Jets players and plays of the game in the 38-20 victory over the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon:
Players of the Game
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick —Samson in reverse as Fitzpatrick gained strength after trimming his beard. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 277 yards, four TDs — the first Jets QB to throw for that many in four years — no interceptions and one sack. He directed five touchdown drives, the Jets' most in a game since 2012, and he directed 10 third-down conversions, their most since '13.
WR Brandon Marshall — Marshall bounced back with more big numbers: nine catches for 131 yards. It was his sixth 100-yard receiving game, most by a Jet since Wayne Chrebet had six (including a playoff game) in 1998 and the most in the regular season since Don Maynard had seven in 1968. And Marshall added two TD catches, the first Jet to do that in a game since David Nelson vs. Cleveland in 2013.
S Calvin Pryor — Pryor has come on since returning from his ankle sprain. Against the Dolphins, he had a crushing hit on WR Rishard Matthews on the third defensive play of the game, broke up another pass, took down Lamar Miller for a 7-yard loss on a reception, shared the Jets' lead with seven total tackles, and was one of the tone-setters on a defense that allowed 180 yards through the first three quarters.
Plays of the Game
Marcus Williams interception of Ryan Tannehill, 7:44 to play, first quarter— The Dolphins were threatening from the edge of the red zone, third-and-8 from the 19. The Jets sent five out of their dime, with Dex McDougle coming on a "green"-dog delay and Lorenzo Mauldin tearing around the Dolphins' right side. Tannehill tried to laser it to WR Kenny Stills at the 7, but Williams closed quickly, stepped in front of the pass, and took it back 21 yards. He got a shot to his knee from TE Dion Sims at the end of the return that KO'd him for the day, but he had rescued the Jets and sent them on to their first TD drive.
Devin Smith 16-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick, 0:08 to play, second quarter — What a way to bust out with your first pro TD grab. The 'Fins showed blitz but sent their usual four down linemen. Smith, split left and singled by CB Jamar Taylor, made his cut to the post, Fitzpatrick rifled the ball perfectly, Smith went up for the grab and came tumbling to the end zone turf with his souvenir ball. He was immediately swarmed by teammates, including a whooping Fitzpatrick, as Jets fans cheered the rookie's success and the home team's 14-0 lead eight seconds before halftime.
Chris Ivory 31-yard touchdown run, 9:29 to play, fourth quarter— Miami was paying special attention to Ivory, who scorched them for 166 rushing yards in London, and to this point he had been held to 45 yards. Then he unleashed one of his yards-after-first-contact specials, just as electric as his TD run vs. Oakland two years ago. Ivory began left, cut back to slip Neville Hewitt's first contact 2 yards behind the line, "balled up" as he bounced off three more would-be tacklers, then shrugged off Kelvin Shepherd's final try and (with one final block from Brandon Marshall on S Michael Thomas) went untouched the rest of the way for the TD run to make it 35-7.
