NY Jets: More consistency is needed from Ryan Fitzpatrick

The NY Jets had a schedule that was pretty easy in 2015. This helped propel them into an NFL Playoff chase that ultimately had them disappoint their fans due to the inconsistency of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Some fans are ready to proclaim Ryan Fitzpatrick the unequivocal starter next season with no competition for the spot in 2016. I say, “HOLD YOUR HORSES!” to that. As much as he was the reason for their success in 2015, he was also the reason for their ultimate failure in Buffalo, and it’s not just his performance in Buffalo from Week 17.

He started and finished 15 of the Jets 16 games this season. In some games he played well, some spectacular and others just flat out awful. In the games where he wasn’t awful, the opponents’ combined winning percentage was .389. He won 10 of the 11 games against those teams, with his stats as follows:

In his awful performances:

None of those games were blowouts. So had he performed just a little bit better, the Jets may have been able to win those games. Those resulted in an 0-4 record, and games that had the Jets won, they would’ve been in the playoffs.

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He ended up with the fifth most interceptions in the league with his 15 total, and 66.7% of his INT came in 26.7% of the games he played to the end.

In addition, the Jets only had 5 touchdowns on drives that start in what is called plus territory (the opponent’s side of the 50). That’s not good, especially when we look ahead to 2016.

Based on the 2015 records of their opponents, their schedule won’t be as come 2016. Their opponents’ combine winning percentage in 2015 is .531 which ranks seventh in the NFL, and they are playing 10 teams that had a .500 record or better in 2015, tied for most in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

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The Jets can’t afford to have their quarterback not play consistently, and they also can’t afford to not take advantage of the other teams’ mistakes, because they won’t be as frequent next time around. If Fitzpatrick earns the starting role in 2016, he will have to step up his game for the Jets to make a playoff push like they did last year.