Mariota’s TD catch Titans’ lone highlight in loss to Jets

“Yeah”, he said. “I’d love to be back”. Nearing the millennium-rushing mark on the year, the Tiffin University product finished with 101 yards on 21 carries, helping the Jets win the time of possession battle 35:56 to 24:04. “But we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us”. As of right now, the Chiefs and the Jets hold the fifth and sixth seeds for the AFC playoff race respectively. The Jets remain in the thick of the AFC wild-card picture.

-SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus. K Randy Bullock’s flawless run ended when he missed a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter, but he nailed his other three field-goal attempts and was 3-for-3 on PATs. It was the Jets’ largest halftime lead since they led the Cincinnati Bengals 27-0 in the 2009 season finale.

“We still have some things to clean up”, said head coach Todd Bowles. “There are salary-cap issues and things involved in what we can and can’t do, ” Bowles said. “He’s even-keeled. He can run and throw the ball”. They went from elite to easily beat during that five week span and have had to overcome a lot of adversity. The Titans are not a tremendous team, however. The drought ties the Titans with the Miami Dolphins for the seventh-longest playoff dry spell in the NFL. Whether it is practice, film work, this is why we play the game, for the games we’re playing right now. “That includes Ruston Webster”. All told, the Jets accumulated over 400 yards of total offense and destroyed Tennessee from the opening whistle. So what happened Sunday? The Jets started the game quickly and drove 80 yards in 14 plays capped off with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Eric Decker. The Jets’ leading receiver (89 catches, 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns) did realize, however, that he should’ve given his quarterback the book sooner. Afterward, left tackle Taylor Lewan flapped his arms in disgust. As standout receiver Brandon Marshall said: “Having a quarterback that can bring guys together and can really put guys in positions to be successful and do his job, it helps out everyone in the whole building”.

Fitzpatrick (3,129 yards passing, 25 touchdowns) is on pace for 3,856 yards, which would be the third-highest figure in team history and less than 200 yards behind Joe Namath’s record 4,007 in 1967. Marcus did show off some of his athletic skills on a 41 yard touchdown pass from Antonio Andrews.

Tennessee set the tone with cornerback Perrish Cox dropping a would-be interception on the fifth play for the defense. After three plays Skrine grabbed an errant pass intended for running back Dexter McCluster, and again the Jets settled for three making the score 13-0. Safety Calvin Pryor slipped on the coverage, leaving Mariota completely uncovered. It was the second pass for Andrews since graduating high school.

He powered a defense that sacked Mariota five times, including takedowns by Leonard Williams and Demario Davis. Among the Titans’ inactives was WR Kendall Wright, who suffered a rib injury last week.

A week after winning a dandy, the Titans turned in a dud here on Sunday.

For perspective, you only have to look back to last season’s final four games. Fitzpatrick’s 69-yard touchdown pass to Marshall began with Fitzpatrick in the shotgun and planning to drive aggressively with 1:44 left.