Jets insist they won’t fall into “trap” against Titans

Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall has always been a rare breed, so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that he’s one of those guys that buys a gift for Ryan Fitzpatrick. “This is what all the work is for”. Muhammad Wilkerson had three sacks.

The Jets are aiming to win its third straight game, something the team has not done in four years. This is the National Football League though, and as easily as the Chiefs have won their last seven games, they could lose the next three.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that his post-game message to players following Sunday’s win was “no different than the last couple of weeks”.

The Titans recorded the second of their four first-half first downs on the subsequent possession, but following a punt, Fitzpatrick caught the Titans napping with a quick snap and a quick pass to Marshall, who was uncovered in the flat.

If the Jets are to get to the postseason for the first time since 2010, they’ll likely do so on the arms and legs of Fitzpatrick and Marshall, who have played a combined 259 regular-season games without ever appearing in the playoffs.

Later in the first quarter, Bilal Powell had a 24-yard run during a 51-yard drive that resulted in a 47-yard field goal by Randy Bullock, putting the Jets ahead 10-0 with 47 seconds left in the first period. “But we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us”. Fitzpatrick capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Eric Decker.

“It’s great, but I’m focused at the task at hand”, he said.

FAST FACTS: Mariota needs one touchdown pass to become the first Titan to throw for 20 in a season since Steve McNair in 2003. “I’m thinking about cutting it off, see if he can get a little better”, Bowles said, laughing.

The Jets’ final three-game stretch begins Saturday night in Dallas, a struggling non-conference opponent in prime time. The defense was put in a bad position after an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt in the fourth quarter but gave up just five yards and promptly got the ball back to the offense. “Not an excuse, but we had no communication to the field or upstairs”.

The Titans were looking to win consecutive games for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. So is the 28 passing touchdowns they have allowed this season. Walker said they just didn’t come ready to play.

For weeks, Coach Bowles has been stressing the importance of getting off to a strong start.

Marcus Mariota’s impressive 87-yard touchdown run against Jacksonville reminded defenses that the Tennessee rookie quarterback can be just as unsafe with his legs as his arm.

Brandon Marshall’s Christmas gift for Ryan Fitzpatrick contained an old message from another star wideout for the Jets – but with a twist.

“Slide”, Mularkey said. “Do not take hits”. “He has his own humor, but he can make you feel like you want to play hard for him”.

If all goes according to plan for the Jets on defense, Mariota will be forced to try and make things happen with his legs.

“It was a good throw today”, Mularkey said of Andrews’ pass. “It was a better throw than he threw during the week”. Receiver Jeremy Kerley also left with an injured calf.

With Darrelle Revis back from a concussion, Gang Green’s resistance played an inspired game, putting the clamps on the Titans jugular and never eased up. The Titans will also be missing experience at linebacker with Derrick Morgan also out with a shoulder injury.