jets (9-5) improve their odds of reaching the playoffs but still do not control their own destiny; they need the Steelers or Chiefs to lose a game or for several less likely scenarios to play out elsewhere. For the moment, Gang Green technically owns the first wild card spot in the AFC, a game up on Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

Ryan Fitzpatrick did not play well for most of Saturday’s game, and he threw his first interception since Week 11. But, while bleeding from the ridge of his nose after suffering a cut in the second quarter, the quarterback came up with a couple of huge passes in the clutch to Quincy Enunwa and Kenbrell Thompkins. Those were critical throws to the Jets’ 10-fourth quarter points in the victory.

“Big time, man,” Calvin Pace said. “He’s a big-time player. I’m hoping he got enough votes for our team MVP because he deserves it.”

Fitzpatrick completed 26 of 39 passes for 299 yards, a touchdown and interception in the win.

Cassel (3-for-8, 37 yards, 1 interception) was so bad that he had to be subbed out in the second quarter for Moore, a fourth-year quarterback who had never played in an NFL game before. And on his second pass attempt of his career he threw an interception to Marcus Gilchrist — the first of three picks by Moore.

But Moore got the ball back with just under two minutes left in the half, which normally wouldn’t have worried the Jets but ended up coming back to bite them. After a completion to Terrance Williams and a questionable horse collar penalty on Calvin Pace, the Cowboys all of a sudden had the ball on the Jets’ 26-yard line. And a couple of plays later, Moore threw a quick pass to Dez Bryant, who juked his way past Darrelle Revis for a 10-yard touchdown. That, shockingly, gave the Cowboys a 10-9 lead at halftime.

In the fourth quarter, down 13-9, the Jets finally got their act together on offense and regained the lead. Fitzpatrick led a nine-play, 70-yard drive that included a huge 24-yard third-down completion to Enunwa to put the Jets near the goal line.

“It was a horrible pass, it was like end over end. He made a great catch,” Fitzpatrick said. “That was the play of the game right there, I thought.”

Fitzpatrick followed that up with a three-yard TD pass to Eric Decker to put the Jets ahead 16-13 with 8:58 left in the ballgame.

But Moore led his team back down the field and put his team in position to kick the tying field goal. And that they did, as Dan Bailey knocked a 50-yarder in off the right upright to tie the contest at 16 apiece with 1:55 remaining.

And then, after avoiding a Fitzpatrick near-fumble, the quarterback threw his biggest pass of the day on a deep ball to Thompkins that went 43 yards and put the Jets in field goal range with 53 seconds left. With 35 seconds left in the game, Bullock was good from 40 yards out to put the Jets ahead 19-16.

Marcus Williams caught a desperation heave by Moore to ice the game for Gang Green.

Despite the Jets getting the win in Dallas, they clearly are going to have to be better if they are going to stand a chance against the Patriots next week. With the Jets quite possibly needing to win out to make the playoffs, that game will obviously be crucial for their postseason hopes.

Daily Clips Cont.

29 | P a g e

“We got the GOAT coming in to town. Tom Brady,” Pace said. “So we’ve got to be on point. We know what type of challenges he brings to us.”

Back_to_Top

WALL STREET JOURNAL

Jets Have Chance to End Quarterback Controversy—for Now (Stu Woo) Wall Street Journal December 18, 2015

http://www.wsj.com/articles/jets-have-chance-to-end-quarterback-controversyfor-now-1450487484

Here are 10 words that no Jets fan could have anticipated being true just three months ago: Ryan Fitzpatrick has been the hero of the Jets’ season.

Leading his team to an 8-5 record before Saturday night’s game in Dallas against the Cowboys, Fitzpatrick has snuffed out any consideration that Geno Smith, the quarterback he was supposed to back up, would return to the starting lineup.

But even if the Jets have avoided their customary quarterback quandary this season, they’re headed straight for another one. Fitzpatrick, who signed a two-year deal with the Houston Texans in 2014 before they traded him to the Jets this past spring, is set to become a free agent after this season.

“I’d love to be back,” Fitzpatrick said this week.

And the Jets should bring him back. There are plenty of sentimental reasons to re-sign the 33-year-old passer. Fitzpatrick is the underdog fans want to cheer for, the Harvard economics major and father of five who solves Rubik’s Cubes, writes computer programs and sets up elaborate Easter egg hunts for neighborhood kids in his spare time.

His teammates love him; receivers and offensive linemen adorn themselves in “Fitzmagic” T-shirts that highlight his trademark beard.

More important, if he throws five more touchdown passes in the season’s final three games, he will break Vinny Testaverde’s single-season franchise record of 29.

Yet the most persuasive reason to re-sign Fitzpatrick is that he gives the Jets their best chance of winning the Super Bowl in the foreseeable future.

Only part of this has to do with Fitzpatrick himself. His past two seasons have been the best of his career. He set a career high in 2014 with an above-average passer rating of 95.3, and this season he has thrown a career-best 25 touchdown passes.

The other part has to do with the other quarterbacks available in 2016. The Jets’ best alternatives would probably be to sign free agents-to-be Sam Bradford or Kirk Cousins, who have comparable statistics to Fitzpatrick, or to trade for an out-of-favor quarterback, such as Colin Kaepernick or Robert Griffin III.

Each of those passers has his strengths, but none have the remarkable consistency of Fitzpatrick, who for the past five seasons has always eclipsed the 60% completion-rate mark while throwing more touchdowns than interceptions. Moreover, he is particularly comfortable under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who was his head coach for three seasons in Buffalo.

Fitzpatrick is probably cheaper, too. Given his age, the Jets could offer him something similar to what the Texans gave him: $7.3 million for two years, which hardly dents a league salary cap expected to be around $150 million next year.

Daily Clips Cont.

30 | P a g e

Among NFL starting quarterbacks, Fitzpatrick’s 89.8 passer rating this season ranks just 20th of 33 starters, according to Pro Football Reference. But that could still be sufficient for a Super Bowl team, said Bill Polian, the Hall of Fame former general manager and current ESPN analyst, “if you have a great defense and running game.”

The Jets don’t quite have both just yet. Their defense ranks fifth overall, but after some early-season success, their rushing offense ranks 12th (though starting running back Chris Ivory is fifth in the league with 914 yards). If they keep Fitzpatrick and improve in those categories, they compare favorable with two recent NFL champions.

The 2012 Ravens reached the playoffs despite Joe Flacco’s quarterback rating of 87.7, which ranked 12th of 32, and the league’s 17th-ranked defense, then won the Super Bowl behind Flacco’s heroics. The 2007 Giants won the Super Bowl with a combination of Eli Manning’s 86.4 rating, which ranked 15th, and the league’s top-ranked rushing offense and fifth-ranked defense.

“The quarterback doesn’t have to be phenomenal as long as he can prove he can win,” Polian said. As far as the Jets’ improvement over their 4-12 record last season, Polian credited Fitzpatrick for limiting interceptions.

“It’s painfully obvious the difference between last year and this year,” he said. “A quarterback who could win versus one who couldn’t.”

The Jets have trotted out the oldest starting lineup in the NFL this season, according to Stats LLC, and several of their best players—cornerback Darrelle Revis, linebacker David Harris, receiver Brandon Marshall and offensive linemen D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold—are in their 30s. The Jets shouldn’t take the risk of testing a new quarterback or hoping that Smith or 2015 draft pick Bryce Petty can developed into a reliable starter. They should re-sign Fitzpatrick to an affordable deal and then use the rest of their salary-cap space to shore up other areas on both sides of the ball if they want to reach their first Super Bowl victory 1969.

Back_to_Top

METRO NEW YORK

Superstitions fueling success of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York December 18, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/superstitions-fueling-success-of-ryan-fitzpatrick-jets/zsJolr---PVXGllEh1MKhQ/

Unlike the Biblical Samson, who when his hair was cut lost his epic strength, a little trim seems to give New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick some power. And it is also giving his team some wins as well.

Four weeks ago, Fitzpatrick got a haircut and trimmed his grizzly, Civil War-esque beard. In the three games that have followed, the Jets are a perfect 3-0 and Fitzpatrick, the AFC reigning Offensive Player of the Week, has sparkled. He has been near flawless.

During this three-game stretch with their more suave and less furry quarterback, the Jets are averaging slightly more than 30 points per game, their most prolific stretch of the season. He is 79-for-123 for 930 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions during this stretch. His passer rating in all three games has topped triple digits.

Get this man a shaver and see what happens.

Daily Clips Cont.

31 | P a g e

Superstitions in sports are nothing new. Come the postseason, playoff beards are the norm in hockey and now baseball. Pregame meals are rarely deviated from for fear of awakening a curse. And hockey players in the postseason are notorious for not changing their underwear. Superstitions are here and can be a comfort to an athlete.

All of which makes Fitzpatrick's decision to do something drastic to himself, in this case shaving his storied beard, followed by a run of success all the more against conventional norms. It is the anti-superstition.

"There are many superstitions in sports, and athletes act on them all the time, often falsely attributing some quirky action to success. And when they get confirming evidence because the odd ritual works after success, they often make attribution errors that have no basis in reality. In fact, you see this in all areas of life," said Dr. John F. Murray, a licensed clinical and sports psychologist, who developed The Mental Performance Index. He is a highly regarded author and speaker on the mental side of sports.

"Hundreds of years after the scientific revolution combined reason with evidence and solid hypothesis testing, I would venture to say that the vast majority of people (athletes included) still think pre-scientifically, drawing erroneous conclusions all the time about causality. Ryan trimmed his beard and the Jets won three in a row. Wow. I can think of 765 things more influential in Jets success than a clean shave with a,Harry's razor.

"Do you see what I mean? Mankind still has one foot in the stone age when it comes to sound thinking."

Earlier this week, Jets head coach Todd Bowles joked that Fitzpatrick should shave off the entirety of his beard and see what happens. It is a tempting notion, especially since his stellar numbers in what is arguably the best three-game stretch of his NFL career.

"Nobody wants that. I don’t want to go back to baby face," Fitzpatrick said. "We’re going to keep it like it is."

Back_to_Top

SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

DETROIT TIGERS — Designated LHP Kyle Lobstein for assignment. Agreed to terms with SS Mike Aviles on a one-year contract.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Agreed to terms with RHP Jarrod Parker on a one-year contract.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

INDIANA PACERS — Fined Indiana F Paul George $35,000 for public criticism of officiating and using profanity in a live television interview.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

DALLAS COWBOYS — Signed CB Terrance Mitchell from the practice squad.

Daily Clips Cont.

32 | P a g e

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Waived DT C.J. Mosley.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Placed DE Scott Crichton on injured reserve. Signed DE Zach Moore from the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Released LB Eric Martin. Signed RB Joey Iosefa from the practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Placed OT Austin Howard on injured reserve. Signed S Tevin McDonald from the practice squad.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Waived LB Orie Lemon.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled F Zach Nastasiuk from Toledo (ECHL) to Grand Rapids (AHL).

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Activated C Travis Zajac from injured reserve.

WINNIPEG JETS — Assigned F Axel Blomqvist from Manitoba (AHL) to Tulsa (ECHL).

American Hockey League

AHL — Suspended Rochester LW Jack Nevins three games and Hershey LW Liam O’Brien one game.

BINGHAMTON SENATORS — Returned F Darian Dziurzynski to Greenville (ECHL).

SYRACUSE CRUNCH — Recalled D Charlie Dodero from Greenville (ECHL).

ECHL

ECHL — Suspended Quad City D Mike Monfredo one game.

ALLEN AMERICANS — Added G Nolan Bowker as emergency backup.

SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS — Loaned F Derek DeBlois to Lake Erie (AHL).

TOLEDO WALLEYE — Signed D Dajon Mingo.

COLLEGE

BYU — Named Kalani Sitake football coach.

FLORIDA — Announced QB Will Grier will transfer.

INDIANA STATE — Announced the resignation of athletic director John Prettyman

Back_to_Top