Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
When Geno Smith got sucker punched during training camp, it looked like the Jets were going to be stuck with their stale back-up, Ryan Fitzpatrick, but with the team now 2-0, it looks like the Jets are on their way to a productive season without their starting QB Geno Smith.
Any injury is terrible and should never be wished upon any players, but with Smith out, Fitzpatrick has the chance to step up and boy did he deliver! In their first two regular season games, Fitzpatrick has completed 37 of 58 passes, threw 4 touchdowns to two interceptions which isn’t great but hey, they’re still winning games.
In addition to Fitzpatrick, the Jets offense is now a well-respected group which includes WR Eric Decker, WR Brandon Marshall and RB Chris Ivory who were able to outrun and outplay the Colts defense. When asked about the game, Marshall was quoted as saying, “It wasn’t a pretty win, but we’ll take it” which is really all the Jets can ask for, especially after the dramatic offseason that they’ve had to deal with.
The biggest story from last night’s game was the Jets defense and the fact that they were able to shut down the Colts offense, most notably Andrew Luck. With some relatively new faces on offense, some mistakes are to be expected but their performance last night was just embarrassing. Luck completed 21 of 37 passes and threw one touchdown to 3 interceptions, but all of the blame doesn’t lie solely on Luck’s shoulders. One of the worst mistakes made during that game was by new Colt but veteran RB Frank Gore who was running to the goal line, literally at the two yard line fumbled the ball which was recovered by New York.
The real MVP of the game though has to be CB Darelle Revis. After a year in New England, Revis made his way back to New York and reclaimed the nickname, “Revis Island” yesterday. Revis ended up with 4 tackles and one interception, but his biggest accomplishment of the night was recovering Frank Gore’s fumble. At first, it looked like the Colts would be getting shut out on their home field, but the Colts were able to put a touchdown on the board while the Jets soared above them with 20 points.
If Fitzpatrick can keep his interceptions low and make good decisions, Geno Smith might become his back-up after all. On Sunday, the Jets will be facing the 0-2 Eagles at home which will hopefully give them the advantage and after the Eagles sloppy performance against the Cowboys, the Jets are looking even better. The only thing that could hold NY back would be the absence of Eric Decker, but if they can make up for that or Decker can play, the Jets are going to be just fine.
