The Sports Xchange
Dec 13, 2015
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three first-half touchdown passes Sunday afternoon and the New York Jets remained in the thick of the AFC wild-card race by cruising to a 30-8 win over the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium.
Fitzpatrick finished 21-of-36 for 263 yards and no interceptions as the Jets (8-5) extended their winning streak to three games -- their first three-game streak since Nov. 27-Dec. 11, 2011.
With Sunday's victory, the Jets remained tied with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card race, though the Jets are currently hold the second wild-card spot by virtue of a better conference record (6-4 vs. 5-4) than the Steelers.
Fitzpatrick threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Brandon Marshall (six catches for 125 yards), wide receiver Eric Decker (seven catches for 74 yards) and running back Bilal Powell (five catches for 46 yards).
Running back Chris Ivory had 22 carries for 101 yards, and kicker Randy Bullock booted three field goals.
Running back Antonio Andrews threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Marcus Mariota for the Titans (3-10), who were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the seventh consecutive season.
Mariota (21-of-39 for 274 yards) was sacked five times, including three times by Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.
The Jets led 27-0 at halftime and could have led by even more after outgaining the Titans 324-72 and scoring on five of six possessions.
Fitzpatrick capped a game-opening 80-yard drive by finding a wide-open Decker in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Bullock missed a 53-yard field goal on the Jets' next series but capped the next two drives with field goals of 47 yards and 27 yards.
The Jets extended the lead to 20-0 on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to Powell, who broke four tackles on his way to the end zone.
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. Marshall raced up the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown reception.
The Titans finally produced some offense in the third quarter, when they recorded three first downs on their second drive before Andrews' 41-yard touchdown pass to Mariota out of the Wildcat formation. Mariota lined up wide right and sprinted past safety Calvin Pryor, who slipped and fell. Mariota then threw a two-point conversion to running back Dexter McCluster.
NOTES: Jets CB Darrelle Revis returned to action after missing two games with a concussion. ... Among the Jets' inactives was CB Marcus Williams, who missed his second straight game with a knee injury. ... ... Jets WR Jeremy Kerley left the game with a calf injury in the second quarter but returned in the third quarter before exiting again. ... Among the Titans' inactives was WR Kendall Wright, who suffered a rib injury last week. He also missed three games earlier in the season due to a sprained knee. ... Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey faced the Jets for the seventh time as a head coach. He is 2-5 against the Jets with the Titans, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. ... The Titans have lost at least 10 games in consecutive seasons for only the second time since moving to Tennessee in 1997. The Titans also lost at least 10 games in 2004 and 2005.