October 19, 2015 - National Football Leagueprod.static.jets.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/clippings/...October 19, 2015 1 | P a g e Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS ..... 2 Big second-half

NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

October 19, 2015

1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Big second-half swing leads Jets past Redskins 34-20 (Dennis Waszak) ................................................................... 2

Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to 34-20 victory over Redskins (Dennis Waszak) ............................................................ 4

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Big third quarter lifts Jets over Redskins (Kimberley A. Martin) ............................................................................... 5

Jets Q&A: How did Sheldon Richardson feel after his first game of the season? (Kimberley A. Martin) .................. 7

Jets' adjustments with Chris Ivory prove to be highly effective (Greg Logan) .......................................................... 8

How is Todd Bowles doing? So far, he's been so good (Bob Glauber) ...................................................................... 9

Jets' grades .............................................................................................................................................................. 10

Sheldon Richardson on Patriots game: We're 'licking our chops' (Kimberley A. Martin) ....................................... 11

Antonio Cromartie shrugs off 2011 criticism of Tom Brady: 'I've grown' (Kimberley A. Martin) ............................ 12

THE RECORD ........................................................................................................................................................ 13

Jets notes: Richardson returns from suspension (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................................. 13

Jets: Brandon Marshall proclaims Chris Ivory best running back in NFL (Jeff Roberts) .......................................... 13

Jets replay in win over Redskins (Jeff Roberts) ....................................................................................................... 15

Jets surge to 34-20 win over the Redskins (J.P. Pelzman) ....................................................................................... 15

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 17

Jets Close-Up (Ben Shpigel) ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Led by Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Dive, Jets Hurtle Into a Division Showdown (Ben Shpigel) ............................................. 17

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................. 19

Ryan Fitzpatick rallies Jets -- and it's on to New England (Rich Cimini) ................................................................... 19

Four downs: Ivory could become a top-10 RB (Eric Karabell) ................................................................................. 21

Sheldon Richardson: Jets 'licking our chops' as Pats showdown approaches (Ohm Youngmisuk) ......................... 21

Chris Ivory up, Eric Decker down in Jets' win (Rich Cimini) ..................................................................................... 22

Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to victory over Redskins ................................................................................................ 23

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 25

Three big-name Jets rebound in big way after early miscues (Mark Cannizzaro) ................................................... 25

Jets make contender statement in pulling away from Redskins (Brian Costello) ................................................... 26

Chris Ivory: Coaching tip has helped me become a top RB (Zach Braziller) ............................................................ 27

Sheldon Richardson makes big impact in return from ban (Zach Braziller) ............................................................ 28

Buster Skrine suffers concussion, could miss Patriots showdown (Brian Costello) ................................................ 29

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s headlong dive into end zone anything but sliding (Brian Lewis) ................................................ 30

Daily Clips Cont.

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Redskins’ highly touted run game runs into a Jets’ brick wall (Brian Lewis) ........................................................... 31

Just when the Jets needed him, it was Darrelle Revis to the rescue (Steve Serby) ................................................ 32

Jets report card: Day full of good grades, except for one unit (Brian Costello) ...................................................... 34

Jets’ Todd Bowles discusses his deep connection with Redskins (Brian Costello) .................................................. 35

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 36

With New England Patriots' Tom Brady next, Jets' Leonard Williams wants to 'mess him up a little bit' (Darryl Slater) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36

Jets' Darrelle Revis on facing New England Patriots: 'Any team can be beat' (Darryl Slater) ................................. 36

Sheldon Richardson says Jets are 'licking our chops' to play New England Patriots next week (Darryl Slater) ...... 37

Is Jets' Chris Ivory the best running back in NFL? 'I feel like I'm one of them' (Dom Cosentino) ............................ 38

Darrelle Revis pick changes game as Jets bury Washington Redskins, 34-20 | Instant analysis (Dom Cosentino) . 39

Jets 34, Washington Redskins 20: The good, the bad, the ugly, as struggles turn into dominance (Darryl Slater) 40

Jets injuries vs. Washington Redskins: Buster Skrine, Bilal Powell (Darryl Slater) .................................................. 41

RG3, Willie Colon, Bilal Powell all active | Jets-Washington Redskins inactives (Dom Cosentino) ......................... 42

Washington Redskins vs. Jets: Pay attention to the third quarter (Dom Cosentino) .............................................. 43

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 43

Jets beat up on Washington, improve to 4-1 with 34-20 win (Seth Walder) .......................................................... 43

Jets’ Sheldon Richardson gets half a sack in return from suspension (Seth Walder) .............................................. 45

Jets RB Chris Ivory backs up Brandon Marshall’s praise with big day against Washington (Seth Walder) ............. 46

Jets' Darrelle Revis pulls Bill Belichick act - not saying much when it comes to Patriots, who he helped win last year (Gary Meyers) .................................................................................................................................................. 47

Jets 34, Washington 20: Manish Mehta's instant analysis as Gang Green continues to beat bad teams (Manish Mehta) ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48

After 4-1 start, this year's Jets look at lot like successful 1998 team on offense (Manish Mehta) ......................... 49

WALL STREET JOURNAL ....................................................................................................................................... 51

Jets Roll Over Redskins, Eye a Critical Matchup With Patriots (Stu Woo) ............................................................... 51

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 52

3 things we learned in the Jets' win over the Redskins (Kristian Dyer) ................................................................... 52

SUNDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 53

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Big second-half swing leads Jets past Redskins 34-20 (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press October 19, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/big-second-half-swing-leads-jets-past-redskins-34-20

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Mistakes got the New York Jets in a real mess in the first half.

Todd Bowles' bunch got it all together in the third quarter, overcoming a sluggish start to beat the banged-up Washington Redskins 34-20 on Sunday.

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/big-second-half-swing-leads-jets-past-redskins-34-20

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"I didn't think we were playing with enough energy," Bowles said. "We were flat."

They certainly sharpened up in the second half, improving to 4-1 for the first time since 2010.

The Jets, coming off a bye-week break, trailed 13-10 at halftime, with the Redskins (2-4) scoring their points off three takeaways by Bashaud Breeland, who had an interception and two fumble recoveries.

But New York opened the second half with 24 straight points to take control against a Washington team without several injured starters, including wide receiver DeSean Jackson, left tackle Trent Williams and cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Chris Culliver.

"We're not perfect yet and we've got a long way to go," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said.

They're still a lot closer than the Redskins, who were outgained 474-225.

"We had an opportunity to win this game," coach Jay Gruden said. "And, in the second half, we just laid an egg. A big egg."

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Chris Ivory rushed for 146 yards and a TD on 20 carries for the Jets. Marshall had seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Eric Decker also caught a TD pass.

"Every win's not going to be pretty," Bowles said. "We're going to make some mistakes, but how we come back from it and how we grow as a team moving forward is what's going to make us a decent team."

A few things to know from the Jets' comeback victory over the Redskins:

THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS: Two plays after Nick Folk tied it at 13 with a 39-yard field goal, the Jets got the ball back when Darrelle Revis intercepted Cousins' pass for Ryan Grant. With the ball at the Redskins 18, the Jets wasted no time as Fitzpatrick took off up the middle, got a big block from tight end Kellen Davis near the goal line and got into the end zone for a 20-13 lead.

Marshall made it 26-13 with a terrific fingertips catch just off his shoe tops, getting inside of Breeland on a low throw. He then scooted down the sideline for a 35-yard TD.

New York got the ball back when Marcus Gilchrist picked off Kirk Cousins' deep pass for Jamison Crowder. Decker caught a 2-yard pass to put the Jets comfortably in front, 34-13 early in the fourth quarter.

New York has outscored opponents 34-0 in the third quarter this season. Meanwhile, Washington has been outscored 46-3.

CAPTAIN KIRK: Cousins was 25 of 43 for 196 yards with a touchdown to Pierre Garcon, but also threw two interceptions. He has two INTs each in four games this season — all losses, but no INTs in Washington's two wins.

Gruden dispelled any murmurs of a quarterback controversy, saying the Redskins are sticking with Cousins.

"You hate to pin this game on Kirk," Gruden said. "I know he could have played better. We had no running game whatsoever. Kirk is not in a stage in his career right now, nor is anybody on our roster, to carry our team throwing the ball as much as we would have had to today."

RICHARDSON'S RETURN: Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson was credited with a half-sack and three assisted tackles in his first game after sitting out the first four because of a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

"I did all right," he said. "Sideline-to-sideline plays weren't as consistent as I usually have been. But other than that, it was good."

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BREELAND'S BIG DAY: With Hall out with injured toe, Breeland got the start in his place and was all over the field in the first half.

He recovered Decker's fumble on New York's opening drive, setting up Garcon's 2-yard TD catch. After the Jets tied it on Ivory's 1-yard run, Washington forced another turnover when Breeland ripped the ball out of Marshall's hands after a 12-yard catch. Dustin Hopkins kicked a 54-yard field goal to tie it at 10.

The Jets turned it over again on their next possession as Fitzpatrick's pass tipped off Marshall's hands and Breeland made a diving interception. Six plays later, Hopkins kicked a go-ahead 30-yarder.

LOOK WHO IT IS: With all the Redskins' injuries to starters, they had no choice but to make Robert Griffin III active against the Jets.

He was in uniform on the sideline for the first time this season — but as the third-stringer behind Cousins and backup Colt McCoy.

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Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to 34-20 victory over Redskins (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press October 18, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/fitzpatrick-ivory-lead-jets-34-20-victory-over-redskins

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets made a strong statement to themselves — and maybe the rest of the NFL — with a big bounce-back second half.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and the resilient Jets overcame a sluggish start to beat the banged-up Washington Redskins 34-20 on Sunday.

"Every win's not going to be pretty," coach Todd Bowles said. "We're going to make some mistakes, but how we come back from it and how we grow as a team moving forward is what's going to make us a decent team."

The even-keeled Bowles' way is to downplay success, but the Jets looked every bit like a playoff contender for the final two quarters. They'll get their biggest test yet next Sunday at AFC East-rival New England.

"If you want to be a great team," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said, "you've got to be able to punch through adversity."

Chris Ivory ran for 146 yards and a TD on 20 carries for the Jets, who improved to 4-1 for the first time since the 2010 team opened 5-1. Marshall had seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Eric Decker also caught a TD pass.

The Jets, coming off a bye-week break, trailed 13-10 at halftime, with the Redskins (2-4) scoring their points off three turnovers by Bashaud Breeland, including an interception and two fumble recoveries.


"We're not perfect yet and we've got a long way to go," Marshall said.

They're still a lot closer than the Redskins, who were outgained 474-225 by the Jets.

"We had an opportunity to win this game," coach Jay Gruden said. "And, in the second half, we just laid an egg."

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/fitzpatrick-ivory-lead-jets-34-20-victory-over-redskins

Daily Clips Cont.

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Kirk Cousins was 25 of 43 for 196 yards with a touchdown to Pierre Garcon, but also threw two interceptions. He has two INTs each in four games this season — all losses, but no INTs in Washington's two wins.

"If I start to doubt, I'm not going to ever get to the level I want to go," Cousins said. "I've got to keep going, learn from mistakes."



The Redskins downgraded Jackson to out Saturday; he hasn't played since the season opener because of a left hamstring injury. Tight end Jordan Reed, center Kory Lichtensteiger and backup running back Matt Jones were also out.

With so many injuries, even Robert Griffin III was active — as the Redskins' third-string quarterback — for the first time this season.

Nick Folk tied it at 13 with a 39-yard field goal early in the second half. Two plays later, the Jets got the ball back when Darrelle Revis made an easy interception of Cousins' pass for Ryan Grant.

With the ball at the Redskins 18, the Jets wasted no time as Fitzpatrick took off up the middle, got a big block from tight end Kellen Davis near the goal line and got into the end zone for a 20-13 lead.

"He's deceivingly fast," a smiling Decker said of Fitzpatrick. "He's an athlete."

Marshall made it 26-13 with a terrific fingertips catch just off his shoe tops, getting inside of Breeland on a low throw. He then scooted down the sideline for a 35-yard TD — as Breeland sat on the field with his head in his hands in disbelief.

New York got the ball back when Marcus Gilchrist picked off Cousins' deep pass for Jamison Crowder. Decker caught a 2-yard pass to put the Jets comfortably in front, 34-13 early in the fourth quarter.

The Redskins crept closer when Jeron Johnson blocked Ryan Quigley's punt and Rashad Ross recovered in the end zone with just under four minutes left. But Davis recovered the onside kick.

NOTES: New York has outscored opponents 34-0 in the third quarter this season. Meanwhile, Washington has been outscored 46-3. ... Jets RB Bilal Powell sprained an ankle, and CB Buster Skrine suffered a concussion. ... Redskins S Trenton Robinson sprained an ankle and a thumb.

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NEWSDAY

Big third quarter lifts Jets over Redskins (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 19, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-beat-redskins-after-big-third-quarter-1.10979624

An irritated Todd Bowles stood before his players and demanded more. There was no yelling, no throwing of objects. Just a coach speaking the truth to his underperforming team.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-beat-redskins-after-big-third-quarter-1.10979624

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"Yeah, he lit a fire up under us, saying that we can't give this game away like we did to Philly,'' Jets defensive lineman Leger Douzable said. "I think that fired up everybody.''

After a sluggish first half in which the Jets committed three turnovers, they emerged from the locker room intent on dismantling the depleted Redskins. And that's exactly what they did.

Chris Ivory rushed for 146 yards, including a 54-yarder; Ryan Fitzpatrick scrambled for an 18-yard score and threw two touchdown passes, and Darrelle Revis made a key interception to propel the Jets to a 34-20 win Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Brandon Marshall caught seven passes for 111 yards, joining George Sauer (1966) and Don Maynard (1968) as the only Jets with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

The Jets (4-1) already have tied their win total from 2014, when they finished 4-12 under Rex Ryan. And they're feeling mighty confident just in time for Patriots week.

Questions immediately centered on the Jets' next challenge: facing Tom Brady and the Pats (5-0). In a roomful of Jets who provided the same rehearsed "it's just another game'' sound bite, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson -- fresh off his four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy -- delivered one of the more honest takes.

"He's run this division for a while now, so I'm kind of happy we get next,'' Richardson said of facing Brady and the Pats. "We're getting after it . . . I mean, they are the Super Bowl champions, too. Just leave it at that. You know. Licking our chops.''

The Patriots have won the AFC East title 11 of the past 12 years, including the past six. But for the first time since 2011, the Jets appear to be real contenders to knock them off. But they almost squandered an opportunity against the wayward Redskins (2-4), who entered the game down six healthy starters, including speedy wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

The Jets did everything they could in the first half to gift Washington a "W.'' The Redskins' first 13 points resulted from three turnovers, and cornerback Bashaud Breeland had a hand in each of them. Eric Decker fumbled on the Jets' first play from scrimmage and Breeland recovered. Then Breeland stripped the ball out of Marshall's hands and recovered it. In the final minute of the second quarter, Breeland picked off a pass intended for Marshall, setting up a field goal that put the Redskins ahead 13-10 at the half.

But the turning point came in the third quarter, courtesy of Revis, who intercepted a pass from Kirk Cousins for his third pick of the season. "He baited him,'' Bowles said of the INT, which set up Fitzpatrick's score on the next play. "[Revis] takes advantage of every opportunity that comes to him.''

The Jets outscored Washington 17-0 in the third quarter.

"We have a special team,'' said Marshall, who made up for his fumble with a shoestring catch-and-run for a 35-yard TD. "The scary part is, we have a long way to go.''

Once again, a healthy dose of Ivory proved to be the key for their offense. Afterward, Marshall didn't back down from his assertion that the Jets have the best back in the NFL.

"There were a couple guys that laughed at me when I said Ivory's the best,'' Marshall said. "He is, and he proved it again today. Eight-man box, nine-man box, they came out and said, 'We don't care about the wide receivers. We're going to stop the run.' Ivory, again, came out and put up over 140 yards. He's amazing. And he's the best in the league.''

Next Sunday, the Jets will get to see if they're the best in the AFC East. Defeating the Patriots won't be easy, but it's certainly not impossible.

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"It's going to be a battle next week,'' said Revis, who won the Super Bowl last season with New England. "Any team can be beat any way on any given Sunday. We're familiar with them and they're familiar with us. It's going to be a great game.''

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Jets Q&A: How did Sheldon Richardson feel after his first game of the season? (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-q-a-how-did-sheldon-richardson-feel-after-his-first-game-of-the-season-1.10980408

What was Sheldon Richardson's assessment of his first game?

The Jets defensive tackle was quite pleased with himself. "I played pretty good. I did my job. Made plays here and there," Richardson said after Sunday's 34-20 win over Washington.

Coach Todd Bowles kept his game plan for Richardson under wraps last week, but he pointed out that he didn't want to overwork the third-year lineman in his first game back after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. Richardson started the game, teamed with Muhammad Wilkerson for a sack of Kirk Cousins and made three tackles in 47 snaps. He said he didn't know he would start until the coaches called "my defensive package" as part of the Jets' 4-3 defensive front.

At one point during the game, he lined up several yards off the line of scrimmage and blitzed. Asked if he prefers to mimic a linebacker, he smiled and said: "Every defensive lineman likes standing up on two feet. That's just a universal thing."

Richardson noted that he "wasn't constantly making plays sideline-to-sideline like I usually do" but added: "The defense got a whole lot better, so it's going to be a lot harder for me to do that."

He wasn't "dog-dead tired," but there was "a little bit" of rust, he said.

Bowles seemed pleased with his play. "He gave us some energy while he was in there," he said. "He still has to get in football shape. There were a couple of times where I left him in there a play too long, but overall he did fine."

Any injury news we should know about?

Bad news for the secondary: Buster Skrine has a concussion. The physical slot corner walked to the locker room under his own power with 16 seconds left in the first half and did not return. He was replaced by second-year cornerback Dexter McDougle.

Running back Bilal Powell suffered a sprained ankle after being questionable for the game because of a groin injury. It's unclear if he'll miss time.

How did the Jets react to Ryan Fitzpatrick's footwork?

When Fitzpatrick takes off, Bowles can't help but hold his breath. "Every time he crosses the line of scrimmage, I get worried," he said, smiling.

Fitzpatrick may not be the quickest quarterback, but he again showed that he can beat defenses with more than just his arm. He ran for 31 yards on four carries, including an 18-yard touchdown that gave the Jets a 20-13 lead.

"It made me so happy for Fitz," right guard Willie Colon said of the TD. "It showed the type of [guts] he has. He's not afraid to just let it rip."



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Said Bowles: "He's a tough competitor and he has a feel for it. Hopefully, he can learn to slide. We'll send him to baseball school in the offseason."

Fitzpatrick gave all the credit to running back Chris Ivory, who read the defense and picked up the nickel blitz. "Usually, if I get to about five yards, somebody starts catching me, but I was able to take it to the end zone . . . Probably not a whole lot of people noticed what Chris did on that play, but it was phenomenal."

What did Brandon Marshall think of his big afternoon?

With seven receptions for 111 yards, Marshall joined Don Maynard (1968) and George Sauer (1966) as the only Jets with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Asked about it, Marshall said: "People just make up any kind of record. You know, it's like, hey, he had 100 yards on turf on Sunday before the sun went down. Anybody can make up any kind of stats. I'm just trying to do my best and improve my work."

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Jets' adjustments with Chris Ivory prove to be highly effective (Greg Logan) Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-adjustments-with-chris-ivory-prove-to-be-highly-effective-1.10980368

The first thing about Jets running back Chris Ivory that gets the attention of a defense is that he's 222 pounds of pure power between the tackles, a brutal punisher. But just using Ivory as a battering ram is as dangerous to him as to opposing defenses because of the dents he absorbs.

So the Jets had to find ways to use Ivory's other asset -- his speed. Washington got burned as Ivory attacked outside the tackles for much of his 146 yards rushing and joined the passing game with another 50 receiving yards on three catches in a 34-20 Jets' victory Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

"He's our bell cow," Jets coach Todd Bowles said. "We rely on him. He comes through every time."

Ivory has been dominant this season with 460 rushing yards for a league-leading 115.0-yard average in the four games he's played. Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall recently called Ivory the "best running back in the NFL," and he did nothing to argue otherwise Sunday.

Sidestepping that debate, Bowles said: "We know how much we love him. That's all that matters."

Ivory simply said, "Yeah, I feel like I'm one of them."

Washington's coaching staff came prepared to throw the kitchen sink at Ivory in the middle of the field but got outsmarted.

"We made such a focal point on everybody coming to the party and tackling Ivory that sometimes we got out of a gap, and then he did a great job of keeping his feet alive and then making people miss and getting to the outside," coach Jay Gruden said. "He's one heck of a running back."

The first wrinkle the Jets threw at Washington's defense came when Ivory caught a short pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and turned it into a 23-yard gain during an 83-yard drive that ended with Ivory's 1-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7. Ivory turned another dump-off into a 24-yard gain to set up a field goal that tied the score at 13.

"They were in a zone defense and the linebackers dropped out, and I was the guy underneath," Ivory said. "You don't always have to go deep. You can turn a short pass into a big play, and that's what we did."



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Against a Washington defense anchored by 354-pound nose tackle Terrance Knighton, the Jets often aimed Ivory off tackle.

"The way they were pressing us, they tried to keep everything between the tackles," Jets right guard Willie Colon said. "They kept bracketing the outside. We knew if we were able to attack the outside, Chris has the ability to outrun a lot of guys.

"A lot of safeties and corners don't want to tackle him one-on-one. When they see him coming, they start backpedaling a little bit."

When Ivory made a nimble cut to break to the outside on a 54-yard run that set up a field goal for a 10-7 lead, Washington cornerback Bashaud Breeland went all-out to prevent a touchdown.

"The toss was one of those things where you give the illusion that it's an outside play, but it's still an inside run," Ivory said. "At times it was an outside run, but we pressed inside and bounced outside."

Asked if this is the best he's ever played, Ivory smiled and said, "One of the better years, but I don't think it's the best football I've played."

Yet, he meant.

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How is Todd Bowles doing? So far, he's been so good (Bob Glauber) Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/how-is-todd-bowles-doing-so-far-he-s-been-so-good-1.10980309

Todd Bowles is so understated, so self-deprecating and so unwilling to shine a light on himself that you don't necessarily view his team through the prism of the coach's personality. He's not particularly quotable, comes off as dry and often humorless in his news conferences and rarely raises his voice to the public or to his players.

Unlike, say, another coach who occupied the same place on the Jets' sideline the previous six seasons.

Case in point: If this were Rex Ryan's team and his Jets had just beaten Washington, 34-20, to improve to 4-1 in advance of next week's game against the Patriots, the coach would be at his carnival-barking best in banging the drums about his rivalry with Bill Belichick.

Bowles? About the best he was willing to say about the Jets after a dominating second-half performance was that they have "a chance to be a decent team." And about next week's game against the Patriots, he said simply: "Game 6 is New England. We'll play Game 6."

But make no mistake about the Jets' current coach: Despite his low-key personality, he has a remarkable grasp of the sport and already has had a profound impact on this team. He is an excellent tactician who has a clear and purposeful vision of what needs to be done, and his deft handling of his players -- born in large part by the fact that he was an NFL player himself -- makes him uniquely prepared to handle his job and his team.

That doesn't mean the Jets will go up to Foxborough and beat the defending champion Patriots, who have owned the AFC East ever since Tom Brady took over. But it does mean that Bowles' team will be as well prepared and uniquely situated as any team since Ryan's magic began to wear off after two straight AFC Championship Game appearances.



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There is enough talent on this team to contend with the Patriots, but there also is enough coaching brain power for Bowles to match wits with Belichick. There is no personal grudge match, as Ryan had with Belichick, but a sense of equanimity that is reflected in the Jets' smart play.

The evidence continued to mount on Sunday that Bowles is up to the task, as his team shook off the expected rust from a bye week by overcoming some first-half mistakes with a smothering effort in the second half. All three of Washington's first-half scores came off turnovers, but the Jets pulled away behind the powerful running of Chris Ivory and receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.

"I think it's the mental part of it, getting back into the grind of it [after a bye] and understanding you have to fight for every play," Bowles said. "Once you wake up and get hit in the mouth, then you can start fighting again. If you don't get hit in the mouth, you think you can pretty much walk around just jabbing people. I think we got hit in the mouth today.''

Meanwhile in Buffalo, where Ryan brought his hype machine and promised big results, the Bills lost at home to the Bengals, 34-21. Afterward, Buffalo's best defensive player, Mario Williams, questioned Ryan's scheme and expressed frustration about being dropped into coverage on several plays instead of rushing the passer.

Even when Ryan's tenure with the Jets came to an unceremonious end last season, his players never questioned him. Not his approach. Not his personality. Not his scheme.

But cracks are beginning to emerge in Buffalo, and Ryan doesn't have the cachet he did with the Jets to build equity with Bills fans so used to frustration since the Super Bowl teams of the early 1990s.

The team Ryan left behind is doing just fine without him. General manager Mike Maccagnan filled the holes in the lineup by bringing in stars such as Darrelle Revis, Marshall and Antonio Cromartie, and Bowles is proving himself as a bright strategist with a patient yet demanding approach.

It has been the right combination. Next week, the Jets get to see if it's good enough to beat the defending champs and longtime rulers of the AFC East.

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Jets' grades Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-grades-1.10980329

OFFENSE

B It wasn't pretty to start, but it sure looked good by the end. Chris Ivory powered the offense with a 146 rushing yards and a touchdown. Ryan Fitzpatrick finished 19-for- 26 passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Even more impressively, he gained 31 yards on the ground, including an 18-yard TD that broke a 13-13 tie. And both Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker atoned for their first-half fumbles with a touchdown apiece. The Jets also outgained the Redskins by 249 yards (474-225), their largest margin since 2009, and they outrushed the Redskins 221-34.

DEFENSE

B+You'd think quarterbacks would know not to throw near Revis Island by now. Darrelle Revis' third-quarter interception of Kirk Cousins helped spark the Jets' comeback. Cousins (25-for-43, 196 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, one sack) had a 96.5 rating in the first half but finished with a 57.9 rating. In his first game back from suspension, Sheldon Richardson teamed up with Muhammad Wilkerson for a sack. Safety Marcus Gilchrist also had a pick.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-grades-1.10980329

Daily Clips Cont.

11 | P a g e

SPECIAL TEAMS

C-Coordinator Bobby April has some explaining to do. His coverage unit allowed a Ryan Quigley punt to be blocked that resulted in a Redskins touchdown. The usually steady Nick Folk missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt, though he tied it at 13 with a 39-yard field goal early in the second half.

COACHING

B Todd Bowles' halftime message was received loud and clear by his players. The Jets' coach had his players ready and focused for a second-half comeback and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey stuck to the basics: Giving the rock to Ivory.

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Sheldon Richardson on Patriots game: We're 'licking our chops' (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/confident-jets-eager-to-test-themselves-against-patriots-1.10980245

Patriots Week is upon us. And, according to Sheldon Richardson, the Jets already "are licking our chops."

On the heels of playing in his first regular-season game of 2015, the Jets defensive tackle is looking forward to the next test: facing quarterback Tom Brady and the almighty New England Patriots next Sunday in Foxborough.

"He's run this division for a while now, so I'm kind of happy we get next," Richardson said after the Jets improved to 4-1 with a 30-24 win over the Washington Redskins (3-3). "We're getting after it."

With Sunday's win, the Jets tied their season win total from a year ago when they finished 4-12 under former coach Rex Ryan. But with a revamped roster featuring Brandon Marshall and a strong running game behind Chris Ivory, they appear to be a much better team.

But the road to the playoffs often runs through New England. The Patriots have won the AFC East the past six years and 11 of the past 12.

"I mean, they are the Super Bowl champions, too," Richardson noted. "Just leave it at that. You know. Licking our chops."

Many of his teammates, though, took a different approach in their postgame interviews and stressed that this Patriots Week was no different from any other.

"It's just another game," Brandon Marshall said. "That's how we approach it . . . I'm going to enjoy this and then I'll get to New England tomorrow."

Asked if Sunday's game at Gillette Stadium will be a good litmus test for the team, Jets right guard Willie Colon said: "I don't know. I think anytime you go with that mind-set, you find yourself reaching.

"We've got to be able to just play our game, be efficient, understand we can't have the turnovers we had today, you can't have the mental errors. We have to play legit football because they don't beat themselves, and when they smell blood, be careful.

"They [the Patriots] seize every opportunity they have. They don't make excuses. If you don't bring your 'A' game, you're going to get embarrassed. It's going to be a big matchup for us. We'll see."



Daily Clips Cont.

12 | P a g e

Last season, Jets shutdown corner Darrelle Revis hoisted the Lombardi Trophy as a member of New England's secondary. But in the aftermath of an impressive win over the hapless Redskins, Revis pointed out that any team can be defeated on any Sunday. And that includes his former club.

"We've been playing lights out. We've just got to continue to make plays on defense and get the ball back to the offense for those guys to make plays. It's always been close in this rivalry. We have our fair share of wins and they do, too.

"It's going to be a battle next week. They're a team. Any team can be beat any way on any given Sunday. We're familiar with them, and they're familiar with us. It's going to be a great game."

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Antonio Cromartie shrugs off 2011 criticism of Tom Brady: 'I've grown' (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday October 18, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/antonio-cromartie-shrugs-off-2011-criticism-of-tom-brady-i-ve-grown-1.10980017

Antonio Cromartie has grown as a person.

In the wake of the Jets' 34-20 beatdown of the Washington Redskins on Sunday -- a win that improved Todd Bowles' team to 4-1 -- attention immediately shifted to the next opponent on their schedule. The New England Patriots.

But Cromartie wasn't interested in revisiting the past, or his inflammatory comments about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

During a 2011 interview with the New York Daily News, Cromartie called Brady an expletive, adding that the future Hall of Fame quarterback pointed to the Jets sideline after completing a touchdown pass in the Patriots' 45-3 win in Foxborough on Dec. 6, 2010.

"We see that a lot. He does it a lot," Cromartie said at the time. "That's the kind of guy he is. We really don't give a damn, to tell you the truth."

But Sunday, following an impressive second-half resurgence against the lowly Redskins, Cromartie stressed that his comments about Brady were made years ago. And now, he's happy to pay Brady his due.

"I've grown as a player and as a person," the Jets cornerback told a few reporters after their win over the Redskins. "I've got a lot of respect for what the Patriots have done. For me, it's just going to play football against a divisional opponent."

Asked if he's amazed at the success Brady still has at age 38, Cromartie looked genuinely surprised. "No. Why would I be?" he asked. "It's 38. OK? What does that mean? Brett Favre did it at 40. Peyton Manning is still playing at a high level, so I don't put anything past him. He's in the same system, playing very well."

Next week's AFC matchup with the Pats is sure to be the talk of the town this week (well, that and the Mets' run in the NLCS). But Cromartie insisted that he's not overhyped about facing the defending Super Bowl champions. Nor did he necessarily agree with Sunday's matchup being a "measuring stick" of sorts for the Jets.

"Measuring stick . . .," he said, pausing for a few seconds. "I guess only the media would say a 'measuring stick.' It's just a divisional game . . . It's been a lot of years that they've been the division champs. And for us, it's just about going out and playing football and try to get another win.



Daily Clips Cont.

13 | P a g e

"I'm excited about every week . . . The biggest opponent that we face is during that weekend. And this upcoming week is New England."

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THE RECORD

Jets notes: Richardson returns from suspension (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 19, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-richardson-returns-from-suspension-1.1435763

Richardson returns

Star defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said he did "all right" in his 2015 debut Sunday after sitting out the first four games because of an NFL-imposed suspension. Richardson started at left defensive tackle because the Jets opened the game with a 4-3 front, rather than their usual 3-4 base. In limited action, Richardson was credited with three tackles and a half-sack.

"I did all right," Richardson said of his day. "I feel like when I wanted to, I got back there [to the quarterback] a couple times, a few times, actually. I just need to get my pass-rushing endurance back up, but other than that, I’m all right."

The 2013 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year said he felt like himself "for the most part" but added, "sideline to sideline, [my] plays weren’t as consistent as I usually have [been], but other than that, it was good."

Coach Todd Bowles said, "He gave us some energy while he was in there. He still has to get in football shape. There were a couple of times where I left him in there a play too long, but overall, he did fine."

Bowles said he and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers used more 4-3 fronts, not so much to accommodate Richardson, but to try to slow down Washington’s rushing attack. The Redskins had 34 yards on 17 rushes.

Richardson admitted he was "just a little more anxious than usual. [It was] my first game back, so I was just happy to be out there."

Briefs

Slot CB Buster Skrine suffered a concussion and was replaced in that role by Dexter McDougle, who contributed a pass breakup. RB Bilal Powell exited with a sprained ankle. … FS Marcus Gilchrist had his second interception of the season. … The Jets committed only one penalty after having 14 infractions in their win over Miami in London two weeks ago. "Our coaches harped on it," Bowles said. "One penalty compared to 14 last game is an improvement." … Veteran RG Willie Colon, who missed the Miami game because of a knee injury, left the game in the second half with the Jets leading and was replaced by Brian Winters. Colon said he was taken out so he could get some rest.

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Jets: Brandon Marshall proclaims Chris Ivory best running back in NFL (Jeff Roberts) The Record October 19, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/one-vote-for-ivory-1.1435740

EAST RUTHERFORD — The debris lay scattered all around him, littering the green, locker room carpet.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-notes-richardson-returns-from-suspension-1.1435763

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/one-vote-for-ivory-1.1435740

Daily Clips Cont.

14 | P a g e

Balled-up tape. Inside-out socks. A sweat-soaked T-shirt and an overturned helmet with the pink mouthguard still wedged in the facemask.

Chris Ivory sat silently amid the rubble of another NFL game, his head hung low and his long dreadlocks cascading over his shoulders.

It had been a long day. But it was probably the best day in the Jets running back's career.

And when reporters encircled him to ask about the comments from Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall, who for the second time in five days declared Ivory the best running back in the league, he cautiously agreed.

"I feel like I'm one of them, you know?" he said in a soft voice, the words barely rising above a whisper.

Ivory, 27, made a convincing argument Sunday in the Jets' 34-20 victory over Washington at MetLife Stadium.

He compiled 196 yards from scrimmage — the most in his six seasons.

He rushed for 146 yards on 20 carries against the league's sixth-ranked defense. He caught three passes for 50 yards. He broke runs of 54 and 32 yards. And he scored a 1-yard touchdown.

This came after he rushed for a career-best 166 yards against Miami in London.

It was the first back-to-back 100-yard rushing games of his career. And Ivory became the first Jet to rush for at least 140 yards in back-to-back games since Freeman McNeil in 1985, according to ESPN.

As Ivory has gone, so have the Jets (4-1).

"They laughed at me," Marshall said, referring to Wednesday when he first proclaimed Ivory was the best back in the NFL.

"They laughed at me when I said Ivory's the best. And he is. And he proved it again today.

"Eight-man box. Nine-man box. They came out and said, 'We don't care about the wide receivers. We're going to stop the run.' And Ivory again came out and put up over 140 yards.

"He's amazing. And he's the best in the league."

The 6-foot, 222-pound Ivory has rushed for 460 yards and four touchdowns in four games. The only game the Jets lost — Sept. 27 to Philadelphia — came when he was injured (quadriceps).

Not bad for a fourth-round draft pick the Jets sent the Saints in 2013 to acquire him.

"We rely on him. He comes through every time," coach Todd Bowles said.

Ivory — who ran outside more than usual on Sunday — says the biggest difference is his patience.

"It's probably the most patient I've been throughout my career," he said.

But as soft-spoken as he is, Ivory's reputation is growing throughout the NFL.

"We already knew they had one of the best running backs in the league," said Washington defensive end Ricky Jean Francois. "We just played two of the best running backs in back-to-back weeks [also referring to Atlanta's Devonta Freeman]."

But this is not the best Ivory has played. At least, not if you ask him.

"One of the better years, yes, I could say that," he said. "But I don't think it's the best football I've played."

But there's at least 11 games to go.

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Daily Clips Cont.

15 | P a g e

Jets replay in win over Redskins (Jeff Roberts) The Record October 19, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-replay-in-win-over-redskins-1.1435757

Star of the game

Maybe Chris Ivory is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He rushed for 146 yards on 20 carries (7.3 avg.) and a touchdown. He caught three passes for another 50 yards. And he opened up the passing attack for Brandon Marshall (seven catches for 111 yards, 1 TD), who recorded his fourth-straight 100-yard receiving day to join Don Maynard (1968) and George Sauer (1966) as the only Jets to accomplish it.

Turning point

The Jets were locked in a 13-13 tie early in the second half when Darrelle Revis baited Kirk Cousins then jumped the quarterback’s pass intended for Ryan Grant. On the next play, Ryan Fitzpatrick scrambled for an 18-yard touchdown. The Jets never looked back.

Eye-catching

Fitzpatrick threaded a sideline pass to Eric Decker, who made up for a costly fumble with a nice grab, then broke two tackles for a 35-yard gain to the Washington 1-yard line. It set up Ivory’s touchdown with 3:28 remaining in the first to tie the game, 7-7. … Ivory broke a 54-yard run in the second. It was the Jets’ longest run since his 71-yard scamper in the 2014 season opener. It set up Nick Folk’s 35-yard field goal to give the Jets a 10-7 lead. … In his season debut after a four-game suspension, Sheldon Richardson shared a sack with Mo Wilkerson. … Marshall made a one-handed catch on the run in the second. … In the third, Marshall turned a probable Fitzpatrick interception into a 35-yard touchdown. He came back on an underthrown pass to make a shoe-top grab, then broke a tackle en route to the end zone and a 27-13 Jets lead. … S Marcus Gilchrist intercepted a Cousins floater in the third. The ensuing drive ended with Fitzpatrick hitting Decker with a 2-yard TD pass for a 34-13 Jets lead.

Costly mistakes

Decker hauled in an 11-yard reception on the Jets’ first offensive play — then fumbled. Washington recovered at the Jets’ 37. Seven plays later, Pierre Garcon juked Revis and caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Cousins for a 7-0 lead. … Marshall had the ball ripped from his hands by Bashaud Breeland late in the second. Washington took over at its own 45. It resulted in Dustin Hopkins’ 54-yard field goal, tying the game, 10-10. … The Jets committed their third turnover of the first half when Fitzpatrick threw an interception to Breeland with 0:36 remaining. It resulted in Hopkins’ 30-yard field goal and a 13-10 Washington lead. … In the fourth, Jeron Johnson blocked a Ryan Quigley punt, and Rashad Ross recovered it in the end zone for a Washington touchdown.

Looking ahead

Now comes the showdown. The Jets (4-1) head to Foxboro to face their AFC East-rivals, the Patriots, Sunday at 1 p.m.

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Jets surge to 34-20 win over the Redskins (J.P. Pelzman) The Record October 18, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/news/jets-surge-to-34-20-win-over-the-redskins-1.1435542

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-replay-in-win-over-redskins-1.1435757

http://www.northjersey.com/news/jets-surge-to-34-20-win-over-the-redskins-1.1435542

Daily Clips Cont.

16 | P a g e

EAST RUTHERFORD – Sheldon Richardson missed the first four games of the season, so perhaps he can be excused for forgetting the Jets made a coaching change last January.

The Jets’ 34-20 victory over a depleted Washington team Sunday gave them their first 4-1 start since 2010 and set up an AFC East showdown with New England next Sunday. The Patriots (4-0) visited Indianapolis on Sunday night.

When asked about the Patriots, most Jets echoed Todd Bowles’ ho-hum declaration of “We have Game 6 [of the season] against New England, and we’ll play Game 6.”

Not Richardson, even if his replies didn’t quite reach the level of Rex Ryan’s typical Patriots-related bombast.

“He’s run this division for a while now,” Richardson said, “so I’m kind of happy we get next. We’re getting after it.”

It was unclear to whom Richardson was referring to when he said “he,” although he likely meant veteran quarterback Tom Brady. However, he also could have meant coach Bill Belichick.

“I mean, they are the Super Bowl champions, too,” Richardson said. “Just leave it at that. You know. Licking our chops.”

Other Jets didn’t stray from their coach’s message, just as Bowles almost surely would prefer.

“It’s just another game. That’s how we have to approach it,” said wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who atoned for a lost second-quarter fumble that led to a Washington field goal by making a brilliant catch of an underthrown Ryan Fitzpatrick pass for a 35-yard score.

“For us, it’s another game,” Marshall added. “I’m going to enjoy this one and then I’ll get to New England” today.

Right guard Willie Colon said of the Patriots, “They seize every opportunity they have. They play well. They play at a high level. They don’t make excuses. If you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, you’re going to get embarrassed.”

So then this is a statement game for the Jets, right?

No, Colon said, adding, “I feel if you say that, you’re disrespecting the Buffalo Bills, you’re disrespecting the Miami Dolphins. They’re all worthy opponents.”

Fortunately for the Jets, the injury-plagued Redskins (2-4) were not worthy. Still, despite being without six starters due to injuries, Washington led, 13-10, at halftime, converting three New York turnovers into all 13 of its points.

Needless to say, Bowles wasn’t a happy man at halftime.

Richardson was asked to describe the coach’s message at intermission.

“Pick it up,” Richardson said. “We’re a better team than that. We know it. So go out and be who we are. Our best is not their best. It just means we’re better than them. It’s just that simple. We should be playing better. It shouldn’t even be close. And just leave it at that. Stop doing little things like sticking the ball out and getting it stripped from you. Protect the ball and make sure they’re not scoring off turnovers.”

The Jets did that for the most part, as Fitzpatrick’s 18-yard touchdown scramble in the third quarter put them ahead to stay, 20-13. It came on the next play after Darrelle Revis’ game-changing interception of Kirk Cousins. Revis had been beaten badly for a 2-yard TD catch by Pierre Garcon in the first quarter, but in the third quarter he baited Cousins into a poor decision and a worse throw, flipping the momentum.

Daily Clips Cont.

17 | P a g e

Fitzpatrick threw two second-half scoring passes, including a 2-yarder to Eric Decker.

Marshall said, “Obviously, we’re happy with our performance in the second half, but the thing I love about our team is when it’s not the way we want it, guys aren’t satisfied. … We made a lot of mistakes, especially on the offensive side, and we’ve got to get better.”

No doubt, because the kind of performance the Jets had Sunday likely won’t cut it against the perennial AFC East champions. Even after taking a 21-point lead, the Jets suffered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, capping a mistake-filled day.

“It’s going to be a battle next week,” said ex-Patriot Revis, who didn’t want to discuss his history with New England. “We’re familiar with them, and they’re familiar with us. It’s going to be a great game.”

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NEW YORK TIMES

Jets Close-Up (Ben Shpigel) New York Times October 18, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/sports/football/jets-close-up.html?ref=football&_r=0

KEY PERFORMANCE Chris Ivory continues to entertain and enthrall, rushing for 146 yards, including a 54-yard dash in the second quarter. The Redskins tried to contain Ivory between the tackles, so he kept his feet moving and bounced outside.

Ryan Fitzpatrick escaped pressure in the third quarter and ran 18 yards for a touchdown.Jets 34, Redskins 20: Led by Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Dive, Jets Hurtle Into a Division ShowdownOCT. 18, 2015

Patriots Coach Bill Belichick before a win over the Bills last month. To Jets Coach Todd Bowles, the contest against the Patriots is “Game 6.” To Jets fans, it is more.Sports of The Times: Jets Face Midterm Exam as Patriots Week ArrivesOCT. 18, 2015

NUMBER OF THE WEEK: 1 That was how many penalties the Jets were called for — an illegal-hands-to-the-face infraction by Sheldon Richardson in the fourth quarter. They committed 14 penalties two weeks ago in their victory over Miami in London.

NEXT UP Some team called the New England Patriots, in a game loaded with subplots — including the return of Darrelle Revis, above, to Gillette Stadium — but above all the chance for at least a tie atop the A.F.C. East.

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Led by Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Dive, Jets Hurtle Into a Division Showdown (Ben Shpigel) New York Times October 18, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/sports/football/ryan-fitzpatrick-new-york-jets-washington-redskins.html?ref=football

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ryan Fitzpatrick does, in fact, know how to slide with his feet. Really, he does. He just does not like to. Nor, as he readily admits, is he particularly good at it.

So on plays, designed or improvised, that demand his running expertise, Fitzpatrick tucks the ball into his armpit, lowers his shoulder and girds himself for contact. The way he dives headfirst, it sort of looks as if he is trying to break down a door at knee level.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/sports/football/jets-close-up.html?ref=football&_r=0



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18 | P a g e

“Every time he crosses the line of scrimmage, I get worried,” Jets Coach Todd Bowles said.

Bowles’s nerves jangled early in the third quarter of the Jets’ 34-20 pasting of Washington at MetLife Stadium, the game that the schedule required them to play the week before a trip to unbeaten New England to determine first place in the A.F.C. East.

On the sideline, Bowles rejoiced as Darrelle Revis intercepted a pass deep in Redskins territory, but then came the next play, when Fitzpatrick escaped pressure from the backside. Slipping out of the pocket, he shimmied past a defender and — ball tucked, shoulder lowered, bracing for a hit — scooted toward the end zone, landing on his stomach. From his knees, he flung the ball high in the air, and when he got up, he celebrated with Brandon Marshall with such fervor that his eyes bulged.

Next Up

Some team called the New England Patriots, in a game loaded with subplots — including the return of Darrelle Revis to Gillette Stadium — but above all the chance for at least a tie atop the A.F.C. East.

The 18-yard touchdown scramble jolted the Jets after a sluggish first half, and it catalyzed a dominant second-half performance that they would love to replicate next Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Bowles likes to view the season as a 16-round fight. However much the Jets (4-1) respected Washington — which, mind you, did lead by 13-10 at halftime — their victory Sunday represented the undercard to a game that, as it so often does, will shape their credibility as contenders.

“The Patriots are still king — not only of our division, but the league,” offensive lineman Willie Colon said, adding: “We’ve played those guys enough to know what type of football they play. If we’re not on our p’s and q’s, we’re going to get embarrassed.”

Even when the Jets are on their p’s and q’s against New England, they rarely leave the field with a W. They were swept last season by a combined 3 points. The last four meetings — three Jets losses — have been decided by 9 points.

For Bowles’s first foray into the rivalry, he is equipped with a defense averaging three takeaways per game and an offense so balanced — 221 yards rushing and 253 passing on Sunday — that it elicited this compliment afterward from Washington Coach Jay Gruden: “That’s where we’d like to get to.”

The last time an opposing coach said that about the Jets’ offense, his words might have been recorded with hieroglyphics. Gruden’s praise was rooted not only in the Jets’ scoring output but also in the details: no penalties on offense (and only one over all), no sacks allowed, 474 total yards, 196 all-purpose yards and a touchdown from Chris Ivory, and 111 receiving yards and a touchdown by Marshall. The Jets committed three first-half turnovers, which led to Washington’s first 13 points, but none after halftime, when the Redskins managed 81 yards and scored their lone points on a blocked punt with 3 minutes 59 seconds left.

“We have a special team,” Marshall said, “and the scary part is we have a long way to go.”

Through five games, the Jets have equaled their win total from last season, and one driving force has been Bowles’s coaching acumen. On Sunday they put in an extra defensive lineman at times, and not just to accommodate Sheldon Richardson’s return from a suspension. The addition countered Washington’s run-blocking scheme, which relies on double teams, and helped hold the Redskins to 34 yards on 17 carries.

More obvious has been the Jets’ surge after halftime: They have outscored opponents by 58-21 in the second half, and by 34-0 in the third quarter. On their first four second-half possessions Sunday, they scored a field goal and three touchdowns, turning interceptions from Revis and Marcus Gilchrist into 14 of those 24 points.

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19 | P a g e

Had a passer-by placed a glass against the wall outside the Jets’ locker room at halftime, he would not have heard Bowles screaming or swearing. Bowles was unnerved less by the score than by his players’ energy. He challenged the veterans to lead the team.

“There’s too many guys out here that have been through a lot of football to kind of just be average,” Colon said.

One of those guys was Marshall, yearning to play in the postseason for the first time, who had the ball stripped from him in much the same way he had ripped it loose from Cleveland’s Tashaun Gipson in the season opener. Marshall responded by breaking off his route to catch a pass at his shoelaces and, fending off a defender, racing for a 35-yard touchdown.

Another was Eric Decker, a menace all season from the slot, who fumbled on the Jets’ first offensive play and appeared to fumble again later on a play that was ruled an incomplete pass. With Bashaud Breeland — who earlier recovered two fumbles and intercepted Fitzpatrick — draped across him, Decker snared a 2-yard touchdown pass that capped the Jets’ 24-point binge.

Then there is Revis, whose brilliance the Jets appreciate in ways apparent — six takeaways — and subtle, sometimes on the same play. With the score tied at 13-13 early in the third quarter, Revis watched Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins go through his progressions and identified precisely where, and when, he would throw the ball.

Cousins looked right and noticed three options covered. In zone coverage near the other sideline, Revis passed Pierre Garcon off to the inside before sitting a few yards behind and to the side of Ryan Grant. Aware that Grant was the final read, Revis waited until Cousins turned his shoulders toward him, and then he sprinted toward where he thought the ball would be.

“I just kind of baited him,” Revis said. “That’s just something from experience.”

Colon characterized Revis’s interception as the play that turned the ignition, and Fitzpatrick, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 253 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, grabbed hold of the wheel. Fitzpatrick’s left leg, which was broken last December, still contains a titanium rod and screws, but he does not worry about it when he runs, he said.

He just goes, churning forward with abandon, unafraid of what he might encounter on the way. He is eager for all that is still to come, and his team is, too.

EXTRA POINTS

The slot cornerback Buster Skrine sustained a concussion, Todd Bowles said, that could jeopardize his availability next week. The only other injury Bowles reported was a sprained ankle for running back Bilal Powell.

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ESPN NEW YORK

Ryan Fitzpatick rallies Jets -- and it's on to New England (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/48767/seven-thoughts-on-day-1-of-the-macbowles-era



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20 | P a g e

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets are ready for their first-place showdown against the New England Patriots. Is this the year the Jets finally take down their AFC East nemesis? Let's not jump that far ahead, but there's a whole lot to like about this team.

After a sloppy and lethargic start Sunday, the Jets (4-1) dominated the second half, blowing away the injury-plagued Washington Redskins 34-20 at MetLife Stadium. Stuck in a post-bye funk for the first half, the Jets received game-changing plays from Darrelle Revis, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall, energizing the team and the crowd. It was a sign of maturity and killer instinct. In past years, the Jets would've let an inferior opponent hang around until crunch time, but this group crushed it with a 17-0 third quarter. Just guessing here, but the mild-mannered Todd Bowles may have displayed some rare fire in his halftime speech.

They'll need more than 30 good minutes to beat the Patriots, but at least the Jets -- off to their best start since 2010 -- are in the ring with the champs.

What were they thinking? The Jets were a little too pass-happy in the first half, especially since their receivers were coughing up almost everything. They should have fed Chris Ivory, who broke an early run for 54 yards. They came to their senses in the second half.

One reason to get excited: Trying to disprove the flash-in-the-pan theory, Fitzpatrick (19-for-26, 253 yards) played perhaps his strongest game of the season. It was sloppy at times -- he threw his seventh interception -- but he rallied the team with his legs. Yes, his legs. His 18-yard touchdown run -- call him Crazy Legs Fitzpatrick -- was a huge play in the game and came moments after a diving interception by Revis. It was the Jets' longest scoring run by a Jets quarterback since Richard Todd in 1980. Fitzpatrick's isn't an artful runner, but his mobility is an underrated aspect to his game. He also threw touchdowns to Marshall and Eric Decker, both of whom lost fumbles in a three-turnover first half. Fitzpatrick, nicknamed "FitzMagic," is 4-1 as the starter. Enjoy the bench, Geno Smith.

One reason to panic: The Jets have to clean up their special teams, which commit at least one big mistake every week. This week, it was a blocked punt in the end zone, recovered by the Redskins for a touchdown. There's no way they will beat the Patriots if blunders like this persist. For a team like the Jets, who rely heavily on field position, their special teams have to be a strength, not a weakness.

Fantasy watch: Facing the NFL's sixth-ranked defense, the Jets racked up big numbers. Aside from Fitzpatrick, Marshall (seven catches for 111 yards and one touchdown) and Ivory (20 attempts for 146 yards and one touchdown) produced big stats. Who'da thunk it? It was Marshall's fourth straight 100-yard receiving game. The last time that happened was 1968 by Hall of Famer Don Maynard.

Ouch: Slot corner Buster Skrine (concussion) and running back Bilal Powell (ankle) left the game. Skrine's injury was particularly costly because his replacement, Dexter McDougle, had no previous experience on defense. Skine also happens to be one of their top playmakers on defense. Zac Stacy inherited Powell's reps as the third-down back.

Busy day for Richardson: Richardson, returning from a four-game suspension, played more than expected -- at least 30 snaps. To accommodate Richardson, Bowles scrapped his 3-4 and opened in a 4-3 front. They played more 4-3 than 3-4, with Richardson and Damon Harrison lining up inside and Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams playing at end. The big loser was linebacker Quinton Coples, who barely got on the field. It was a smart tactical move by Bowles because he got his best 11 on the field. More big bodies also helped against Washington's running game. Richardson finished with a half-sack, but the vaunted defensive line didn't generate much pressure on Kirk Cousins.

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Four downs: Ivory could become a top-10 RB (Eric Karabell) ESPN New York October 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/eric-karabell-football/insider/post?id=3592

It was readily apparent when we first saw battering ram Chris Ivory as an NFL running back way back in 2010 that he was physical enough and boasted the skills to be a valuable fantasy option, but the fact is that never came to fruition until recently. Ivory was an undrafted free agent for the New Orleans Saints and for years was not offered much chance to star, and even with the New York Jets since 2013 he has been more upside pick in curious timeshares than reliable contributor. After all, rushing for 1,000 yards in a season isn't exactly rare these days, and Ivory has yet to approach this figure. At his current rate, however, he'll get there before Thanksgiving weekend.

Ivory's breakout season continued Sunday against the Washington Redskins when he barreled over and through a formidable rushing defense for 146 yards, including a 54-yarder and a 1-yard touchdown.

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Sheldon Richardson: Jets 'licking our chops' as Pats showdown approaches (Ohm Youngmisuk) ESPN New York October 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55099/sheldon-richardson-jets-licking-our-chops-before-facing-patriots

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –- Not long after returning to the field from a four-game suspension, Sheldon Richardson was already looking forward to taking on the defending Super Bowl champions.

Richardson kicked off Jets-Patriots week by saying how eager the New York Jets are to get a shot at Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

"He's run this division for a while so I am kind of happy we get next," Richardson said when asked about facing the New England Patriots. "We're getting after it."

Back from a four-game suspension, Sheldon Richardson quickly set his sights on the Patriots after the Jets topped the Redskins. Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Richardson didn't clarify whether he was talking about Belichick or Brady, but he made it clear he's eager to face the Patriots with the division lead at stake.

"I mean, they are the Super Bowl champions," Richardson said. "Just leave it at that. You know, licking our chops."

The Jets head into the AFC East showdown feeling good after handling the Washington Redskins on Sunday, 34-20. Richardson played for the first time this season, logging three tackles and half a sack in his return from suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The Pro Bowl defensive end unofficially played 46 snaps, mostly in 4-3 sets (to combat Washington's run-blocking scheme) and nickel packages that the Jets used Sunday.

"I got back there a couple of times, a few times actually," Richardson said of his play. "I just need to get my pass-rushing endurance back up a little bit, but other than that I am all right."

Early in the second quarter, Richardson reminded the Jets of what he can do when he maneuvered his way from the left side toward inside for a sack on Kirk Cousins. He and Mo Wilkerson both got to Cousins at the same time for a 5-yard sack on a second-and-10 at the Washington 20.

http://espn.go.com/blog/eric-karabell-football/insider/post?id=3592



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"Bittersweet," Richardson said of having to share the sack. "But I am glad [Wilkerson] got it with me."

Richardson said he was anxious in his first game back but felt like himself "for the most part."

He came out of the game feeling good physically. Richardson said he will see how his body feels Monday.

"You feel better after a win than a loss," Richardson said. "I feel pretty good."

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Chris Ivory up, Eric Decker down in Jets' win (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York October 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/48762/former-qbs-coach-david-lee-says-geno-smiths-mistakes-killed-us

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A look at the New York Jets players who were “up” and those who were “down” in the team's 34-20 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday:

UP

Chris Ivory, running back: He's one of the hottest players in the NFL. Ivory ran for 146 yards and a touchdown against the league's sixth-ranked defense and sparked the offense with runs of 54 and 32 yards. The Jets deviated for their running approach and attacked the perimeter more than usual. The objective was to avoid Washington's beefy interior. This worked because of Ivory's deceptive speed, along with his patience and vision. He has rushed for 312 yards in the past two games, which brings his total to 460. He is not known for his receiving ability, but he made a couple big plays in the passing game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback: His biggest play -- and one of the biggest in the game -- was his 18-yard touchdown run. He doesn't glide in the open field like Russell Wilson or Colin Kaepernick, but Fitzpatrick has underrated scrambling ability. He orchestrated an attack that produced a season-high 474 total yards and threw two touchdowns against the Redskins' second-string cornerbacks. Fitzpatrick had only one negative play: an interception, one of three first-half turnovers by the Jets. He posted his highest passer rating of the season, at 113.1.

Brandon Marshall, wide receiver: The day didn't start well for Marshall, as he lost a fumble in the first half. Hey, at least this one didn't happen on an attempted lateral. Marshall rallied to finish with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. He made "some absolutely ridiculous plays," Fitzpatrick said. The scoring play -- a 35-yard pass -- was all him. He made a shoestring catch on an underthrown pass, eluded cornerback Bashaud Breeland with an open-field move and sprinted to the end zone to give the Jets a 27-13 lead. It was Marshall's fourth straight 100-yard game, which makes him the first Jet since Don Maynard (1968) to accomplish that. Wow.

Darrelle Revis, cornerback: His diving interception in the third quarter was "the ignition," as teammate Willie Colon put it. It was the play that sparked the Jets' monster third quarter. Revis baited quarterback Kirk Cousins by playing soft in a shallow zone and daring him to throw across the field. Cousins took the bait in making an ill-advised pass to Ryan Grant. Revis made a terrific catch at the Redskins' 24-yard line. He scrambled to his feet, thinking end zone, but made only 6 yards on the return. Still, it was a game-changer; the old master outfoxed the inexperienced quarterback.

DOWN

Eric Decker, wide receiver: Decker suffered a serious case of the yips, as he dropped two passes and lost a fumble on the Jets' first play from scrimmage. The fumble set a bad tone, and the Jets stumbled and bumbled their way through the first half. Decker rebounded with an important catch-and-run for 35 yards



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to set up Ivory's touchdown, but Decker probably should have closed the deal on his reception. He lost his balance and went down at the 1. He salvaged something out of the day with a 2-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Quigley, punter: Each week, the Jets suffer a calamity with their punting game. This time, it cost them seven points, as Jeron Johnson blocked a Quigley punt in the end zone, which resulted in a Washington touchdown late in the game. It didn't matter -- it was garbage time -- but it was a huge breakdown. It's hard to assess blame without breaking down the game film, but Quigley is the punter, and the punt team is struggling.

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Fitzpatrick, Ivory lead Jets to victory over Redskins ESPN New York October 18, 2015

http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400791598

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets made a strong statement to themselves -- and maybe the rest of the NFL -- with a big bounce-back second half.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and the resilient Jets overcame a sluggish start to beat the banged-up Washington Redskins 34-20 on Sunday.

"Every win's not going to be pretty," coach Todd Bowles said. "We're going to make some mistakes, but how we come back from it and how we grow as a team moving forward is what's going to make us a decent team."

The even-keeled Bowles' way is to downplay success, but the Jets looked every bit like a playoff contender for the final two quarters. They'll get their biggest test yet next Sunday at AFC East-rival New England.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Sheldon Richardson: Jets 'licking our chops' as Patriots game approaches

Sheldon Richardson kicked off Jets-Patriots week by saying the Jets are, um, eager to square off against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champs.

Cimini: Ryan Fitzpatick rallies Jets --€” and it'€™s on to New England

The Jets are ready for their first-place showdown against the Patriots. After a sloppy start Sunday, the Jets (4-1) received game-changing plays from Ryan Fitzpatrick, Darrelle Revis and Brandon Marshall while dominating the second half against Washington.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III finally active, but knew he wouldnâ€™t play

Robert Griffin III was only active because of the large number of injuries the Redskins had sustained and he was not expected to see any game action.

"If you want to be a great team," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said, "you've got to be able to punch through adversity."

Chris Ivory ran for 146 yards and a TD on 20 carries for the Jets, who improved to 4-1 for the first time since the 2010 team opened 5-1. Marshall had seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Eric Decker also caught a TD pass.

The Jets, coming off a bye-week break, trailed 13-10 at halftime, with the Redskins (2-4) scoring their points off three turnovers by Bashaud Breeland, including an interception and two fumble recoveries.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400791598

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"We're not perfect yet and we've got a long way to go," Marshall said.

They're still a lot closer than the Redskins, who were outgained 474-225 by the Jets.

"We had an opportunity to win this game," coach Jay Gruden said. "And, in the second half, we just laid an egg."

Kirk Cousins was 25 of 43 for 196 yards with a touchdown to Pierre Garcon, but also threw two interceptions. He has two INTs each in four games this season -- all losses, but no INTs in Washington's two wins.

"If I start to doubt, I'm not going to ever get to the level I want to go," Cousins said. "I've got to keep going, learn from mistakes."



The Redskins downgraded Jackson to out Saturday; he hasn't played since the season opener because of a left hamstring injury. Tight end Jordan Reed, center Kory Lichtensteiger and backup running back Matt Jones were also out.

With so many injuries, even Robert Griffin III was active -- as the Redskins' third-string quarterback -- for the first time this season.

Nick Folk tied it at 13 with a 39-yard field goal early in the second half. Two plays later, the Jets got the ball back when Darrelle Revis made an easy interception of Cousins' pass for Ryan Grant.

With the ball at the Redskins 18, the Jets wasted no time as Fitzpatrick took off up the middle, got a big block from tight end Kellen Davis near the goal line and got into the end zone for a 20-13 lead.

"He's deceivingly fast," a smiling Decker said of Fitzpatrick. "He's an athlete."

Marshall made it 26-13 with a terrific fingertips catch just off his shoe tops, getting inside of Breeland on a low throw. He then scooted down the sideline for a 35-yard TD -- as Breeland sat on the field with his head in his hands in disbelief.

New York got the ball back when Marcus Gilchrist picked off Cousins' deep pass for Jamison Crowder. Decker caught a 2-yard pass to put the Jets comfortably in front, 34-13 early in the fourth quarter.

The Redskins crept closer when Jeron Johnson blocked Ryan Quigley's punt and Rashad Ross recovered in the end zone with just under four minutes left. But Davis recovered the onside kick.

Game notes

New York has outscored opponents 34-0 in the third quarter this season. Meanwhile, Washington has been outscored 46-3. ... Jets RB Bilal Powell sprained an ankle, and CB Buster Skrine suffered a concussion. ... Redskins S Trenton Robinson sprained an ankle and a thumb.

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NEW YORK POST

Three big-name Jets rebound in big way after early miscues (Mark Cannizzaro) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/three-big-name-jets-rebound-in-big-way-after-early-miscues/

Sometimes, resilience leads to redemption. And more often than not, that leads to victory.

In the case of the Jets’ 34-20 win over the Redskins Sunday at MetLife Stadium, three of the team’s most important players — receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall and cornerback Darrelle Revis — showed championship resiliency after making poor plays in the first half.

The three quickly redeemed themselves and helped turn a game that was far closer than it needed to be into the walkover it should have been in the first place against a bottom-feeder opponent.

First, there was Decker, on the Jets first offensive play from scrimmage, allowing Redskins safety Kyshoen Jarrett to jar the ball loose a split second after he made a catch.

That turnover quickly led to a 7-0 Washington lead, seven plays, 37 yards and 3:45 later.

“It’s frustrating,’’ Decker said. “You don’t want to be the guy to turn the ball over. I pride myself on not doing that. But everything is not perfect. Flushing it and moving on and trying to make a play after that is kind of the mindset.’’

The Redskins took that lead on a 2-yard Kirk Cousins scoring pass to Pierre Garcon, who was supposed to be covered by Revis. Revis, however, looked as if he’d turned “Revis Island’’ into an all-inclusive hedonism everything-goes happy hour.

“He made a great play, ran a slant route and got the ball,’’ Revis said tersely afterward.

Minutes after the Redskins touchdown, Decker was turning a short Ryan Fitzpatrick third-down completion into a tackle-breaking 35-yard catch-and-run that got the ball to the Washington 2-yard line, setting up a Chris Ivory game-tying TD run.

“It’s good to bounce back with a play to help the team,’’ Decker said. “It’s a game of imperfection and you’ve got to move on to the next series and the next play. You’ve got to stick with it, grind it out and keep that tough mentality.’’

Next, it was Marshall’s turn. In the second quarter, the Jets leading receiver and most dynamic playmaker, allowed Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland to rip the ball out of his hands after he made a 12-yard reception.

Seven plays later, the Redskins turned that turnover into a 54-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal and a 10-10 game.

On the Jets’ next possession, Marshall had his route undercut by Breeland, who picked off a Fitzpatrick pass with 36 seconds remaining in the half, leading to a 30-yard Hopkins field goal and a 13-10 Washington lead at the half — all 13 points coming off Jets turnovers.

“I’m disappointed with myself,’’ Marshall said. “I pride myself on my strength and that [play] wasn’t very strong. He stripped me. I guess I’ve got to get in the weight room. It sucks, but you’ve got to continue to punch through adversity.’’

And so he did.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/three-big-name-jets-rebound-in-big-way-after-early-miscues/

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Marshall, who finished with 7 catches for 111 yards and became the first Jets receiver to string together four consecutive 100-yard games since Don Maynard in 1968, put the game away with an exquisite shoestring catch that he turned into a 35-yard TD for a 27-13 Jets lead in the third quarter.

“He wants to rise to the moment, you know?’’ Fitzpatrick said. “How he caught it I don’t know. And how he turned it into a touchdown I really don’t know. I’m just thankful Brandon is my teammate.’’

Asked afterward if it was “gratifying’’ to redeem himself after the strip, Marshall said, “It’s my job. I’m supposed to do that. They pay me a lot of money — a LOT of money — and my job is to make plays.’’

The same goes for Revis, the highest-paid player on the team. He became the third of the three stars to find redemption when he made the defensive play of the game, picking off Cousins inside the Washington 20 in the third quarter. The turnover led to a Jets go-ahead TD one play and eight seconds later, giving them a 20-13 lead they never would relinquish.

The Revis play ignited what had been an unusually sleepy and sparse home crowd. The Jets, coming out of their bye week, had not played a game in 14 days and it showed.

“I didn’t think we were playing with enough energy,’’ coach Todd Bowles said. “We were flat.’’

His three star players, who were part of the problem early in the game, became the solution with their resilience leading to redemption leading to victory and a 4-1 record, equaling the Jets’ win total in 2014.

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Jets make contender statement in pulling away from Redskins (Brian Costello) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-make-contender-statement-in-pulling-away-from-redskins/

To steal a line from Bill Belichick: The Jets are on to New England.

Gang Green overcame a sloppy first half Sunday to score 24 straight second-half points in a 34-20 victory over the Redskins at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets improved to 4-1 with the win, setting up an AFC East showdown with the Patriots next week in Foxborough.

“The Patriots are still king, not only of our division but of the league. They’re the Super Bowl champs,” guard Willie Colon said. “Right now, it’s going to take all of us to be on deck and everybody ready to go. It’s going to be a hostile environment. We’ve played against those guys enough to know what brand of football they play. If we’re not on our Ps and Qs we’re going to get embarrassed.”

The Jets had three first-half turnovers that led to 13 points for the Redskins.

Trailing 13-10 at halftime, coach Todd Bowles challenged his veterans to take over the game. They did with 24 straight points to open the second half.

“Every win’s not going to be pretty,” Bowles said. “We’re going to make some mistakes, but how we come back from it and how we grow as a team moving forward is what’s going to make us a decent team.”

The offense clicked on all cylinders, aside from the turnovers. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Running back Chris Ivory had 146 rushing yards and 196 total yards from scrimmage. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall had his fourth straight 100-yard game with 111 yards on seven catches and a score. Eric Decker scored his fourth touchdown of the season.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-make-contender-statement-in-pulling-away-from-redskins/

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Marshall and Decker each had a fumble in the first half and Fitzpatrick was picked off by cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who also recovered the two fumbles. But the Jets bounced back from the early mistakes.

“If you want to be a great team,” Marshall said, “you’ve got to be able to punch through adversity.”

The slow start was surprising against a Redskins team that was missing six starters, including wide receiver DeSean Jackson, left tackle Trent Williams and both starting cornerbacks. It was reminiscent of the team’s lone loss, which came to the Eagles last month.

For as poorly as they played in the first half, the Jets found themselves down only by three at halftime. After a field goal to tie the game at 13, Darrelle Revis made a momentum-swinging interception of Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“It turned the game around,” Colon said. “I think it started us with us getting the three. Revis getting that pick it was kind of the ignition turning.”

One play later, Fitzpatrick scrambled 18 yards for a touchdown and a 20-13 lead.

“It made me so happy,” Colon said of Fitzpatrick’s run. “It just shows the type of nuts he has. He’s not afraid to just let it rip. He made us proud.”

Bowles is not as thrilled with Fitzpatrick’s running, begging him to start sliding.

“Every time he crosses the line of scrimmage I get worried,” Bowles said. “He’s a tough competitor. He has a feel for it. Hopefully, he can learn how to slide. We’ll send him to a baseball school in the offseason.”

The onslaught continued for the Jets on their next series with Fitzpatrick throwing a pass behind Marshall that he came back for, caught off his shoelaces and then raced 35 yards to the end zone to put the Jets up by two touchdowns.

The Jets outgained the Redskins 474-225 yards in the game and 221-34 on the ground. The Jets had nice balance between the pass and the run with 253 yards passing.

This is the best start the Jets have gotten off to since 2010, when they started 5-1. That was the last year they made the playoffs.

Critics will say the Jets have played a soft schedule, but now they get their toughest test. Tom Brady and Co. are on their Deflategate revenge tour. Can Bowles and the Jets stop him?

“They are the Super Bowl champions, so just leave it at that. Licking our chops,” said defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, who had three tackles and a half sack in his first game of the season.

The Jets know they won’t be able to spot the Patriots three turnovers like they did the Redskins.

“For us, we’ve got to be able to just play our game, be efficient, understand we can’t have the turnovers we had today,” Colon said. “We can’t have the mental errors. We’ve got to play legit football because they don’t beat themselves. When they smell blood, they kill.”

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Chris Ivory: Coaching tip has helped me become a top RB (Zach Braziller) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/chris-ivory-coaching-tip-has-helped-me-become-a-top-rb/

Brandon Marshall was mocked this week when he called Chris Ivory the best running back in the NFL.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/chris-ivory-coaching-tip-has-helped-me-become-a-top-rb/

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So Ivory stood up for his teammate the only way he knows — by running through, past and around the Redskins, and leading the Jets to their fourth win in five games, 34-20, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

“I feel like that’s a great compliment from him, being the type of player he is,” Ivory said after he ran for more than 100 yards for the second straight game — the first time he has done so in his six-year career — piling up 146 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. “It means a lot.”

Asked if he agrees with Marshall’s assessment, the soft-spoken Ivory said: “I feel like I’m one of them.”

For him, that’s like declaring himself the best player on the planet.

Marshall, who had another big game, catching seven passes for 111 yards and his fourth touchdown of the season, refused to back down from his bold statement.

“There was a couple of guys, I wish I could remember their names, that laughed at me when I said Ivory was the best,” Marshall said. “He is and he proved it again today.”

The numbers are hard to argue. The Jets’ lone loss, against the Eagles at home, came with Ivory on the sidelines, nursing a groin injury. In four starts, he has run for 460 yards, four touchdowns and 5.5 yards per carry. On Sunday, he showed he can be a factor in the passing games, hauling in three catches for 50 yards.

For the first time in his four seasons in New Jersey, Ivory is the unquestioned featured back, receiving 20 or more carries three times this season. The most carries he has had in a single season was 198 last year, but he’s on pace to shatter that mark with 83 already.

Offensive guard Willie Colon said he believes Ivory’s big start is more the result of new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s system fitting Ivory. The Jets are using all his attributes — speed, power and patience. He was previously pigeonholed as a power back, but Ivory has shown he has the quickness to match.

“Chris has an ability, he can outrun a lot of guys,” Colon said. “A lot of safeties and corners don’t want to tackle him one-on-one. When they see him coming, they start back-pedaling a little bit. That’s on us to get him going. When we’re able to do that, it puts pressure on the defense.”

Ivory wouldn’t say this is the best he has played since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2010. But he never has been this patient, which he credits to running backs coach Marcel Shipp. There is no secret. Shipp is always in his ear, telling him to wait until the last possible moment for the hole to open up.

“Once you see it,” Shipp tells Ivory, “hit it.”

“I have a lot of patience, and I’m able to allow things to develop,” Ivory said.

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Sheldon Richardson makes big impact in return from ban (Zach Braziller) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/sheldon-richardson-makes-big-impact-in-return-from-ban/

Sheldon Richardson beat his man, using that rare combination of power and strength of his, and took down Kirk Cousins. It was his first sack of the year, in his first game, after serving a four-game suspension for marijuana use.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/sheldon-richardson-makes-big-impact-in-return-from-ban/

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Before he got up to celebrate, however, he saw teammate Muhammad Wilkerson on the ground with him. Soon, the two were chest-bumping on their way back to the huddle, enjoying the moment.

“Bittersweet,” Richardson said with a smile after the Jets’ 34-20 victory over Redskins at MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon. “But I’m glad he got it with me.”

He may have to get used to it. The Jets’ defensive line, arguably the best in the NFL, has no shortage of talent. Adding Richardson, the 2013 NFL Defensive Rookie of the year, to the likes of Wilkerson, rookie Leonard Williams, Damon “Snacks” Harrison and Leger Douzable, is simply the rich getting richer.

“When you got the guys we got up front, give us one-on-ones and we’re all probably going to beat you,” Wilkerson said. “We got so many talented guys up front.

“It’s good to have him back. He’s only going to help us moving forward.”

Richardson got the start and appeared in 47 plays, only coming out when the Jets went to their 3-4 package. He had three tackles and split the sack with Wilkerson. The Jets’ defense was stellar against Washington, forcing two turnovers. The run defense held the Redskins to a paltry 34 yards.

“I did all right, not like I wanted to,” said Richardson, who reported he felt fine physically. “I got back there a couple of times. I just need to get my pass-rushing endurance back up.”

Before the game started, Richardson received a few friendly taps on his helmet from the his defensive linemen, who all told him: “It’s time to eat.”

It wasn’t quite a steak dinner, his performance, but it was rewarding nevertheless after missing four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Richardson also was charged with resisting arrest and multiple traffic violations for allegedly driving 143 mph in July in Missouri, but the trial is ongoing, and he has yet to be further disciplined by the league.

Richardson said it was hard for him watch the team while he was away — he was allowed to attend team meetings, but not practice until this past week — but that was a distant memory Sunday afternoon.

“It was a great feeling,” Richardson said. “[We were] out there a little longer than we wanted to be in the first half, but that all changed for us in the second [half].

“You feel better after a win than a loss, so I feel pretty good.”

It was good for Richardson to get the rust off now, with a Sunday afternoon date with the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots on deck, the kind of game he relishes.

“Our confidence is really high,” Richardson said. “We’re not on no high horse, but you’re supposed to have confidence in yourself, and go out and perform.”

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Buster Skrine suffers concussion, could miss Patriots showdown (Brian Costello) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/buster-skrine-suffers-concussion-could-miss-patriots-showdown/

The Jets may have lost a key piece of their defense in Sunday’s 34-20 win over the Redskins.

Nickel cornerback Buster Skrine suffered a concussion, leaving the game just before halftime and not returning.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/buster-skrine-suffers-concussion-could-miss-patriots-showdown/

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Skrine has been a huge part of the Jets’ success on defense with his blitzing and his ability to cover slot receivers. The Jets will miss him greatly if he cannot play against the Patriots next week, a team known for utilizing slot receivers.

Second-year cornerback Dexter McDougle filled in for Skrine in the second half. It was the first time McDougle had played on defense in his career. He missed all of last season with an ACL tear. This year, he has played only special teams.

RB Bilal Powell left the game with a sprained ankle.

WR Brandon Marshall had 111 receiving yards, marking his fourth straight 100-yard game. This is the first time since Don Maynard in 1968 a Jet had four consecutive 100-yard games. Marshall, Maynard and George Sauer (1966) are the only Jets to achieve the feat.

The Jets had just one accepted penalty after committing 14 against the Dolphins.

“It’s a big switch especially coming off a bye,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We talked about it.The coaches harped on it. One penalty compared to 14 last week is a good improvement. We’ve just got to keep it up.”

RG Willie Colon played after missing the Dolphins game with a knee injury. He exited in the second half, but said that was just to give him rest. The knee was fine. Brian Winters played in his place.

This was the first time the Jets beat the Redskins at home. They were 0-4 before Sunday. … The Jets had two interceptions, bringing their season total to 15 takeaways, surpassing last year’s season total of 13. … The offensive line did not allow a sack for the fourth time in five games. They have given up just two this season, the fewest in the NFL.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 18-yard touchdown run was the longest by a Jets quarterback since Richard Todd’s 30-yard touchdown against the Saints in 1980. … CB Darrelle Revis notched his third interception of the season, the most he has had in a season since 2011, when he had four. It was his sixth takeaway, his best since 2008, when he had seven. His six takeaways lead the NFL.

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Ryan Fitzpatrick’s headlong dive into end zone anything but sliding (Brian Lewis) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/ryan-fitzpatricks-headlong-dive-into-end-zone-anything-but-sliding/

Once quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick gets on the field, he doesn’t think about the broken leg that ended his season last year, just the play to be made. He doesn’t fret about the rod and screws in his leg, but the game to be won. And his scrambling, headlong dive into the end zone was the enduring image of Sunday’s 34-20 win.

In possibly his best game as a Jet, Fitzpatrick was 19 of 26 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to lead a come-from-behind win over the Redskins. But it wasn’t his arm but his legs that shocked the crowd, and Washington as well. He ran four times for 41 yards, including an 18-yard go-ahead third-quarter touchdown, the longest by a Jets quarterback since 1980.

“Every time he crosses the line of scrimmage I get worried. He’s a tough competitor and he has a feel for it,’’ said coach Todd Bowles. “Hopefully he can learn how to slide. We’ll send him to baseball school in the offseason.”

But, on Sunday it was Fitzpatrick who schooled Washington.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/ryan-fitzpatricks-headlong-dive-into-end-zone-anything-but-sliding/

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He saw running back Chris Ivory pick up a nickel blitz, ducked up the middle and got a block from tight end Kellen Davis. Eschewing a slide at the goal line despite Bowles’ fears, the fuzzy-bearded quarterback lunged head-first and was barely missed by a diving Will Blackmon, giving the Jets a 20-13 lead they never surrendered.

“[Bowles] asked me after the touchdown if we should put in the read option or start running the speed option. Of course I said no,’’ said Fitzpatrick, admitting “[sliding] is hard sometimes.

“I just had some space. I didn’t know where it was going to take me. Usually if I get to about 5 yards, somebody starts catching me, but I was able to sneak into the end zone.’’

Despite suffering a season-ending broken leg on a scramble last Dec. 14 for Houston, Fitzpatrick said he’s 100 percent healthy and doesn’t even consider the injury while he’s scrambling around.

“I feel great, ’’ Fitzpatrick said. “I’m completely healthy, completely over the mental part of it, thinking about it and all that. I don’t wake up with aches and pains in my leg, even though I’ve got a titanium rod and screws in there. I don’t feel them, so I think I’m completely healthy now, which has helped just in terms of getting out there and running.’’

Fitzpatrick also threw touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, leading a surge of 24 unanswered points and improving to 4-1 as the Jets’ starter — a position he inherited after Geno Smith had his jaw broken.

“He’s deceivingly fast,’’ said Decker. “Yeah, I knew he could run. He’s an athlete. I think that’s something a lot of people don’t maybe see, because he’s got that big grizzly beard. But he can move when he has to, and you saw that on a couple big conversions and the touchdown.’’

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Redskins’ highly touted run game runs into a Jets’ brick wall (Brian Lewis) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/redskins-highly-touted-run-game-runs-into-a-jets-brick-wall/

Washington has one of the best and most persistent running games in the NFL. But on Sunday the Jets took a one-dimensional offense, and took away its only dimension, smothering the Redskins in a 34-20 win at MetLife Stadium.

Gang Green — which opened up in a 4-3 instead of its typical 3-4 — held Washington to just 34 hard-earned yards on 17 painful carries, their defensive line utterly dominating in the trenches all afternoon.

“They run the ball,” defensive end Leger Douzable said. “We knew they were going to come in here and try to establish the run. We said if we can stop them on first and second down, we could really go after them … on third down.

“So it’s just the mentality that we took into the game that we have to stop the run.’’

They stopped one of the NFL’s best ground games cold.

The Redskins came in leading the league in time of possession and was 12th in rushing yards. But with running back Matt Jones sidelined, the Jets held Alfred Morris and Chris Thompson to just 33 combined yards on 16 carries.

“When we went up two scores they kind of abandoned the run,” Douzable said. “Teams, when you can stop them from running the ball early and go up two scores, then the run is really thrown out of the game.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/19/redskins-highly-touted-run-game-runs-into-a-jets-brick-wall/

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“We really emphasized it this week. We knew Morris was going to come in here and try to run hard. I don’t think [Jones] played. [Thompson] was a guy we knew was going to try and get on the edge, and that’s the thing we talked about all week: Defend the edge and not letting him get to the edge because we knew what type of guy he was in the open field.’’

The Jets managed to clog up the field with a few shrewd moves. With Pro Bowler Sheldon Richardson back from his four-game suspension, Todd Bowles deployed Richardson and Damon Harrison in the middle with Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson outside.

“We put an extra defensive lineman in there,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We took off the double-team and those guys played good single one-on-one football.

“Most of their run game is based off the double-team, and people getting up to the linebackers on the second level. We thought we could take that away and put another guy down. They couldn’t handle all of them. [It] was just to try and combat them.”

It clearly worked.

“The running game was tough,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said. “We didn’t get much movement in the running game. That’s putting a lot of pressure on our quarterback. It’s a tough defense to run the ball against with our guys.’’

With the defensive line keeping the linebackers clean, David Harris had 11 tackles and Demario Davis seven.

“We know the things we want to be able to do, and the first thing we’ve got to do is stop the run,’’ Davis said. “That’s going to set up the other things we do.’’

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Just when the Jets needed him, it was Darrelle Revis to the rescue (Steve Serby) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/just-when-the-jets-needed-him-it-was-darrelle-revis-to-the-rescue/

There was an Eric Decker fumble that led to Pierre Garçon beating Darrelle Revis on a slant, followed by a strip of Brandon Marshall that led to a field goal, followed by a Ryan Fitzpatrick interception that led to another field goal two seconds before the half.

This wasn’t Tom Brady in Foxborough beating the Jets 13-10. This was Kirk Cousins and the Redskins beating the Jets in their own backyard. Because this was the Jets beating the Jets.

Darrelle Revis to the rescue.

Bring on Brady!

Bring on the Pats!

Revis darted and dashed off his famous island to intercept a telegraphed pass by Cousins in the left flat early in the third quarter.

It only changed everything.

It changed Fitzpatrick, whose 18-yard touchdown scamper on the next play made it Jets 20, Redskins 13. He later added touchdown passes to Marshall and Decker.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/just-when-the-jets-needed-him-it-was-darrelle-revis-to-the-rescue/

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It changed Marshall, who came back for an underthrow that became a 35-yard touchdown catch when Dashon Goldson inadvertently bumped Bashaud Breeland near the right sideline.

It changed the disposition of Gang Green, which began suffocating Cousins and intercepted him again (Marcus Gilchrist) on a bomb for Jamison Crowder and staged a goal-line stand in garbage time of a game that would end Jets 34, Redskins 20.

It didn’t change the rolling thunder in Chris Ivory’s relentless legs (146 yards rushing, 1 touchdown, 50 yards receiving). He didn’t need the halftime exhortations for more energy and pride from Todd Bowles at all.

It did change the magnitude and the stakes of next Sunday’s first-place showdown against Superman Brady.

So Bring on Brady.

Bring on the Pats.

“We have a special team and the scary thing is we have a long way to go,” Marshall said.

A long way to go to measure up to Brady and the Patriots. And a short amount of time to get there.

“I heard LeBron James, and I went back and watched his interview after his first championship,” Marshall said, “and one of the things he talked about was the first year in Miami, he tried to be something that he wasn’t. And when he did that, he had a terrible year. And that’s the same thing for anybody or any team in any sport, you got to stick to your game plan.

“And for us it’s another game.”

It’s just another game against the Evil Empire that has won six straight AFC East crowns and 12 of the last 14.

This philosophy, of course, comes down from the mountaintop from Bowles. To Rex Ryan, these Patriot games were always Armagedon.

The truth lies somewhere in between, and closer to Armageddon than Just Another Game.

Bring on Brady.

Bring on the Pats.

“I’m not looking at it as, ‘Oh, this is the biggest week of our life.’ Every week is the biggest week of our life,” Antonio Cromartie said.

There are 39 million reasons why Revis was lured away from Bill Belichick’s kingdom to come back home. Mike Maccagnan killed two birds with one stone, and gave the Jets and their fan base hope that the balance of power in the AFC East has been altered.

“He’s just the best,” Marshall said. “You guys know, you guys started the whole Revis Island years ago. So you guys already know.”

Revis, the Brady-Peyton Manning of cornerbacks, overcame an early 2-yard touchdown slant by Garçon to remind everyone why it is hazardous to visit him on his island.

“I kind of baited Cousins,” Revis said. “I kind of let the receiver cross my face on the play. He was going through his progressions, and he had his back turned to me at one point. Then once he turned his shoulders, then I intercepted the ball.”

Revis wouldn’t be baited into any Armagedon conversation.

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“Being in this rivalry, it’s always been close,” Revis said. “We have our fair share of wins and they do too, and it’s going to be a battle next week.”

Do you think being around Brady for a year will help you next week? Did you learn something about him?

Of course he did.

“I don’t know,” Revis said. “I don’t know, we’ll see.”

Is there anything you can personally offer in terms of preparing for the Patriots?

Of course he can.

“They’re a team, man. Any team can be best any week on any given Sunday. We’re going up there, we’re familiar with them, they’re familiar with us … it’s going to be a great game.”

Do you think it will tell this team a little but more about how good it is?

Of course it will.

“It’s just another week on the schedule, and it’s a long season. We’ll see how it goes next week,” Revis said.

Bring on Brady.

Bring on the Pats.

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Jets report card: Day full of good grades, except for one unit (Brian Costello) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-report-card-day-full-of-good-grades-except-for-one-unit/

Offense

The Jets rolled up 474 yards of total offense and got huge performances from Chris Ivory, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker again. This grade gets dragged down by the three first-half turnovers. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (19 of 26, 253 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 31 yards rushing, one touchdown) had a really strong game other than the interception. Marshall (seven catches, 111 yards, one TD) was a monster, making several great catches. Ivory (20 rushes, 146 yards, one TD) continues to roll.

Grade: B+

Defense

The Redskins scored 13 points after Jets turnovers and their final touchdown on a blocked punt. If not for those mistakes, the Jets might have pitched a shutout.

Darrelle Revis turned the game around with his third-quarter pick. The front line of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams along with linebackers David Harris and Demario Davis held the Redskins to 34 yards rushing.

Grade: A

Special teams

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-report-card-day-full-of-good-grades-except-for-one-unit/

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This unit was a mess. The blocked punt was the biggest mistake. Fortunately for the Jets, it came late in the game when the score was already out of reach. Nick Folk went 2-for-3 on field goals. Jeremy Kerley had one 22-yard return but fair catches on his other returns.

Grade: D

Coaching

Give Todd Bowles a ton of credit for reaching his team at halftime and waking his players up. He gets marked down for the team’s first-half performance, but his halftime speech must have been a doozy. Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers did a nice job designing a 4-3 attack against Washington’s strong run game. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey called a nice game with some tendency-breaking screen passes.

Grade: A-

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Jets’ Todd Bowles discusses his deep connection with Redskins (Brian Costello) New York Post October 18, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-todd-bowles-discusses-his-deep-connection-with-redskins/

For Jets coach Todd Bowles, seeing that Redskins helmet always will be special, even when he is the opposing coach.

“I’ve done it a lot. No matter how many times you do it, that was the birthplace,” Bowles told The Post this week. “They gave me a chance to play in this league. I’ll never forget that. The people are gone, but I’ll never forget that. That will always be the place I call home.”

The Redskins signed Bowles as an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 1986. He played seven of his eight NFL seasons with Washington, starting at both safety and cornerback. Bowles was a starter on the Redskins’ 1987 Super Bowl team.

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has six interceptions through four games. Just four quarterbacks in the NFL have more — Matthew Stafford with eight, and Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Jameis Winston with seven.

Fitzpatrick and Bowles stressed the importance of protecting the ball better moving forward. Fitzpatrick said after each game he and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey break down the film on each interception.

“Each one is different, there’s a different scenario,” Fitzpatrick said. “You try to group it into categories. Was this a bad decision? Was it a bad throw? Was it one that [was] tipped at the line and that’s just going to happen? How can we prevent this and make it better next time. … “In looking at those plays, and even there’s some that you’re not throwing interceptions but it’s close to a turnover, you really have got to evaluate those plays. I’ve got to try to understand why I’m making certain decisions and try to learn from each play.”

Fitzpatrick said he needs to keep working on his decision-making.

“I think it can always get better, but the first four games are over with,” he said. “[As] an offense, [we] have to continue to work in practice and continue to put a better product out there on the field each and every week and I think we have the right guys to do that,” he said.

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http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/jets-todd-bowles-discusses-his-deep-connection-with-redskins/

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

With New England Patriots' Tom Brady next, Jets' Leonard Williams wants to 'mess him up a little bit' (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 19, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/with_tom_brady_next_jets_leonard_williams_says_he.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Leonard Williams has played in a lot of big games over the years. But in his blossoming NFL career, none will be bigger, so far, than next Sunday's Jets-Patriots showdown in New England.

Williams, the Jets' rookie defensive end, grew up watching Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on TV. Williams was just 7 years old when Brady won his first Super Bowl, after the 2001 season. Now, Williams gets to try to sack Brady.

"I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league," Williams told NJ Advance Media on Sunday, after the Jets beat Washington 34-20. "It's going to be great to get my hands on him and mess him up a little bit."

For the sake of context, Williams spoke in a good-natured tone when he said this. He was smiling. He is clearly excited about the game. He's happy to play in it.

So he wasn't necessarily talking trash in a mean-spirited way, or making any bold guarantees about Jets-Patriots. He was simply speaking honestly, about the opportunity to perhaps sack a future Hall of Fame quarterback. And what young pass rusher wouldn't be excited about that?

The Jets are clearly confident, as a team, entering this game. Defensive end Sheldon Richardson said the 4-1 Jets are "licking our chops" to face the Patriots. Cornerback Darrelle Revis, a Patriot last year, said "any team can be beat," as he spoke about New England.

Richardson returned Sunday from a four-game marijuana suspension. He played extensively, as coach Todd Bowles used a lot of 4-3 alignments that allowed Williams to stay on the field, along with defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and nose tackle Damon Harrison. That's a pretty formidable defensive line: Williams, Richardson, Wilkerson, and Harrison.

Williams fared quite well in the first four games, as he started in place of Richardson. How will Williams handle the big stage of his first Jets-Patriots game? Williams, for one, can't wait to find out.

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Jets' Darrelle Revis on facing New England Patriots: 'Any team can be beat' (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/jets_darrelle_revis_on_facing_new_england_patriots.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — After the Jets beat Washington 34-20 on Sunday, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis wasn't as exuberant about their next game as defensive end Sheldon Richardson.

But Revis did sound confident as the Jets prepare for next Sunday's trip to New England. Revis was with the Patriots last season, and won a Super Bowl.





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He obviously respects New England's success, but certainly didn't seem intimidated by it after the win over Washington.

"We've been playing lights out," Revis said of the 4-1 Jets. "We've just got to continue to make turnovers on defense. It's going to be a battle next week. They're a team, man. Any team can be beat any week, on any given Sunday."

As for his experience in 2014 with the Patriots, Revis said, "Last year was last year. We had a great time. We ended up winning."

That was the only year he spent in New England. This is his seventh overall season with the Jets. So he's more used to playing against the Patriots than with them.

The Jets had two takeaways Sunday, including a Revis interception. They now have 15 takeaways this season — an average of three per game. Revis now has three picks and three fumble recoveries. His three picks are his most since 2011, when he accumulated four.

His diving pick Sunday of quarterback Kirk Cousins set up an 18-yard touchdown drive for the Jets in the third quarter. That score put the Jets up 20-13 — a lead they never relinquished. Revis jumped the route nicely on this play.

"I kind of baited Cousins," Revis said. "We were in zone coverage, and he went through his progressions. I kind of let the receiver cross my face and waited for a second for him to come to his last progression, which was my man. Once he turned and looked, I just took off [and jumped the route].

"[Cousins] was going through his progressions, and he had his back turned to me at one point and started going through his progressions. He got over to me. Once he turned his shoulders [to throw], then I intercepted the ball. I think it was a big momentum changer in the game for us. We started picking it up after that."

Revis was also beat by wide receiver Pierre Garcon on a 2-yard touchdown pass that put Washington up 7-0 in the first quarter. But Revis more than atoned for that miscue with his big pick in the third quarter.

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Sheldon Richardson says Jets are 'licking our chops' to play New England Patriots next week (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/sheldon_richardson_says_jets_are_licking_our_chops.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson knew exactly what he was going to do upon returning home after Sunday afternoon's 34-20 win over Washington.

He would settle in, flip on his television, and watch the Patriots' Sunday night game at the Colts. Richardson can't wait to get a look at New England, which will either be 5-0 or 4-1 when it hosts the 4-1 Jets next Sunday.

"We're licking our chops," Richardson said of anticipating Jets-Patriots. "He's run this division for a while now, so I'm kind of happy we're getting after it."

Richardson could've been referring to either Patriots quarterback Tom Brady or coach Bill Belichick. Either one works in that context.



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The Patriots have won the AFC East in 12 of the past 14 seasons, including six straight years. The Jets last won the division in 2002.

This will be the first major test of how good these Jets can be. The Patriots aren't just the defending Super Bowl champions (and an impressive-looking squad so far in 2015), but they have also defeated the Jets in seven of their past eight meetings since the Jets won in New England in the 2010 divisional playoff round.

The Jets' past three losses to the Patriots were by one, two, and three points. There's also another three-point loss and a three-point Jets win among those past eight Jets-Patriots showdowns.

"Our confidence is really high," Richardson said of the Jets' mindset entering this game. "We're not on no high horse, but you're supposed to have confidence in yourself."

This Jets team might be the best-equipped bunch, in recent years, to finally get over the hump against New England on a consistent basis.

"We were equipped every other year, too, but guys just didn't make plays when they were supposed to," said Richardson, a third-year pro who had half a sack Sunday in his return from a four-game marijuana suspension. "We have playmakers now, so that's pretty much the only difference."

Or, as defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson put it: "It's a new season."

Richardson has no love lost for Brady. Richardson made that clear after the Jets lost 17-16 to the Patriots at home in December — the teams' most recent meeting.

"It's extra disappointing losing to Tom Brady," Richardson said, bitterly, that day.

This year's Jets have long since moved past last season's 4-12 misery. So Richardson is clearly fired up for this upcoming Jets-Patriots game.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he said. "It's just big for us."

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Is Jets' Chris Ivory the best running back in NFL? 'I feel like I'm one of them' (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/is_jets_chris_ivory_best_running_back_in_nfl_i_fee.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Brandon Marshall put it out there this week, and he didn't mince his words.

"He's already the best running back in the league right now," Marshall, the Jets' receiver, had said of teammate Chris Ivory.

That was on Wednesday. On Sunday, Ivory pounded out another 146 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in addition to three catches for 50 yards in the Jets' 34-20 victory against Washington at MetLife Stadium.

That 196 total yards from scrimmage is a career high for Ivory.

Two weeks ago, just after the Jets stomped the Dolphins in London, linebacker Calvin Pace had said Ivory should be getting national recognition. Not many people are likely to ignore him now, even if they hadn't been paying attention previously.

Ivory is now averaging a whopping 5.5 yards per carry for a Jets team that's sitting at 4-1 heading into next Sunday's showdown at the Patriots, who are pretty good, in case you weren't aware.



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Ivory, who hadn't talked to reporters since Marshall crowned him the league's best, admitted he was flattered by Marshall's praise, especially because of Marshall's own pedigree as one of the game's top wideouts.

But did Ivory agree with Marshall's assessment that he's the game's best?

"I feel like I'm one of them," Ivory said.

Said Jets head coach Todd Bowles: "He's one of our bell cows. We rely on him, and he comes through every time."

After Sunday's performance, which included a 54-yard run, Marshall pretty much said I told you so when it came to Ivory.

"Ivory, man, everyone—they laughed at me," Marshall said. "There was a couple guys—I wish I could remember all their names—they laughed at me when I said Ivory's the best. And he is. And he proved it again today."

Marshall later took to Instagram to state his case again.

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Darrelle Revis pick changes game as Jets bury Washington Redskins, 34-20 | Instant analysis (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/darrelle_revis_pick_changes_game_as_jets_bury_wash.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — It took a while to get going, but after a mistake-filled first-half, the Jets righted themselves in the second half with (what else?) a game-changing turnover, and soon enough they were pulling away from Washington on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

Final score: Jets 34, Washington 20. This after the Jets trailed 13-10 at the half. The Jets are now 4-1 in head coach Todd Bowles' first season, and, oh, hey, look at that: Next Sunday, they play at the hated Patriots for first place in the AFC East.

There will be plenty of time to look ahead to next week's throw-down in Foxborough, though. For now, let's quickly break down how the Jets (eventually) took control against a depleted Washington team that was without seven starters due to injury.

1. Those first-half turnovers. The winning formula for the Jets this season is to run the ball, play terrific defense, and rely on the passing game when needed. That formula can get screwed up when the Jets turn the ball over. And that's exactly what happened in the first half. Wide receiver Eric Decker fumbled on the Jets' first play, wideout Brandon Marshall had a ball stripped from his hands, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an interception after an underthrown ball was tipped by Marshall into the hands of cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Washington converted all three miscues into 13 points, and it didn't have to move the ball more than 40 yards to get any of it. But then came the second half. Washington's only score of the second half came on a blocked punt.

2. The big takeaway. The Jets opened the second half with a field goal, and two plays from scrimmage later, they broke the game open after star cornerback Darrelle Revis stepped in front of a brutal pass by quarterback Kirk Cousins along the sideline. It was Revis' third pick of the season. Fitzpatrick rumbled for an 18-yard touchdown on the play after that, and the rout was on. The Jets scored on their first four



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second-half possessions, and they made it look easy. Safety Marcus Gilchrist later picked off Cousins, too, giving the Jets 15 takeaways in their first five games. They had 13 all of last season.

3. The third quarter trend. The Jets outscored Washington 17-0 in the third quarter. Which means they've now outscored their opponents 34-0 in the third quarter this season. Washington, meanwhile, has now been outscored 46-3 in the third quarter this season.

4. Chris Ivory keeps rolling. Ivory, the bruising Jets running back, rumbled for 146 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, but he also had three catches for 50 yards. Marshall this week said Ivory was the best running back in the NFL. That may or may not be true, but Ivory is certainly in the conversation. He now has 460 yards rushing this season, he's averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

5. The Brandon Marshall factor. Marshall caught seven passes for 111 yards—his fourth-straight 100-yard game. That's something no Jets receiver has done since Hall of Famer Don Maynard, according to the Fox television broadcast—and Maynard last played for the Jets in 1972. Even though Marshall allowed

Breeland to strip the ball from him in the first half—his second turnover of the season, including that dumb pitch attempt from a few weeks back—Marshall otherwise looked unstoppable. He made a fantastic one-arm grab on one play, and he came back to the ball and reached to grab a pass at his feet before turning and racing for a 35-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Fitzpatrick might rely heavily on Marshall, but no one's really been able to stop the guy.

6. Another special teams blunder. The punt coverage units were pretty bad in the Jets' previous two games, giving up an 89-yard touchdown to the Eagles' Darren Sproles and a 28-yard return by Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry that led to a touchdown. And while the punting unit didn't give up any long returns against Washington, it did allow a Ryan Quigley punt to get blocked in the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

7. Injuries. Running back Bilal Powell (ankle) and nickel corner Buster Skrine (concussion) left the game in the first half and didn't return. Skrine's injury could be especially costly, given how much the Patriots rely on throwing underneath to their slot receivers and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

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Jets 34, Washington Redskins 20: The good, the bad, the ugly, as struggles turn into dominance (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/jets_xx_washington_redskins_xx_the_good_the_bad_an.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets had been miserable coming out of the bye week under their previous coach, Rex Ryan. So far under new coach Todd Bowles, they are 1-0 after the bye. But that victory didn't come easily — at least not at first.

On Sunday, after having a week to rest following a win over Miami in London, the Jets looked sluggish early, yet still defeated Washington 34-20 at MetLife Stadium. The Jets are now 4-1 entering next Sunday's huge AFC East showdown at New England.

The Jets went 1-5 after the bye under Ryan, with losses by two, nine, 21, 23, and 35 points — in increasing succession.

Against undermanned Washington on Sunday, the Jets trailed 13-10 at halftime, but rallied to grab a 27-13 lead with 5:53 remaining in the third quarter. And that was basically that.



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The Jets are 4-1 for the first time since 2010, when they started 5-1. They hadn't won coming out of their bye since 2011.

Here's a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Jets' second straight victory, following a loss to the Eagles on Sept. 27:

The good: Yes, the Jets underperformed in the first half, when they committed three turnovers. But they responded admirably to begin the second half. Cornerback Darrelle Revis picked off a terrible throw by quarterback Kirk Cousins on Washington's first second-half possession. That led to a one-play, 18-yard Jets touchdown drive (a run by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick). The Jets had already put together a field goal drive on their first second-half possession. Then came Fitzpatrick's touchdown run after Revis' interception. And on their third drive of the second half, the Jets had a 76-yard touchdown march. Three possessions for 17 points — and like that, Washington was essentially finished. Impressive efficiency by the Jets to begin the second half. That's exactly the sort of response Bowles was looking for coming out of halftime. The Jets wound up scoring on their first four second half possessions — field goal, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown — and turned a 13-10 halftime deficit into a 34-13 lead with 14:22 left in the game.

The bad: The Jets' slot cornerback, Buster Skrine, is essentially a starter, because he plays so often in their nickel package — an alignment the Jets use frequently. Skrine was evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's game. It's not clear how serious his injury is. But if he can't play next Sunday at the Patriots — and it's too soon to say he's definitely out — his absence could significantly limit the Jets' coverage. Skrine has been fantastic this season. His replacement Sunday was Dexter McDougle, a second-year pro who is extremely inexperienced. McDougle is essentially a rookie, because he missed all of last season with a knee injury. If McDougle has to play in the Jets' nickel package against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, how will McDougle handle this big responsibility?

The ugly: What a sloppy first half for the Jets' offense. The Jets out-gained Washington, 220 yards to 144, in the first half. But Washington got all 13 of its points (two field goals and a touchdown) off Jets turnovers. Wide receiver Eric Decker lost a fumble on the Jets' first offensive snap, leading to a 37-yard Washington touchdown drive. Receiver Brandon Marshall's fumble led to a 19-yard field goal drive. And Fitzpatrick's interception resulted in a 40-yard field goal drive. The Jets were fortunate to be down just 13-10 at halftime. Washington entered Sunday with just three points off turnovers all season, in its five games played. The Jets should've been able to put away Washington in the first half. But that had to wait until after halftime.

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Jets injuries vs. Washington Redskins: Buster Skrine, Bilal Powell (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/jets_injuries_vs_washington_redskins_buster_skrine.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — Buster Skrine, the Jets' slot cornerback, left the MetLife Stadium field near the end of Sunday's first half against Washington. Skrine headed to the locker room, where he was evaluated for a concussion.

It is unclear if Skrine will be able to return to the game, which Washington led 13-10 at halftime. Dexter McDougle initially replaced Skrine, who is essentially a starter for the Jets, because they use their nickel defensive package so often.



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Skrine has been effective for the Jets this season, so his departure is no small loss.

The Jets' also saw their third-down running back, Bilal Powell, sustain an ankle injury Sunday. He is listed as questionable to return. The severity of his ankle injury is unclear. Zac Stacy replaced Powell as the third-down back.

(UPDATE: Jets coach Todd Bowles said after the game that Skrine does indeed have a concussion and Powell has a sprained ankle. Skrine's return to practice and game action will be dictated by the NFL's post-concussion assessment protocol.)

Powell had been dealing with a groin injury entering the game. He was listed as questionable to play against Washington, but he was active.

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RG3, Willie Colon, Bilal Powell all active | Jets-Washington Redskins inactives (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/rg3_willie_colon_bilal_powell_all_active_jets-wash.html#incart_river

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Jets were uncertain about two potential starters heading into Sunday's game against Washington at MetLife Stadium. But both right guard Willie Colon and running back Bilal Powell will be active when the teams kick off at 1 p.m.

Both Colon (knee) and Powell (groin) had been listed as questionable and were to be game-time decisions.

Washington, however, is much more banged up. Washington's seven-man inactive list is comprised entirely of injured starters—six who were declared out before Sunday—plus running back Matt Jones, who had been questionable on Friday with a toe injury.

That means quarterback Robert Griffin III is active for the first time this season, albeit by default. Griffin is still third on Washington's depth chart at quarterback behind starter Kirk Cousins and backup Colt McCoy, so don't look for him to play unless something unfortunate happens.

Among the Jets' inactives, there are no surprises: cornerback Marcus Williams (hamstring), safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (knee), and wide receiver Chris Owusu (knee) had all been listed as doubtful.

With defensive end Sheldon Richardson back from suspension, the Jets decided to go with just two active quarterbacks, with Geno Smith backing up starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty inactive.

The complete list of inactives for both teams:

Washington

WR DeSean Jackson

CB DeAngelo Hall

CB Chris Culliver

RB Matt Jones

LT Trent Williams

C Kory Lichtensteger

TE Jordan Reed



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Jets

QB Bryce Petty

WR Chris Owusu

CB Marcus Williams

S Jaiquawn Jarrett

OG Jarvis Harrison

OT Ben Ijalana

DE Stephen Bowen

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Washington Redskins vs. Jets: Pay attention to the third quarter (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media October 18, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/washington_redskins_vs_jets_pay_attention_to_the_t.html#incart_river

FLORHAM PARK — The Jets have played four games. Washington, their opponent on Sunday at 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, has played five, so the sample sizes we're talking about here aren't huge.

But the third quarter has the makings of a trend for both teams—and it's one that's good for the Jets, but not-so-good for Washington, which will be without five starters due to injury.

The Jets (3-1) so far have outscored their four opponents 17-0 in the third quarter. And Washington, which has been a pretty effective first-half team, has been outscored 29-3 in the quarter immediately after halftime.

That number seems to favor the Jets' ability to make adjustments at halftime, and to Washington's inability to do the same. Washington is 2-3 despite outscoring opponents 53-25 in the first half.

But, again, four games and five games. Maybe not enough time to establish a lasting trend. We'll just have to see how both teams hold up after halftime on Sunday.

Did you know?

This is a stat that has zero relevance to Sunday's game, except as an historical data point: The Jets have never beaten Washington at home. They're 0-4 in home games against Washington dating back to 1972.

Oddly, there was also a stretch from 1976 to 1999 when all four of the team's meetings were in Washington.

The closest the Jets came to a home win against Washington was their last meeting, a 23-20 overtime loss in 2007 at the old Meadowlands.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets beat up on Washington, improve to 4-1 with 34-20 win (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 19, 2015



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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-beat-washington-improve-4-1-34-20-win-article-1.2402031

It's time for a real opponent.

The Jets took care of business against a banged-up Washington team on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, dispatching the visitors with a 34-20 victory after a second-half surge.

Todd Bowles’ team, now 4-1 and with as many wins the Jets had all of last season, has done a good job of beating teams it ought to, but next week will face a big test: New England.

“He’s run this division for a while now, so I’m kind of happy we get next,” Sheldon Richardson said of Tom Brady and the Patriots. “They are the Super Bowl champions. Just leave it at that. Licking our chops.”

While the Patriots loom next weekend, there was no trap-game folly by Gang Green this Sunday — though early on it looked like that might have been the case. Three first-half turnovers had the Jets trailing at halftime, 13-10, but Gang Green came out of the locker room to start the second half blazing hot to secure an easy victory against a bad Washington team. The message from Bowles at halftime seemed to spark the Jets in the third quarter. “The message was energy, energy, energy,” Bowles said. “And see what we were made of, and the veterans were going to lead us — and they did.”

“Coach, he has a way with words,” Brandon Marshall said. “We all knew what we had to get done.”

The game turned quickly once the third quarter started. “(In the) second half, we just laid an egg, a big egg,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said.

Chris Ivory, who Marshall said earlier this week was the best running back in the league, sped past defenders all game to the tune of 146 yards and a score. Fitzpatrick took advantage of injuries to the Washington secondary and went to his usual suspects — Marshall and Eric Decker — who each caught a touchdown (though each had a fumble as well). Marshall now has four straight 100-yard games.

Fitzpatrick finished with 253 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

In years past, a 4-1 start and an upcoming game against the Pats might have garnered some tough talk from Rex Ryan, but it’s a different world with Bowles running the show. “I think we have a chance to be a decent team,” Bowles said. “Game 6 is New England, we’ll play Game 6.”

“We can’t have the turnovers we had today,” said Willie Colon referring to next Sunday’s game. “We can’t have the mental errors. We’ve got to play legit football, because they don’t beat themselves and when they smell blood, they kill.”

The win only reaffirms that the Jets are serious contenders, though it’s worth remembering that their other victories have come against the Browns, Colts and Dolphins. There is a thought that Gang Green will have to prove themselves by beating the Patriots after playing five scuffling franchises so far this year. However, Colon didn’t want to hear that.

“I’m not going to buy into that,” he said. “Every time we’re out here Sunday is a big test.”

The Jets turned the ball over on their first play from scrimmage when Decker fumbled. The result was strong field position for Washington and a Pierre Garcon touchdown. Garcon fooled Darrelle Revis with his first step and cut in for a two-yard score on a slant that put Washington ahead 7-0. But on the Jets’ following drive, Decker made up for his fumble by making a key 35-yard grab that put Gang Green on the goal line. Two plays later, Ivory rumbled in for a score to tie the game with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

The Jets trailed 13-10 at halftime, but Bowles had them clicking coming out of the break. First, they immediately tied the game on a 39-yard field goal. Then, Revis finally made Kirk Cousins pay. Revis made



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a diving pick on a bad pass by the Washington quarterback that gave the Jets the ball back in the red zone. One play later, Fitzpatrick utilized a surprising weapon — his legs. The veteran QB rushed for an 18-yard touchdown that put Gang Green ahead 20-13. “It made me so happy,” Colon said of Fitzpatrick’s run. “It just shows the type of nuts he has. Not afraid to just let it rip. He made us proud.”

Fitzpatrick still hasn’t mastered sliding, however.

“Every time he crosses the line of scrimmage, I get worried,” Bowles said. “He’s a tough competitor and he has a feel for it. Hopefully, he can learn how to slide. We’ll send him to baseball school in the offseason.”

A few minutes later, the offense was back at it again. Marshall made a shoestring catch on a bad pass from Fitzpatrick, then ran past two defenders for a 35-yard touchdown that put the Jets ahead 27-13 halfway through the third quarter. Later, after a Marcus Gilchrist interception, Fitzpatrick hit Decker for a two-yard TD pass. The Jets’ only mistake of the second half came late in the fourth quarter, when they allowed an easy punt block in their own end zone that resulted in a meaningless Washington touchdown.

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Jets’ Sheldon Richardson gets half a sack in return from suspension (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 18, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-insider-sheldon-richardson-picks-sack-article-1.2402196

Sheldon Richardson got to eat right away, just as he had hoped. Well, a little bit anyway.

The Jets’ star defensive lineman returned from his four-game suspension in Sunday’s 34-20 win over Washington, and he found himself on the stat sheet with half a sack. He split it with Muhammad Wilkerson.

“Apparently we beat our lineman at the same time,” Richardson said of the sack of Kirk Cousins. “I looked up and he’s on the sack too.

“Bittersweet,” he joked. “But I’m glad he got it with me.”

Before his season debut, Richardson, coming back from a drug ban, said he was “coming to eat.”

Though Todd Bowles had said that Richardson needed to get back into football shape and would be eased back into action, the third-year defensive lineman ended up playing quite a bit.

“He gave us some energy while he was in there,” Bowles said. “There were a couple (plays) where I forgot about him, probably left him in there to play too long.”

Said Richardson, “Not like I was dog-dead tired and if I was, I came off.”

The Jets, normally a 3-4 team, played some 4-3, which got Richardson in the game at the same time as Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams.

“It wasn’t just to accommodate Sheldon from a game-plan standpoint,” he said. “Most of their run game is based off the double-team and people getting up to the linebackers on the second level. We thought we could take that away and put another guy down. They couldn’t handle all of them.”

ON DOWN SIDE

Though the Jets again relied heavily on Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, each ended up with a fumble. Marshall had the ball taken away from him by Bashaud Breeland.



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“He stripped me,” Marshall said. “I saw the linebacker coming and kind of took my eye off the guy that was on me. He already had both his hands on it. I guess I’ve got to get in the weight room.”

SORE SPOTS

Buster Skrine left the game with a concussion. He was replaced by Dexter McDougle as the nickel cornerback.

Bilal Powell suffered a sprained ankle.

FLAGS DISAPPEAR

Two weeks ago against the Dolphins, the Jets had 14 penalties.

On Sunday, it was a mere one.

“It’s a big switch, especially coming off a bye,” Bowles said. “Our coaches harped on it.”

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Jets RB Chris Ivory backs up Brandon Marshall’s praise with big day against Washington (Seth Walder) New York Daily News October 18, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-rb-chris-ivory-backs-brandon-marshall-praise-article-1.2402234

Chris Ivroy is backing up Brandon Marshall’s big praise.

The Jets receiver raised some eyebrows last week when he said Ivory was the best running back in the league, but then the bruising Jets back went out and posted another monster game in the Jets’ 34-20 win over Washington Sunday. Ivory ran for 146 yards and a touchdown and added 50 yards receiving.

“Everyone, they laughed at me,” Marshall said. “There was a couple guys, I wish I could remember all their names, and they laughed at me when I said ‘Ivory’s the best.’ And he is. And he proved it again today.”

Washington actually took away Ivory’s bread and butter — inside runs — and he still managed to pick up big yardage on the outside.

“Eight-man box, nine-man box. (They) came out and said we don’t care about the wide receivers, we’re going to stop the run,” Marshall said. “And Ivory again came out and put up over 140 yards. He’s amazing and he’s the best in the league.”

Ivory enjoyed the praise from his teammate.

“It’s a great compliment from him, being the type of player he is, the type of caliber player he is,” Ivory said. “Marshall is elite. It means a lot.”

So, does Ivory agree with him?

“Yeah, I feel like I’m one of the ’em,” Ivory said.

Todd Bowles was pleased with the way Ivory played.

“He’s our bell cow,” Bowles said. “We rely on him. He comes through every time.”

Ivory has always been a physical runner, but his role in the passing game — he had three receptions for 50 yards — was new.

“You don’t have to always go deep, man,” Ivory said. “You can turn a short pass into a deep play.



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“We knew going in that they were a little soft inside as far as them dropping their ’backers and then us curling up within like five yards,” he added. “We just knew to expect the ball.”

Ivory said that a newfound patience, instilled in him by his coaches, is fueling his strong play.

“It’s a great scheme and they’re doing a hell of a job up front,” Ivory said. “I’m being very patient, probably the most patient I’ve been throughout my career.”

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Jets' Darrelle Revis pulls Bill Belichick act - not saying much when it comes to Patriots, who he helped win last year (Gary Meyers) New York Daily News October 18, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/myers-revis-rental-jets-star-back-enemy-territory-article-1.2402270

Darrelle Revis was a hired gun in New England last season and he and the Patriots each got exactly what they wanted.

Revis was paid $12 million and earned his first Super Bowl ring. The Patriots ended a 10-year drought of no rings for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and might not have done it without Revis. It was the most successful one-year rental in the NFL’s free agent era.

But Revis Island is back with the Jets and when he returns to Gillette Stadium next Sunday in a first-place Jets-Patriots showdown, he’s once again on the other side of the bitter rivalry.

When a team wins a Super Bowl, it forms a bond among the players and coaches for life. Revis is in a unique position: Two months after he helped the Patriots win it all, he signed with their hated rival.

Even though he was New England’s best defensive player and was embraced by Patriots Nation, he wasn’t there long enough to be considered a traitor by returning to the team he never wanted to leave.

“Last year was last year,” Revis said after the Jets beat Washington 34-20. “We had a great time and we ended up winning.”

He was so bland Sunday after a year of listening to Belichick, I thought he was going to say, “We’re on to New England.”

Revis’ third interception of the season – to go along with three fumble recoveries -- after he baited quarterback Kirk Cousins into throwing the ball his way, set the Jets up at the Washington 18 five minutes into the third quarter. On the next play, Ryan Fitzpatrick scrambled for a touchdown to give the Jets a 20-13 lead, helping them outscore Washington 17-0 in the third quarter after trailing 13-10 at the half.

Revis is terrific at baiting quarterbacks. He’s also good at not being baited in the locker room. So, he offered nothing Belichick could post on the Patriots bulletin board this week. He enjoyed playing for Belichick after once calling him a jerk. He loved playing with Brady and going against him in practice.

Brady and Revis developed even more respect playing with each other than they had playing against each other. But Revis is all-in as a Jet, evidenced by his comments in May after Brady was suspended four games in the Deflategate fiasco. Although Revis said he wasn’t aware of any air pressure shenanigans by Brady, he did tell Manish Mehta of the Daily News, “The Patriots) have a history of doing stuff. You can't hide that…Tom was there when they did that stuff in the past.”

That was a reference to Spygate in 2007. Revis also said, "New England's been doing stuff in the past and getting in trouble. When stuff repeatedly happens, then that's it. I don't know what else to tell you. Stuff



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repeatedly happened through the years. You got SpyGate, you got this and that and everything else. Obviously in those situations in the past, they had the evidence. So they did what they needed to do.”

Revis accompanied his former teammates and coaches in late April on their White House visit – Brady skipped the trip – but was with his kids in Disneyworld and missed the party at Robert Kraft’s house in June when the team received their Super Bowl rings and Brady’s dance moves went viral.

Revis’ mother travelled to New England in his place and planned to attend Kraft’s party and pick up her son’s ring. But the Patriots, who didn’t know she planned to attend by herself until she was already in town, told her the invitation was not transferrable and she could not attend without Revis.

Each player was allowed to bring one guest. They believed she would have been out of place without Revis and they made arrangements for her to pick up the Super Bowl ring at the team’s offices the next day.

The Jets aren’t talking about rings, but they are 4-1 and have already matched their victory total from last season. Todd Bowles has changed the culture from the Rex Ryan era. When I asked Antonio Cromartie about Brady before the teams met in the playoffs following the 2010 season, he said, “He’s an ass----. F--- him.”

His tone was a bit different Sunday when I reminded him of his trash-talking.

“That was five years ago,” he said. “I’ve grown as a player and a person. I’ve got a lot of respect for what the Patriots have done. For me, it’s just playing football against a division opponent.”

Revis bought into Belichick and the Patriots Way last year. He switched sides back to the Jets for a five-year $70 million contract with $39 million in guaranteed money. When asked about going against Brady in practice in 2014, he said, “That’s last year. I’m not going to harp on last year.”

When I asked him if he learned things about Brady being around him last season that could help him next week, he said, “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Now that the Jets are competitive again, it should be an entertaining game. The Jets will find out a lot about themselves going against the Super Bowl champs. “They’re a team,” Revis said. “Any team can be beat any week on any given Sunday. We’re going up there. We’re familiar with them. They are familiar with us. It’s going to be a great game. It’s just another week on the schedule and it’s a long season.”

The Jets are on to New England.

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Jets 34, Washington 20: Manish Mehta's instant analysis as Gang Green continues to beat bad teams (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News October 18, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-34-washington-20-manish-mehta-instant-analysis-article-1.2402026

What we learned:

Todd Bowles’ team can beat up on bad teams. Okay, so Washington had a legitimate excuse with a rash of injuries, but the group that Jay Gruden had to work with on Sunday was highly suspect. The Jets sputtered out of the gate before pouring it in the second half. Bowles’ team scored 24 consecutive points after intermission to turn this one onto a laugher.

Game ball:



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We might have to rename this category the Chris Ivory Trophy. The bruising running back topped 100 rushing yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. One game after Ivory ran for a career-high 166 yards, he set a new career mark for total yards, carving up Washington on the ground and through the air.

What this means:

The Jets had no post bye-week hangover even though they practically sleepwalked through the first half. A 17-point third quarter eruption ensured that Bowles wouldn’t feel the same pain that Rex Ryan typically felt after byes. The Jets were 1-5 after the bye under Ryan.

Good sign:

Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall bounced back from a pair of first-half turnovers in style. Marshall’s shoe-string catch for a 35-yard score in the third quarter highlighted another 100-yard day. Decker has scored in each of the four games that he’s played with Ryan Fitzpatrick this season.

Bad Sign:

The Jets might have had a season high in points, but three first-half turnovers will get them buried by a competent opponent. Marshall and Decker, two of Chan Gailey’s most reliable options, each fumbled to set up Washington scores. Fitzpatrick’s interception with 36 seconds left in the first half also led to Washington points. Washington scored all 13 first-half points off turnovers after having scored just three off of opponents’ miscues in the first five games.

Next week:

Bowles made it clear all week that he didn’t believe in “trap games” with the Patriots on the horizon. Apparently, that wasn’t just coach-speak. The Jets ultimately feasted on a poor team. What awaits is an entirely different beast. Bowles & Co. travel to Foxborough next week in easily their most difficult challenge so far.

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After 4-1 start, this year's Jets look at lot like successful 1998 team on offense (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News October 18, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-formula-successful-1998-team-article-1.2402251

They are Todd Bowles’ first set of triplets, a blend of handsome, somewhat handsome and sort of rough. Upon first glance, Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall and Chris Ivory might not appear to be related, but a closer examination reveals a striking resemblance.

They are the soundtrack to the Jets’ white-hot start to the season, the centerpiece of a plan that might just get Bowles into the postseason as a rookie head coach.

The Triplets were the difference makers yet again to help the Jets improve to 4-1 in the run-up to next weekend’s showdown with the Patriots.

Decker, Marshall and Ivory each scored to help the Jets overcome a mistake-prone first half and cruise to a 34-20 win over Washington on Sunday. The offensive philosophy hasn’t been overly complicated: Surround Ryan Fitzpatrick with enough dependable veteran skill position players so that he doesn’t feel like he needs to change in a phone booth each week to save the day.



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“That’s what our job is,” said Decker (four catches for 59 yards, TD), who has scored in each of his four games this season. “That’s why we’re here.”

The picture coming into focus looks eerily similar to the one 17 years ago when journeyman quarterback Vinny Testaverde leaned on a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet) and a 1,000-yard running back (Curtis Martin) to take the Jets to the doorstep of the Super Bowl under Bill Parcells.

Testaverde entered the league with a better pedigree than Fitzpatrick, but the foundation of his magical 1998 season was his skill-position supporting cast. The 35-year-old Testaverde, playing for his fourth team in 12 seasons, had only one prior winning season as a starter. He had thrown for more than 20 touchdowns in a season only once before his 29-TD campaign in 13 starts in ’98.

The 32-year-old Fitzpatrick, making his sixth stop in 11 seasons, has thrown for more than 20 touchdowns only once in his career. He’s on pace for a career-high 29 after throwing a pair to Marshall and Decker to spark a 24-point second-half eruption against Washington.

“You’ve got to trust your guys… trust your guys are going to be in the right spot,” said Fitzpatrick, who went 19 for 26 for 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and a 113 passer rating. “Rarely in the NFL are you throwing it to wide-open guys. I think a lot of it, too, is confidence… having confidence in yourself, having confidence in the guys you’re throwing to.”

Brandon Marshall (l.) and Eric Decker are playmaking receivers that can take the pressure of a solid but journeyman quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The good vibes originate from Ivory, whose bruising tone-setting style creates opportunities for Marshall and Decker. Two weeks after Ivory’s career-high 166 rushing yards in London, he set a career-high with 195 total yards to highlight the Jets’ 474-yard offensive output. Ivory ran for 146 of the team’s 221 yards and scored his fourth touchdown in as many games.

Ivory flashed power and speed against an opponent that made it clear early that its prime directive was to stop the run. Obviously, it didn’t work.

“He comes through every time,” Bowles said.

Decker and Marshall atoned for coughing up the ball in the first half to help put the Jets in a 13-10 halftime hole. Marshall (7 catches, 111 yards, TD) made a highlight reel one-handed grab before an oh-no-he-didn’t shoestring catch and run for a 35-yard touchdown to give the Jets a 27-13 lead with 5:53 left in the third quarter.

“He made some absolutely ridiculous plays out there,” Fitzpatrick said. “He wants to rise to the moment.”

Decker has thrived shifting back to his familiar role as the No. 2 receiver. “If they’re going to (try to) take away Ivory (or) if they’re going to take away other people,” Marshall said, “then Deck’s going to eat them up.”

Decker’s two-yard touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter put the finishing touches on the Jets’ most productive offensive game of the season.

“He’s a nice security blanket for me,” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s a guy that I know is going to be in the right spot and be able to make plays.”

Although Bowles made it clear that his workhorse running back and top two receivers will need help from others “if we want to be any good in this league,” the Jets’ offensive blueprint can work for a team that converted 50 percent of its third downs (7-for-14) and averaged 7.1 yards per play.

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Marshall, Decker and Ivory are good enough to buoy Fitzpatrick, who has made smart timely plays (see: 18-yard mad dash for a touchdown to take the lead for good early in the second half).

“They’re great players,” Fitzpatrick said. “You’ve got guys who have been successful. … You’ve got guys who have shown it and shown that it is sustainable.”

Bill Belichick is a master of erasing an opponents’ top offensive threat.

We’ll know in six days whether he’ll be able to stop three of them.

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Jets Roll Over Redskins, Eye a Critical Matchup With Patriots (Stu Woo) Wall Street Journal October 18, 2015

http://www.wsj.com/articles/jets-roll-over-redskins-eye-a-critical-matchup-with-patriots-1445214980?tesla=y

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Are the Jets boring?

It was a legitimate question with four minutes left in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins, who had just blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the Jets’ end zone for a touchdown.

In Section 131 of MetLife Stadium, John Geli Sr. just nodded. The botched punt meant only that the Jets were going to win by 14 points instead of 21. “This is a good team,” the 50-year-old said.

The Jets faithful might have to get used to this exotic feeling called serenity. After recovering from a turnover-filled first half to win, 34-20, on Sunday, the Jets are 4-1 for the first time since 2010. Next weekend, they will play for the AFC East lead against a divisional rival they are starting to resemble: the successful-to-the-point-of-tedium New England Patriots.

OK, you’re right. But hear this out.

Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 19 of 26 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on Sunday. He also ran for an 18-yard score in the Jets’ win. ENLARGE

Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 19 of 26 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on Sunday. He also ran for an 18-yard score in the Jets’ win. PHOTO: PETER FOLEY/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

The Jets’ new leadership, head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan, took over a team that went 4-12 last year. As of Sunday evening, the Jets boasted the No. 1 defense in yards surrendered per game as well as the top running back in Chris Ivory, who, after accounting for 196 total yards and one touchdown on Sunday, leads the NFL in rushing yards per game.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had his best game of the season Sunday, throwing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also scrambled for an unexpected and thrilling 18-yard score in the third quarter that gave the Jets a 20-13 lead. “It’s about Fitzpatrick,” Geli said. “If he doesn’t make mistakes, they’re great. Tom Brady doesn’t make mistakes.”

As temperatures dipped into the mid-40s on a windy October afternoon, the chill seemed to temper expectations, even when fans should have expected a blowout. Washington, now 2-4, was without six starters, including both starting cornerbacks, two offensive linemen, tight end Jordan Reed and star receiver DeSean Jackson.



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The Jets, on the other hand, were healthy after a bye week. They also regained defensive end Sheldon Richardson, who completed his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. But that wasn’t enough. “As a Jets fan, you’re never confident,” said John Geli Jr., 25 years old. “You’re cheering, but you’re never confident.”

On cue, receiver Eric Decker caught a short pass on the Jets’ first offensive play and fumbled. “Decker’s gotta hold on to the ball!” said the elder Geli, who lives with his son on Staten Island and works at a West Village financial-services firm.

The Redskins drove 37 yards for the touchdown, punctuated by a two-yard strike from quarterback Kirk Cousins to Pierre Garcon. But the Jets responded, with Fitzpatrick hitting Ivory for a 23-yard gain. Seven plays later, Ivory punched it in from the 1.

The Jets took a 10-7 lead before their demons briefly returned. After making a 13-yard catch late in the second quarter, Brandon Marshall tried to muscle past defenders for extra yards and had the ball stripped. Washington drove 19 yards for the game-tying field goal.

Then, with 47 seconds left in the half, Fitzpatrick’s forced a pass to Marshall down the right sideline, where Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland picked him off. Cousins led Washington on a 40-yard field-goal drive to give the Redskins a 13-10 lead at halftime.

“This is like the Philly game all over again,” Geli Sr. said, referring to the Jets’ sole, turnover-filled loss this season.

But the anxiety, and the Jets’ deficit, was discarded shortly after halftime. Ivory’s 24-yard catch set up Folk’s 39-yard field goal, and two plays later, cornerback Darrelle Revis intercepted Cousins for his league-leading sixth takeaway of the season. One play later, Fitzpatrick dropped back to pass, saw a hole up the middle and ran for it, diving into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown run.

After a Washington three-and-out, Fitzpatrick unleashed a wobbly pass toward Marshall, who snagged it just above the turf and ran it for a 35-yard score. “That was the most horrible touchdown pass I’ve seen in my life!” said John McFee, Geli’s former high-school classmate.

With the Jets comfortably ahead, talk in the stands turned to next week’s divisional battle for first place in New England. The consensus was one befitting a 4-1 team, even if that team was the Jets: They can win. “We just gotta pressure Brady,” Geli Sr. said.

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METRO NEW YORK

3 things we learned in the Jets' win over the Redskins (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York October 18, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/3-things-we-learned-in-the-jets-win-over-the-redskins/zsJojr---F4fAFl36cgrG2/

The Jets came off their bye week rested and re-charged – and needed every bit of that energy early on -- as they toppled the Washington Redskins, 34-20, in a hard-fought matchup.

Led by a strong rushing attack and an opportunistic defense that forced Washington to wilt in the second half, the Jets (4-1) have proven themselves to be a legitimate player in the AFC playoff race.

Washington (2-4) just couldn’t get anything going offensively, especially on the ground, as it was smashed, 221-34, in rushing yards. That ineffectiveness forced quarterback Kirk Cousins (25-of-43 for 196 yards, one



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touchdown, and two interceptions) to make plays through the air, and that proved to be the downturn for a Washington offense that is built on the run.

Metro takes a look at the key storylines that unfolded in the victory.

What we saw:

1. Mr. Everything

The Jets may be under a new regime, but they evoked the old ground and pound philosophy when they centered their game-plan around the versatile Chris Ivory. The multifaceted running back led all runners with 146 rushing yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, and chipped in three catches for 50 yards on three targets. Ivory was a tone-setter for the Jets, as he helped the offense out-gain Washington, 474-225. New York also held a time-of-possession advantage by holding the ball for 33, and Ivory was the main reason, as it was the first time he notched consecutive 100-yard rushing performances.

2. Second-half team

They might’ve played sleepily in the first half, but the Jets came out of the halftime locker room roaring, out-scoring Washington, 17-0, in the third quarter. New York forced two turnovers in the stanza to take command of the game, as it got touchdowns by wideout Brandon Marshall and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick – the highlight featuring the former who bullied Washington’s secondary. Fitzpatrick hooked up with Marshall on a beautiful 35-yard touchdown when he beat cornerback Bashaud Breeland. It was a display of physical superiority for Marshall, who bested the jam at the line of scrimmage, made a shoe-string catch at the 19-yard line, and out-muscled two Washington defensive backs to race the final yardage into the end zone. Fitzpatrick also showed his wares as a runner when he scampered for 18 yards for the score, immediately following a Darrelle Revis interception. The sequence was a microcosm for Washington which played their customary part of third-quarter patsies, as the continued their trend of being outscored in that quarter. They’ve now been outpaced, 34-0, in that quarter.

3. No ‘mo Geno.

It’s already been established that this is Fitzpatrick’s team going forward, but if there was any hope the veteran would relinquish the starting gig, it was doused on Sunday. Fitzpatrick has been a calming influence on offense, and is on pace to statistically have one of the franchise’s top-five seasons ever. He finished 19-of-26 for 253 yards, two touchdowns, including spreading the ball to six different targets, and was so tuned in that he would’ve also been the leading rusher on Washington, as he added 31 yards on the ground. He threw a pick – an impressive individual play by Breeland – but even when Washington kept things close and challenged, Fitzpatrick coolly kept the offense composed and led four scoring drives (three touchdowns) in the second half.

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SUNDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

FOOTBALL

National Football League

NEW YORK GIANTS — Signed CB Brandon McGee from the practice squad. Waived TE Jerome Cunningham.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

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CAROLINA HURRICANES — Reassigned D Brett Pesce to Charlotte (AHL).

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Reassigned D Slater Koekkoek to Syracuse (AHL).

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Documents

October 19, 2015 - National Football Leagueprod.static.jets.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/clippings/...October 19, 2015 1 | P a g e Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS ..... 2 Big second-half