For the second consecutive week, WR Quincy Enunwa served as a catalyst for the Jets in their 31-28 win over the Browns.
The Jets' pass game was virtually non-existent in the first half as the Browns took a commanding 20-7 lead into intermission. Enunwa, on the receiving end of one of Ryan Fitzpatrick's three completions over the first 30 minutes, was determined to become a factor down the stretch after a fiery speech from his position coach.
"Coach [Karl] Dorrell had a speech for the offense," he said. "He just saw that we weren't really fired up and he fired us up. He told us we had to go out there and somebody has to make a play."
Ironically Enunwa made perhaps a game-saving PD on the second play of the third quarter, preventing a Browns interception on a poorly thrown ball from Fitzpatrick.
"It was a big play," said head coach Todd Bowles. "You've seen Brandon do it, now you see Quincy do it. If you can't catch the ball, we have to try to make sure they don't catch it."
Ten plays later, Enunwa hauled in a 24-yard touchdown to cap off a 12-play, 78-yard drive. Enunwa, who had a 69-yard catch and run for a score in the Jets' Week 7 win over the Ravens, would not be denied as he eluded four tacklers and cut the Green & White's deficit to 20-14.
"Honestly, it happened so fast I don't really remember it," Enunwa said of his team-leading third receiving touchdown. "It was one of those plays where I wanted to get into the end zone no matter what. I had an opportunity and wanted to take advantage, make a play for our team."
On the ensuing drive, Enunwa got free down the seam for a 57-yard gain that moved the Jets into the red zone. The offense converted on the field position as Matt Forte's touchdown run gave the visitors a 21-20 lead and they would not trail again.
"I think I'm taking advantage of my opportunities," Enunwa said. "That's the one thing I didn't do well last year. That's something I've been working on a lot this year. I'm not perfect. I still have my mistakes, but I want to keep going out there and make as many plays as I can."
Following his four catch, 93-yard performance in Week 8, the second-year receiver now leads the Green & White with 36 receptions and he is on pace for an 1,000-yard receiving season Like his team, Enunwa was far from perfect on Sunday as he had a couple of drops. But he stepped up when the Jets need him the most and provided some fire for a team in need of his passion.
"Even today to have a couple drops and to come back and be confident, that is a new guy. That is a guy that has really grown up the last two years," Fitzpatrick said. "He wants the ball, he wants to make those plays which sometimes sounds silly - everybody wants to make plays like that - but he has really got his confidence level up. He wants to be that guy and he has really come through this year for us. We expect a lot out of him and expect him to continue doing it."
