Jets coach Todd Bowles makes correct call, sticking with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

“There were some adjustments I think I could’ve done a better job of during the game, looking back on it, that maybe I regret not doing or making”.

Jets coach Todd Bowles said Monday he is sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback, and Fitzpatrick will not be operating on a short leash against the Dolphins this week despite the Jets losing four of their last five games.

After Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Texans on Sunday, Bowles hinted that there was a possibility backup Geno Smith could take over for Fitzpatrick.

“We went over the film like we always do and we judge everybody and we graded every player”, Bowles said.

Bowles says Fitzpatrick missed some throws in the game, but adds that the entire team has lots to correct. In their last two games, both losses, Ryan Fitzpatrick has played poorly. He has 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Fitzpatrick’s passer rating for the season (81.5) ranks 27th in the NFL. “I thought he made some bad ones as well”, Bowles said (via the NY Daily News). Bowles stated that the at this moment he was not benching Fitzpatrick for Smith, but did stated that it would be brought up later; “We’ll meet on all that stuff on Monday”. “There were a lot of throws I needed to make that I didn’t make”.

“You don’t want to give up on a quarterback just like that because overall, on what he’s done this year, he still proved he can do that going forward”, Bowles said. With this record, it may be that Ryan Fitzpatrick is actually now the answer for the Jets. Going up against right tackle Breno Giacomini (30 years old) and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (who turns 32 in December), Watt tallied two sacks, five quarterback hits and five tackles for a loss. “He’s definitely our leader”.

“We have to see what the pain level looks like this week as far as him being able to snap a ball”, Bowles said on a conference call.

The Jets are not playing well. Bryce Petty is not an option. The Jets are in danger of missing the playoffs for the sixth time in a season in which they were 5-3 or better through eight games. I think at this point in my career I’ve learned a ton in all the different situations I’ve been in. It’s pretty much what I said after the game, which was I didn’t make enough throws or plays for us to get in a good position to win.

Fitzpatrick insisted that he’s “the right man for the job” to help get the Jets moving back in the right direction.

That all said, Fitzpatrick acknowledged that he hasn’t played well the past few games. Or, the secondary. And, so on.

Meanwhile, Bowles offered up a familiar response when he referenced the Jets’ struggles with situational football following their fourth defeat in five games Sunday.