NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

December 13, 2015

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Table of Contents

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Jets’ Brandon Marshall reads defenses, self-help books (Bob Glauber) ................................................................... 2

Jets feel lucky to have Ryan Fitzpatrick on their side (Kimberley A. Martin) ............................................................ 3

Jets’ Eric Decker OK with flying under the radar (Kimberley A. Martin) ................................................................... 4

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Jets don't feat trap against Titans (J.P. Pelzman) ...................................................................................................... 6

Jets matchup vs. Titans (J.P. Pelzman) ...................................................................................................................... 7

NEW YORK TIMES .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Titans at Jets Matchup (Zach Schonbrun) ................................................................................................................. 8

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 9

'Miracle' man Chan Gailey has lifted Jets' offense to a perfect '10' (Rich Cimini) ..................................................... 9

Playoff-driven Jets should waltz to victory over Tennessee unless ... (Rich Cimini) ............................................... 10

Watch for shake-up on Jets' mistake-prone special teams (Rich Cimini) ................................................................ 12

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................. 12

Dreaded ‘T’ word hangs over another crucial Jets test (Brian Costello) ................................................................. 12

Bryce Petty on dinner with Deckers, 24-hour donuts and when he’ll play (Steve Serby) ....................................... 14

‘We can win out’: Jets throw down the gauntlet to themselves (Steve Serby) ...................................................... 18

‘Unbelievable’ Damon Harrison is giving Jets D-line quandary (Brian Costello) ..................................................... 20

NJ ADVANCE MEDIA ............................................................................................................................................ 21

NFL 2015: What TV channel, time is Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets? Livestream info (Darryl Slater) ........... 21

Tennessee Titans-Jets predictions: Our staff picks for Sunday's game (Dom Cosentino) ....................................... 21

Jets' defense on a sack surge heading into Tennessee Titans game (Dom Cosentino) ........................................... 22

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Jets coach Todd Bowles has seen enough from Ryan Fitzpatrick that he wants QB back in 2016 (Manish Mehta) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 23

Jets' Brandon Marshall says he once hid concussion to stay on field, but argues kids should not be banned from playing football (Daniel Popper) .............................................................................................................................. 25

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 26

Jets - Titans: 3 things to watch for (kickoff time, TV channel) (Kristian Dyer) ......................................................... 26

'Predictalator' gives Jets ugly odds at making the playoffs (Kristian Dyer) ............................................................. 27

SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 28

NEWSDAY

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Jets’ Brandon Marshall reads defenses, self-help books (Bob Glauber) Newsday December 13, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/jets-brandon-marshall-reads-defenses-self-help-books-1.11221930

The journey of self-discovery that led Brandon Marshall to McLean Hospital outside Boston left him with more than a diagnosis of borderline personAality disorder. It also awakened in him something that was completely unexpected, something he hadn’t experienced since his junior year in high school: a love of reading.

Marshall, who sought help for problematic behavior that had alienated himself from teammates, coaches and fans, said he hadn’t read a book from cover-to-cover since his days at Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida.

Along with learning at McLean about his disorder characterized by frequent and wild emotional swings and an inability to maintain normal relationships — he had been involved in repeated domestic disputes and was suspended in 2008 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct code — he found that reading might help him better cope.

“I picked up a book that was on mindfulness and meditation, and I flew through it,” Marshall, 31, said Wednesday while sitting at his locker at the Jets’ training facility. “I was on a flight and I read the whole book. It was the first time I had read a whole book since my 11th-grade year in language arts when we read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ ”

Marshall doesn’t recall the name of the book, but the experience awakened in him a thirst for knowledge that generates as much passion as catching passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick and helping the Jets in their quest to reach the playoffs. That journey continues on Sunday against the Titans at MetLife Stadium.

“I started reading because it was something I figured that could be a skill that I could use, a tool that I would use to cope and get through stressful times,” he said. “Since I read that first book, I’m always looking for the next book.”

His reading list is expansive, but usually focuses on what he calls “the five f’s: finances, fitness, food, family and faith.” He now has a small library’s worth of self-help books, some of which he keeps in his locker, but most that he keeps at home.

One of his favorite authors: Eckhart Tolle, the German-born writer who is considered one of the world’s most prominent voices on spiritual issues. Tolle wrote the best-sellers “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” Marshall considers “A New Earth” one of the greatest books he’s ever read.

He ticks off the names of others:

“There’s Dave Gibbons’ ‘Xealots,’ Tony Evans has an awesome book called ‘Kingdom Man,’ all of Jim Collins’ books. John Maxwell, all his stuff is amazing. Those are some of the core books for me.”

Marshall, whose locker houses many books, has focused on leadership topics in recent months, especially during the most recent offseason, when he studied the principles of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. Marshall actually quoted Wooden after the Jets’ worst loss of the season — a 34-20 drubbing in Oakland on Nov. 1.

“Coach Wooden talks about how adversity is an asset,” Marshall said. “If we punch through it and handle it right, when we face it again, we’ll be able to overcome it.”

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It’s that kind of perspective, something Marshall didn’t have early in his career, especially because of his issues traced to borderline personality disorder.

But he is now one of the leading voices in the Jets’ locker room.

Marshall said the Jets are a good fit, which was not the case during much of his time with the Bears.

“I’m doing it the same way, but I think the difference is, when I got to Chicago, [in a trade from the Dolphins in 2012] there were a lot of older vets and it’s kind of hard when you go in there and you may be an alpha male, step on people’s toes, you may rock the boat a little bit. They may not like the way you approach things. But here, I think our vets here, there are no egos, no prima donnas. The younger guys really follow the veterans, so that’s why it’s been a good fit for me. You’ve got [veteran players] like D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Calvin Pace, Antonio Cromartie, Darrelle Revis. Those guys appreciate my approach and it doesn’t offend them.”

It helps that Marshall is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his NFL career, already going over 1,000 yards in just 12 games (he’s on pace for 1,416 yards, which would be the second highest total of his career). He also has 10 touchdown catches, just two short of his all-time high. Right time, right place? No question.

But there is at least one recent change that will affect his reading schedule: he decided a few weeks ago it’s best not to read too much during the season. A conversation with Jets linebackers coach Mark Collins convinced him to put down his books.

“He posed a question, and it was very thought-provoking and it started this two-day discussion,” Marshall said. “He said I was getting too civilized, so I stopped reading these last few weeks. I was reading like two books a week, and maybe I was too civilized. You can’t be civilized on the football field. I’m just trying to find balance. You have to have that switch as a player to be a warrior on the field and be civilized off of it. So I’ll pick it back up in the offseason.”

For now, the only book that really counts is the playbook, and the reading will focus on the opponents’ defense.

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Jets feel lucky to have Ryan Fitzpatrick on their side (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday December 12, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-feel-lucky-to-have-ryan-fitzpatrick-on-their-side-1.11222550

The journeyman has found a home.

Ryan Fitzpatrick went from being a discarded quarterback in Houston to being a guiding force in the Jets’ new-look offense in only nine months.

His coaches praise him, his teammates rave about him. And all the while, he’s quietly gone about his business.

But the stats don’t lie.

The Jets have the 10th-best offense in the NFL, Fitzpatrick is seven touchdown passes shy of tying Vinny Testaverde’s franchise record (29), and, most importantly, the team’s playoff hopes remain alive in mid-December.

And they’re doing it all with the 11-year veteran leading the charge.

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“If it wasn’t for him, man, there’s no telling where we’d be right now,” receiver Brandon Marshall said.

But Fitzpatrick knows the Jets’ postseason push hinges on each week’s performance. That’s why Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans (3-9) is so critical.

“We’re not a good enough team to overlook anybody,” he said when asked about it being a potential “trap game.” “We’ve got to treat every one like it’s the playoffs.”

The Jets (7-5) are riding a two-game winning streak, including an emotional overtime victory over the Giants last Sunday. They’re also the healthiest they’ve been in weeks with defensive backs Darrelle Revis (concussion), Marcus Williams (sprained left knee) and Dion Bailey (high ankle sprain) expected to play.

The Titans, meanwhile, have the face of their franchise in rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, but they’re still struggling. They’re in last place in the AFC South.

But expect to see their defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau bring the heat against the Jets. Asked this week about Fitzpatrick, who has a reputation of putting his body in harm’s way, LeBeau said with a smile: “If he ain’t sliding, we say: Knock the hell out of him.”

Reminding Fitzpatrick to slide is a weekly task for Jets coaches, but it’s a warning the quarterback rarely heeds. Case in point: He tore a ligament in his left thumb in Week 8 on a 12-yard scramble against the Raiders. Twelve days later, he had surgery. Nine days after that, he played.

There are worse critiques for a quarterback, and the Jets believe they have a good one in Fitzpatrick.

“He didn’t surprise me,” coach Todd Bowles said of Fitzpatrick, who became the Jets’ starter when incumbent Geno Smith had his jaw broken in an Aug. 11 locker-room altercation with then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali.

“Like the rest of the team, we grew together. We all had our speed bumps earlier in the year, trying to find out who we were and how we are. And as he’s gotten more and more experience and more and more comfortable with everything, he’s letting it all come out and he’s not trying to win the game by himself . . . and doing everything he needs to to win.”

Bowles said he had “a lot of input” in the organization’s decision to trade a late-round pick to the Texans in March in exchange for the well-traveled Fitzpatrick. “I played against him for a couple years now. Just judging the quarterbacks out there, we watched them all, and Fitz was our choice,” Bowles said.

Fitzpatrick, affectionately referred to as “FitzMagic” by his devoted fans, doesn’t have impressive career stats: 40-60-1 as a starter with 145 touchdown passes and 112 interceptions. But because of his intellect, his maturity and his pocket poise, he quickly gained the confidence of his new teammates.

“He understands the game. He gets it. Not everybody gets it,” said offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, Fitzpatrick’s head coach in Buffalo from 2010-12. “There’s a lot of talented people out there, guys that can run faster, guys that can throw harder, but he understands the game and he has a great ability to adjust to the people that play on the field with him.

“He can adjust to a different receiver. If we’ve got a different kind of receiver, he can make the adjustment. If we have a different kind of running back, he can make the adjustment. That’s what makes him unique in my book.”

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Jets’ Eric Decker OK with flying under the radar (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday December 12, 2015

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-eric-decker-ok-with-flying-under-the-radar-1.11222264

Eric Decker stretched out his legs and leaned back on his locker stool.

Then he flashed a smile.

“I’ve still got some diva in me. Of course,” he said playfully.

Lost in the shuffle of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s resurgence and Brandon Marshall’s record-breaking season with the Jets is Decker, the former Bronco who signed a five-year, $36.25-million deal in March 2014.

The former Peyton Manning-pass catcher was brought in last year to spark the Jets’ anemic passing game. But Decker has gone from being a focal point to being largely overshadowed, thanks to the acquisition of Marshall.

But that’s OK, he said.

After falling short of a Super Bowl win with Denver and finishing 4-12 in his first season with the Jets, nothing on the football field matters more to Decker than winning. And he’s comfortable enough in his own skin to be Marshall’s sidekick.

Decker’s personal life also has helped to put the game in perspective. He and his wife, country/pop singer Jessie James Decker, had their first child, daughter Vivianne Rose, in March 2014. This past September, the couple had a son, Eric Thomas II.

In being a husband and a father, Decker has found another purpose.

“It’s a fine line. Because you’ve got to be able to have that competitive fire and the want-to, like, I want to get the ball in this situation,” said Decker, who has caught 59 passes for 801 yards and eight touchdowns.

“I love football, I pride myself on being good, but I think it’s just the balance in life, maybe. Being happy or fulfilled outside of football makes it easier when you’re not ‘The Guy’ and you know your role on the team . . . I think it’s just a trait as far as being comfortable with everything in your life and being happy.”

The cameras crowd around Marshall multiple times a week, and for good reason. He’s amassed 1,062 receiving yards — the most of any Jets receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2007 — and he’s the first NFL player to reach 1,000 receiving yards with four different teams. But Decker has been just as important to this Jets offense, which currently ranks 10th in the NFL.

“I think Brandon is having a superb year, but you can’t sleep on Decker,” coach Todd Bowles said. “ . . . Every week you look at him, he just makes plays, he works hard, he blocks, he does the right things and the ball finds him.

“ . . . What he’s doing this year is invaluable.”

Wide receivers tend to be flashy, look-at-me types, but that’s not usually Decker’s style. “I never looked at myself as ‘The Guy,’ ” he said. “I think I knew that I was in those shoes last year, but I never really felt that sense, honestly, throughout my career. Just a good receiver.”

He’s not a big trash-talker on the field, but every so often his inner diva comes out. “Well, of course I’m great,” he joked, flashing another smile. “I’m being humble.”

He knows his role — the shifty slot man in Chan Gailey’s offense and a reliable target for Ryan Fitzpatrick in the red zone. And he’s content.

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“I just feel like that’s always been one of the positives of my game: I’m able to be plugged in wherever and I’ll figure it out and I’ll be consistent,” Decker said.

“It might not be the flashy Odell Beckham style because that’s not my game, I don’t have the skill set he has. But I can be productive.”

The decision to put Decker in the slot was Gailey’s idea, according to Bowles. But it wasn’t “an epiphany or something,” the offensive coordinator said.

“I think he ended up playing in there some and then he was productive. So we said, ‘Well, if he’s productive, let’s leave him in there a little bit more,’ ” Gailey said, highlighting Decker’s ability to make defenders miss in a short area.

“ . . . He’s got a great feel for the game inside, especially in the red zone. He and Fitz kind of read each other pretty well to know what we’re trying to get done . . . He’s still a good outside receiver — I don’t want anybody to not think that — but he’s done a great job inside.”

In last week’s overtime win over the Giants, Decker caught eight passes for 101 yards, marking the first time this season he has reached 100 receiving yards. “It took a while,” he said.

He came close a few times earlier in the season, catching eight passes for 97 yards and a TD against the Colts in Week 2 and six passes for 94 yards against the Patriots in Week 7. But each week his versatility and dependability are on display, regardless of what the stat sheet says.

“I’m fine with the ‘quiet’ games, as long as we’re winning,” Decker said. “ . . . I kind of know that my role is working the middle of the field and third downs and running certain routes.

“It might not accumulate to a lot of yards, but I know that role is important. So for me, that’s satisfying.”

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THE RECORD

Jets don't feat trap against Titans (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 13, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-won-t-get-caught-in-any-trap-1.1473039

Todd Bowles doesn’t believe in so-called "trap games." But one of his mentors certainly does.

After the Jets came from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Giants in overtime last week, the Jets’ coach got a text from former Giants and Jets coach Bill Parcells.

"He said," Bowles recalled, "everybody’s talking playoffs, just coach your team and worry about the next game."

Well, that next game is today. The Jets (7-5) will try to enhance their playoff chances when they host the downtrodden Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. The Titans (3-9), who were 2-14 in 2014, saw their coach fired when Ken Whisenhunt was let go last month and replaced by interim coach Mike Mularkey.

Parcells, in fact, believed in the trap-game concept so much that he once hung mouse traps in his players’ lockers when he was coaching New England and the Patriots had a game they were supposed to win easily.

"He’s got me beat there," said a smiling Bowles, who didn’t resort to such tactics this past week.

"I got that text right after the game," Bowles explained. "I understand what he’s saying. To a point you buy it, but to a point you have to be consistent with your team and do the same things that you’ve been

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doing. We don’t look at any game as a trap game, we look at it as the next game, so we just have to take care of us.

"I don’t think it’s a trap game," Bowles added. "We know they’ve got a good team. They have a heck of a defense [with] their front seven, they’ve got a big offensive line and can run the ball with the quarterback. We’re just going into it playing another opponent. We know we’ve got to take care of ourselves and if we don’t, then we’re not going to win."

Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown for 667 yards and six touchdowns with no turnovers the past two games, also isn’t buying into the trap philosophy. And for a very simple reason.

"We’re not a good enough team to overlook anybody," he said. "We’ve got to treat everyone like it’s the playoffs, [as if] we’re in the playoffs right now trying to win each week. I don’t think you’ll see, hear or feel [overconfidence] out of our team at all."

Fitzpatrick has a point in that the Jets, while talented, have been maddeningly inconsistent. After starting off the season 4-1, they lost four of their next five games before rebounding to defeat Miami and the Giants to go two games above .500. A victory today would give the Jets their first three-game winning streak since 2011. That squad did it twice, yet still finished 8-8 and missed out on the playoffs.

"At this point, it’s about who can get hot," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Right now, we’ve won two games, really big games for us, and it’s another huge one for us. If we can stay on this roll, no telling what happens."

No matter what happens, Bowles expects to get more texts from Parcells and Arizona coach Bruce Arians, for whom he was defensive coordinator the previous two seasons.

"It means a lot," Bowles said of Parcells’ communications. "Coach Arians reaches out as well and he does a good job talking to me. They keep me grounded."

Bowles added, "After losses, [Parcells] has words of wisdom and after wins, he wants [me] to press and keep going. The biggest thing he said in the middle of the season when we lost four out of five was, ‘Nobody remembers midseason losses, it’s how you finish.’ That one stuck out."

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Jets matchup vs. Titans (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 13, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-matchup-vs-titans-1.1473078

Titans (3-9) at Jets (7-5)

At MetLife Stadium; Today, 1 p.m.; TV: CBS; Radio: ESPN-FM 98.7; Line: Jets by 7

What’s at stake

Jets: The Jets have improved their wild-card chances with two consecutive victories, but cannot afford to slip up against the Titans. If the Jets beat Tennessee today and either Pittsburgh loses to AFC North-leading Cincinnati or Kansas City loses to San Diego, the Jets would control their own destiny in the AFC wild-card race with three games left in the regular season.

Titans: Believe it or not, because of the woeful nature of the AFC South, Tennessee could win its division if it runs the table and gets plenty of help. More realistically, the Titans are trying to build momentum for next season with rookie QB Marcus Mariota, who is having a solid debut season in the NFL. Interim coach

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Mike Mularkey, who is 2-3 since taking over for the fired Ken Whisenhunt, needs a very strong finish to even be considered for the permanent job after the season.

Key matchup

Jets SS Calvin Pryor vs. Titans TE Delanie Walker. Walker’s 67 receptions are the most by any NFL tight end in 2015, and he figures to be an even more important target for Mariota today given the fact that top WR Kendall Wright (ribs) is out. Pryor has improved in coverage this season, and his hit on Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. in the end zone last week dislodged the ball and saved a sure touchdown catch by the star wideout.

How they’ll win

Jets: Tennessee has a decent run defense, allowing only 3.9 yards per carry, so it may not be easy to get RB Chris Ivory going early. That may not matter, considering the Titans certainly are vulnerable to the pass, having allowed 25 TDs through the air and a 101.6 opponent passer rating. Thus, Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick figures to have a good day. Tennessee QBs have been sacked 39 times, and the Jets need to generate pressure on Mariota, but also keep him contained if his pass pocket breaks down.

Titans: Mariota had an 87-yard scoring run and three TD passes in the Titans’ win over Jacksonville last week, and Tennessee will need more big plays from him this week. He should get some help from all-purpose RB Dexter McCluster, who will return today after missing the last two games with a knee injury. McCluster is Tennessee’s primary punt and kickoff returner and averages 4.6 yards per carry rushing. Tennessee’s defense has 34 sacks and needs to harass former Titan Fitzpatrick, who picked apart the Giants in the fourth quarter and OT last week.

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NEW YORK TIMES

Titans at Jets Matchup (Zach Schonbrun) New York Times December 12, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/sports/football/tennessee-titans-at-new-york-jets-matchup.html?ref=football&_r=0

1 p.m., CBS

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Quarterback Marcus Mariota vs. the Jets’ defense

Tennessee’s rookie quarterback has been better than advertised this season. A Heisman Trophy winner, he is coming off an exceptional performance: Mariota was the first player in N.F.L. history to throw for at least 250 yards, rush for 100 yards and throw three touchdowns in a game last Sunday. He appears to be finding his groove with a 10:4 touchdown-to- interception ratio the last five weeks and two rushing scores. The Jets will have to keep Mariota from breaking outside containment.

NUMBER TO WATCH: 24

That is the uniform number of Darrelle Revis, who is expected to return to the field after missing two games with a concussion.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: ‘Technology, back in 2005, wasn’t the same as it is today. I used to send stuff on my beeper.’

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RYAN FITZPATRICK, the Jets’ quarterback, who entered the N.F.L. in 2005, when asked if it had always been his custom to send text messages to his receivers after every game. Fitzpatrick has been doing so consistently with the Jets this season.

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ESPN NEW YORK

'Miracle' man Chan Gailey has lifted Jets' offense to a perfect '10' (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 13, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/57011/miracle-man-chan-gailey-has-lifted-jets-offense-to-a-perfect-10

Thoughts and observations on the New York Jets:

1. Chan the Man: It's one of the toughest jobs in New York sports -- offensive coordinator of the Jets. They haven't had a good one in a long time, but Chan Gailey is a keeper. He's a no-ego coach whose only concern is the Jets, not career advancement. At 63, his head-coaching days probably are over. He's doing it for the love of the game (and a nice pay check), lifting the Jets to a ranking of 10th in total offense. The last time they finished in the top 10 was 1998. Crazy, huh?

"What he's doing with that quarterback is a miracle," said a well-respected former general manager, referring to journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, who's having a career year.

The hiring of Gailey was a head-scratcher, considering he'd never worked with Todd Bowles, but Bowles got a recommendation from Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards. He was the matchmaker, the mutual friend who brought Bowles and Gailey together.

Gailey reminds me of Dan Henning, who was in his late 50s when he worked under Bill Parcells (1998-99) and Al Groh (2000). Like Gailey, Henning was an older and wiser coach who never acted like he was the smartest guy in the room (even though he probably was). Like Henning, Gailey is a former head coach, which means he's been through the grinder. At this stage of his career, nothing fazes him. Other than two clunkers last month -- back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans -- Gailey has done a nice job with this personnel.

"I've been satisfied seven times and not satisfied five times," said Gailey, alluding to the Jets' 7-5 record. "My only objective is to win the game. I don't give a rip about stats."

If he were a few years younger, he'd be a hot head-coaching candidate.

2. Slot machine: One of Gailey's best decisions came before the season, when he came up with the idea to move Eric Decker to the slot. At 6-foot-3, he's not your typical slot receiver, but Decker can read coverages and he knows how to find the vulnerable areas in a zone. Gradually, over the spring and summer, they made the transition. As Gailey said, "It's not like we had some kind of epiphany."

The slot isn't foreign territory to Decker. The Denver Broncos used him there at times, but not to this extent. In his first five seasons, including last year with the Jets, he made 88 of his 296 receptions (30 percent) out of the slot, according to ESPN Stats & Information. This season, it's 39 out of 59 (66 percent).

3. Head games: Darrelle Revis, discussing his concussion history the other day, mentioned that he's had "a couple in the past." Technically, only one previous head injury was announced as a concussion (Week 1, 2012), but he probably was alluding to an incident late in the 2013 season. Playing for the Tampa Bay

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Buccaneers, he was knocked out briefly, but he passed his neurological tests during the week and played the next game. Therefore, it never was diagnosed as a concussion.

After a late start, the NFL has made great strides in attacking the concussion scourge, but there are still cracks in the system, as the Revis incident from '13 shows.

4. Doc Hollywood: There's an indirect Jets connection in the soon-to-be-released "Concussion" movie, starring Will Smith. Actor Paul Reiser plays Dr. Elliot Pellman, the Jets' team physician and medical director from 1988 to 2010. Pellman, the former chairman of the NFL medical committee, is widely considered the villain in the concussion crisis. Pellman's character has only a small part, but you can bet it won't be a flattering portrayal. The movie hits theaters on Christmas Day.

5. Not a Merry Chris-mas: One of the most-asked questions about the Jets is, "What happened to Chris Ivory?" His production has plummeted since a hot start. After Week 6, he was third in rushing (460 yards). Since Week 7, he's 18th (353 yards). What gives?

Statistics show he's not making as many yards after contact as he did earlier in the season, perhaps because he's wearing down, but I think the greater issue is the blocking. During the good stretch, he averaged 2.81 yards per rush before contact; that number has dropped to 1.11 during the current spell -- a glaring indication that defenders are getting to him faster than before. Injuries to the offensive line (See: Willie Colon and Nick Mangold) put the running game out of whack, and it hasn't recovered.

6. Mass exodus: While we're on the subject of running backs, the Jets are looking at a major rebuild in the offseason. Ivory, Bilal Powell and Stevan Ridley will be free agents, leaving Zac Stacy as the only back under contract for 2016. I suspect they will try to re-sign Ivory and Powell, but it won't be easy. It might be time to draft a back. They haven't drafted one in the first four rounds since Powell (fourth) in 2011.

7. The X factor: When Powell went down in October with a severe ankle sprain, it didn't generate any headlines. It should've, because he's a valuable role player on offense. He proved it last week, compiling a career-high 108 yards from scrimmage, a chunk of them on screen passes. The Jets are 2-0 since his return, and they were 1-3 without him. He's the main reason why Ridley can barely get on the field.

8. Hard to explain this one: Is is possible for a secret weapon to be so secret that his own coaches don't know about him? Maybe. Consider Jamari Lattimore, who came out of nowhere last week and was given a role on defense. Coordinator Kacy Rodgers said Lattimore made the team because of his coverage ability, yet he played only 10 snaps on defense through the first 12 games. Surprisingly, he was on the field for 19 snaps last week as a nickel linebacker. What changed? Bowles is chopping up Demario Davis' playing time into pieces, giving some to Erin Henderson and some to Lattimore.

9. Butter fingers: It garnered no attention during the week, but the Jets' defensive players are well aware of this fact: Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has eight fumbles (five lost). The words "strip sack" will be on their minds Sunday.

10. Did Revis create a monster? While reporting a story on Revis, who has received some criticism for his recent play, I spoke to former cornerback-turned-analyst Eric Allen. A firm believer in Revis' greatness, Allen said he can tell by watching tape that Revis, despite only one season with the New England Patriots, rubbed off on young corner Malcolm Butler.

"If you look at how he plays," Allen said, "he almost mirrors Revis."

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Playoff-driven Jets should waltz to victory over Tennessee unless ... (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York

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December 12, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56995/playoff-driven-jets-should-waltz-to-victory-over-tennessee-unless

The New York Jets did some growing up last week with their thrilling victory over the New York Giants. On Sunday, we'll find out how much.

If they're the mature and singularly focused team they claim to be, the Jets will handle the Tennessee Titans to keep their wild-card hopes alive. Simply put, they're better than the Titans (3-9), but not to the point where they can downshift and cruise. The Titans have lost five games by three points or fewer, so they're no pushover.

"We’re not a good enough team to overlook anybody," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "We’ve got to treat everyone like it’s the playoffs, [like] we’re in the playoffs right now trying to win each week. I don’t think you’ll see, hear or feel that out of our team at all."

The Jets (7-5) are looking for their first three-game winning streak since 2011, if you can believe that. Obviously, they haven't done a good job of handling fleeting moments of prosperity over the years. We'll see if it's different under Todd Bowles.

Kickoff is 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium. The top storylines:

1. Revis Island re-opens: Darrelle Revis returns to the lineup after missing two games with a concussion. That's good news for the secondary, which allowed 618 passing yards without him. Because of his concussion and Calvin Pryor's old ankle injury, the starting secondary hasn't been intact for a complete game since Week 7 at New England. Revis didn't play well in his last game (Nov. 22 at Houston), so people will be watching closely. The Titans don't have anything close to an elite receiver, so we won't see Revis in a marquee matchup until next week, when they face Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys.

2. FitzMagic on a roll: Let's make one thing clear: The Titans don't have a terrible defense. In fact, they're ranked No. 8 in yards allowed, but they have some holes in the secondary. They're also struggling on third down. If the Jets can handle the multiple looks that Tennessee will present, Fitzpatrick should have another big passing day. The Eric Decker-Brandon Marshall tandem needs only one touchdown (by Decker) to become the first pair of wide receivers in team history to have at least nine touchdowns apiece. They have 18 combined touchdowns, already two more TD catches than the Jets had as a team last season.

3. The kid QB is pretty good: Marcus Mariota, drafted No. 2 overall, is having a terrific rookie season. The Jets are concerned about his mobility, and with good reason. Not only don't the Jets have anyone in their front seven as fast as Mariota, but their man-to-man scheme could create opportunities for him to scramble. They might have to play more two-safety looks than usual. That way, they can keep two sets of eyes on him. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Jets' blitz. Most rookies gets rattled, but Mariota has a league-best 90.0 QBR against the blitz.

4. Can't sleep on Walker: Remember when the Jets couldn't stop any tight ends? Actually, that was only last year. Those days are gone. They've allowed only 48 receptions to tight ends, tied for the third-fewest in the league. It won't be easy this week because the Titans' tight-end group, led by Delanie Walker (team-high 67 catches), is among the most productive. It's a big game for Pryor, who will see a lot of Walker in man-to-man situations.

5. How can they lose? Anything is possible, right? The Jets should be OK as long as they protect the football, recognize and block the Titans' clever blitz schemes and avoid any calamities on special teams. Defensively, they need multiple takeaways. That shouldn't be hard because the Titans (24 turnovers) have a mistake-prone offense.

Daily Clips Cont.

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Watch for shake-up on Jets' mistake-prone special teams (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York December 12, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/56990/jets-mulling-possible-shake-up-on-mistake-prone-special-teams

Reaching into the Week 14 mailbag for a question on the New York Jets:

@RichCimini #jetsmail Is there any sense of urgency or focus being put into turning around the horrendous special teams play?

@RichCimini: As a matter of fact, yes. Coordinator Bobby April said there could be personnel changes, saying, "We're prepared to play some different guys." Presumably, he meant on the punt-coverage team, which surrendered its second touchdown last week. In other words, you may see some starters/prominent players out there, maybe Calvin Pryor, Demario Davis, Buster Skrine, to name a few. It has to get better. In several games, the special teams have made costly mistakes. When you're in the playoff hunt, one mistake can mean the difference between making an early tee time or preparing for a Wild Card game.

For the record, the players on the field during Dwayne Harris' 80-yard return were Devin Smith and Dexter McDougle (the gunners), Bilal Powell, Erin Henderson, Trevor Reilly, Kellen Davis, Jeff Cumberland, Jamari Lattimore, Tommy Bohanon, Tanner Purdum (snapper) and Ryan Quigley (punter).

The punt "wasn't perfect, but it was coverable," April said. Smith could've made the tackle as soon as Harris caught it, but it was a tough play, April said. Using Odell Beckham Jr. as a decoy was a "good play" by the New York Giants, but "that's not why (the touchdown) happened," April said.

So why did it happen?

"It was a lapse with us not being prepared, and that's on me," said April, taking the bullet.

The Jets also got flagged for three penalties on special teams -- a false start, offsides and running into the kicker. As a result, they spent more time in practice using hard counts. Believe it or not, penalties haven't been a huge issue this season. They have only 12 on special teams, tied for ninth in the league.

Bottom line: The kicking units haven't been good enough. The Jets are ranked 30th in special-teams EPA (expected points added), with a -18.21 rating, per ESPN Stats & Information.

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NEW YORK POST

Dreaded ‘T’ word hangs over another crucial Jets test (Brian Costello) New York Post December 12, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/dreaded-t-word-hangs-over-another-crucial-jets-test/

The Jets’ playoff push continues Sunday with a potential trap game against the Titans.

The Jets are riding high after an emotional overtime win over the crosstown rival Giants last week that left them at 7-5 and in the middle of the AFC playoff chase. Now, the 3-9 Titans come to town with a rookie quarterback, an interim coach and no hope of playing beyond Week 17.

Daily Clips Cont.

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Can you say letdown?

The Jets said all week they won’t let it happen, but sports fans have seen it before. It is hard to maintain that intensity week to week. Can the Jets keep it going and win their third straight game?

“You’re trying to win every game. I don’t care who it’s against,” linebacker David Harris said. “We’re happy with the win last week, but we’re past that. This is December. This is where teams distance themselves from the rest of the pack. We’re still fighting each week.”

The Jets are in a four-game race for one of the two AFC wild-card spots along with the Chiefs, Steelers, Bills and loser of the Texans-Colts AFC South division competition.

“We’re not a good enough team to overlook anybody,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve got to treat everyone like it’s the playoffs, we’re in the playoffs right now trying to win each week. I don’t think you’ll see, hear or feel that out of our team at all.”

The Titans come to MetLife Stadium feeling good after snapping a three game losing streak last week with a 42-39 win over the Jaguars. Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota has lived up to his pre-draft hype and looks like a franchise quarterback. The problem for Mariota right now is he does not have a ton of talent around him.

Mike Mularkey replaced Ken Whisenhunt as coach on Nov. 3 and has gone 2-3 on the job.

Jets coach Todd Bowles is hoping his team learned how to win close games late with last week’s win over the Giants. The team seems to have shaken off its midseason slump. Several times this year, the Jets were unable to find a way to win at the end, but they pulled off that feat with their 10-point comeback last week.

“We didn’t execute [in the losses],” Bowles said. “We didn’t execute down toward the stretch and they were the same plays we ran the first three quarters. And we had a couple games like that, whether it was offense or defense, where we didn’t execute correctly. This was the first come-from-behind win that we didn’t panic and we showed poise.”

Marquee matchup

Titans QB Marcus Mariota vs. Jets coach Todd Bowles

The Jets’ defense usually would be salivating over facing a rookie quarterback, but Mariota has not been just any rookie. He is ninth in the league in QBR, and is coming off one of his best games. Last week against the Jaguars, Mariota threw three touchdown passes and ran for another.

Bowles’ defense has not been exactly lights-out lately. They have been giving up a lot of yardage through the air. It will be a challenge for Bowles to devise a scheme to stop Mariota. The Jets are a heavy man-to-man team, which plays into Mariota running the ball. He broke an 87-yard run last week.

“He’s probably the most athletic quarterback we’ll face,” linebacker David Harris said. “He has the speed to take it the distance. We’ve just got to keep him in the pocket and try to get guys to the ball.”

Mariota does not just do it with his feet. He has thrown for three or more touchdowns in four games this season, tying Peyton Manning for the most by a rookie quarterback.

4 downs

Feel the rush: The Jets have done a good job this season of protecting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but there were some cracks in the protection last week. The Giants sacked Fitzpatrick three times and got pressure on him on several other plays.

Daily Clips Cont.

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The Titans have the fifth most sacks in the NFL at 34. Led by linebacker Brian Orakpo with seven sacks, the Tennessee front seven can cause problems.

Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he is not concerned about the problems the line had last week. It was unusual. The Jets have given up just 17 sacks this season, the second-fewest in the league.

“I think each guy has to work on their technique a little bit better, more than it [being] something that you have to [fix], it hasn’t been an ongoing problem,” Gailey said. “You don’t have to fix it if it’s a one-time issue, if it becomes more of a problem then you have to fix it. At least you have to try to help whoever is having the biggest issue, but it hasn’t been an issue and hopefully we’ll get back to the way we’ve been.”

Revis Island reopens: Cornerback Darrelle Revis is expected to return for the Jets this week after missing the past two games with a concussion. As of Friday, he still had one medical clearance to get, but it seemed likely he would play.

The Jets’ defense should be reenergized with the return of Revis on the back end. He will be closely scrutinized because he is coming off his worst game of the season. Against the Texans, he gave up a 61-yard touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins before suffering the concussion. That performance has led to some criticism and questioning of whether he remains an elite cornerback.

You can bet Revis has heard the criticism and will be eager to shut up his critics.

Walker has been dynamite: While the Titans do not have a star receiver, they do have one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL. Delanie Walker has the most receptions (67) among tight ends in the league. He is third in yards (1,690) over the past two seasons, trailing only Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen.

“We really feel like they’re force-feeding the ball to him,” Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “He’s a talented player, but they’re putting him in the slot, they’re putting him in the backfield, he’s playing tight end. … He’s getting a lot of attention.”

Three in a row: It has been four years since the Jets have won three games in a row. That modest winning streak came in November/December of 2011 when they beat the Bills, Redskins and Chiefs. Since then? They have not been able to string three in a row together.

This is the third time this season the Jets have won two games in a row, but they fell flat in each attempt to win a third consecutive game. If the Jets truly want to be a playoff team, they are going to have win a few in a row here. Getting a third straight win would be a positive sign.

Costello’s call

The Jets are feeling good after winning two in a row. The Titans are going through another lost season with an interim coach and just three wins. I don’t think the Jets get caught in the trap. It is not pretty, but the Jets pull away in the second half.

Jets 20, Titans 10

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Bryce Petty on dinner with Deckers, 24-hour donuts and when he’ll play (Steve Serby) New York Post December 12, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/bryce-petty-on-dinner-with-deckers-24-hour-donuts-and-when-hell-play/

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Steve Serby takes some time to chat with the Jets’ Bryce Petty about the challenges of being a first-year quarterback, the influence Ryan Fitzpatrick has had on him and Marcus Mariota.

Q: What’s it like playing in the New York market in front of Jets fans?

A: Shoot, I think it’s the best market in the world. You can make that a negative if you’re, one, unsuccessful, but, two, let it get to you. I think you’re in the biggest market in the world, and so, use it to your advantage. You’ve got to be yourself, and I learned a long time ago, even though I am a people-pleaser and that’s depleted a little bit, thank the Lord (smile), because at the end of the day, you are who you are. You guys got a job, just like I got a job. So you guys are going to write what you guys write, and I know who I am inside and out.

Q: Did you get to know Marcus Mariota during the draft process?

A: Yeah.

Q: What kind of guy is he?

A: Awesome. Awesome guy. Very quiet, just a baller. I think that there’s something to quiet leadership just like there’s something to vocal leadership, and he was very much, “Watch me as I do more than what I say,” kinda guy. He’s just going to go out and do it, he’s going to do the right thing. He’s a special talent back there.

Q: Did you go out with him at all?

A: We trained basically on the same spot in California. My little loft quote-unquote was on top, and his was on the bottom, and so there were FIFA matches, and dinners, and all kinds of stuff like that. [He’s a] good dude.

Q: They said Mariota would have a difficult transition because of the offense he ran at Oregon. Does it encourage you that he’s been better than expected?

A: I think everybody’s different. There’s a whole lot of factors. The team that you’re on, the system that you run, the playbook, all that stuff. I think that some scouts, some people have kind of a hard view of what the college game is getting to. But at the end of the day, it’s still football. There is a big learning curve, I’m not going to say there’s not. But at the same time, it’s one of those things that you give a guy time, you give a guy reps, you give a guy film, whatever, I think that we can handle a little bit more than what people think that we can when we come out of a spread, so …

Q: So you’ll be ready by next training camp to challenge for the starting job?

A: For me, it’s like OK, this year was a redshirt year quote-unquote. Not that I’m treating it that way, but at the same time, you kind of have to call it what it is, being inactive the last eight weeks. … But at the end of the day, they drafted me to play. They didn’t draft me to sit. And I didn’t want to be drafted to sit either. So, [I] got to learn all I can, while I can, and then get ready to put all that into my own game.

Q: You’ve gone from big man on campus at Baylor to third-string quarterback. That has to be an adjustment, right?

A: It’s tough because backup quarterback is one of the hardest positions that you could be in because you don’t contribute. Or there’s a feeling that you don’t contribute, especially for me. That’s the hardest part about being inactive. When you have a huge comeback win like we had, you’re happy for everybody, but you don’t feel like you did anything. It’s tough. But at the same time, I was a freshman once, then became BMOC or whatever you want to call it. What I plan to do here is to learn all I can, and then whenever that time comes, take over and help this team however I can.

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Q: The biggest single thing you’ve learned about what it takes to be an NFL quarterback and leader of a franchise?

A: I think it’s your willingness to adapt. There’s a lot of things, especially on game days, you think a certain thing’s going to happen and it doesn’t. And so, it’s your ability to adapt to that, to say, “OK, let’s do this, so that we can get this result.” Watching [Ryan Fitzpatrick] that’s what he’s so good about is he can dissect play by play. And then really, he’s another coach. … It’s the attention to details is what makes these guys so good. And then, to lead a franchise, that’s something that I think is almost innate, in a sense that leadership is not something that you’re handed. I think it’s something that’s earned, and I’ve always said that. And so, you want guys to play for you, not just with you. That’s a huge statement, especially at this level, where guys have their own agendas and their own things. If you can get these guys to play for you, and not just because they have to, then I think your team, the potential is through the roof.

Q: Fitzpatrick has been a blessing for you.

A: Fitz is one of the coolest people that I’ve ever met but [it’s] just how he handles me. There’s no reason for him to let me come out to Arizona, and hang with him and his family. There’s no reason for him to watch film with me. There’s no reason for him to come off the field, and him come to me and say, “Hey, did you see this route?, we’re trying to do this, we’re trying to do that.” That kind of stuff goes a long way. For me, I can’t take that for granted because I know that’s not normal. And so for me to learn from him, and to be able to see the things that he sees, I’ve grown up lots of levels that I think had I not been here, had he had not been here, I don’t know if I could say that I’d be where I’m at or potentially where I could be.

Q: You re-tweeted something Noah Syndergaard tweeted after the Mets lost the World Series: “NYC: This is not the end, but the beginning of something special.” Why did you re-tweet that?

A: Noah actually grew up 10 minutes from my hometown [Midlothian, Texas]. He’s from Mansfield. So me and him know each other, worked out together before. … but I truly, truly believe that the Mets, the Jets — there’s going to be a turnaround. It’s not going to be, I think, what New York fans have kind of come to know these two teams. I think with Coach [Todd] Bowles being here, and then the talent the Mets have too, I think Mets fans and New York Jets fans are going to have something to cheer about for a long time.

Q: 25 words or less: Eric Decker.

A: Quarterback. Friendly to a T. He’s really smart. He’s intuitive, instinctive. Everything that he comes off and tells Fitz is exactly what Fitz is seeing too.

Q: Brandon Marshall.

A: Animal. Animal. You’re not going to see many people look like him in pads. … Competitor.

Q: Thanksgiving at the Decker household.

A: It was awesome! It’s cool to see these guys kind of in their element, away from here, seeing them as dads, seeing them as husbands. They’re like anybody else, they play football for their job and to support their family, but at the end of the day they go home, and he’s Eric to Jessie [James Decker], he’s not “Ohmigosh, it’s Eric Decker the receiver.”

Q: Turkey?

A: She can cook too now (smile). I will put it on record that Jessie is very close to my mom’s cooking.

Q: Why aren’t there 24-hour donut shops?

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A: If there aren’t donut shops open 24 hours, then all of them should be — just in case you want a donut at 10 at night, you got it. Or 1 in the morning, whatever it is.

Q: Why do you wish sushi restaurants had a dollar menu?

A: (Laugh) Because sushi’s expensive, and it’s so good. I love sushi, but all the great sushi rolls can be 12 bucks a pop, and that gets expensive.

Q: Why does hot chocolate make you happy?

A: (Laugh) I think that it brings out kind of all the kid in you. I think as a kid, there’s certain things that you loved about the holidays, and it had nothing to do with the stress that it kind of brings as you get older, but everything you do with presents, with family, with movies, and then of course hot chocolate. Hot chocolate brings back all that stuff, but then it just warms you up.

Q: How many Oreos can you eat in one sitting?

A: I will say that I’ve eaten a sleeve. I don’t know how many’s in a sleeve, but I’ve eaten a sleeve before. It can get messy.

Q: Which do you fear more, spiders or dentists?

A: Spiders, without a doubt. I hate spiders. We used to live in Arkansas when I was younger, and dad had a shed out in the back, and I went in there to get the lawn mower one day to mow the yard, and I walked right into a spider web, and you would have thought that like an axe murderer was after me. I freaked out. It’s the unknown factor, that once you walk into one of those, that you have no idea where it’s at.

Q: You think people-watching should be a sport?

A: So airports and malls are. … I mean, it should be Olympic sport, it really should (smile).

Q: Brett Favre was your boyhood idol.

A: You could tell that dude woke up every day loving what he did. Every game he went out there, it was like he was with his buddies, and that’s the way you want your locker room to be. This isn’t a job, it doesn’t need to be a job. You want guys to come here and have fun doing what they’re doing.

Q: Todd Bowles?

A: Coach Bowles is very soft-spoken, he doesn’t say a lot. So when he does say something, you listen.

Q: Baylor coach Art Briles?

A: Coach Briles is the same way in the sense that everything that comes out of his mouth you know is from the heart. He’s not going to be somebody that he thinks you want him to be.

Q: Your father [Todd] was your biggest influence.

A: Everything I know as a man is from him. Perfectionist. Attention to detail, but also, never start something you can’t finish. And give it all you got. In his word, give it hell. He still texts me before every game: “Aim small, miss small.”

Q: Do you cook for yourself?

A: I wish. PBJs and cereal, that’s the only thing I can cook (laugh).

Q: 25 words or less: Your girlfriend, Jordan.

A: Beautiful, talented, very kind-hearted, loving. Always worried about people’s well-being around her, not so much herself. Very intelligent.

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Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Jesus, Vince Lombardi, Abe Lincoln.

Q: Why Vince Lombardi?

A: Shoot, why not Vince? I think for what he did not only for football, but for his guys, there’s just people that think outside the box. There’s people that think inside the box, there’s people that don’t think at all.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Ace Ventura.

Q: Favorite actors?

A: Will Smith; Denzel Washington; Jim Carrey.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Sandra Bullock.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Well if you take mom’s cooking out of it, I love burgers.

Q: Your thoughts on your young friend Ethan Hallmark, who died Sept. 26, 2014, from cancer.

A: Met Ethan December of 2013. … [It] kind of rocked my world a little bit, to be honest with you.

Ethan was a guy at 13 years old that had life figured out. You don’t have to be 82 to have wisdom. His mom asked him, “Do you fear death?” And this was at 13, and he said, “I don’t fear death, but I fear that people will blame God because of my death.” And so, a lot of times when I’m here, he pops up. There’s people, there are kids, that would love to be in our shoes. But never take what you have for granted. Loved him, and then kind of had this little friendship there until he passed, so …

Q: And you still think of him today?

A: (Softly) Yeah. Yeah.

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‘We can win out’: Jets throw down the gauntlet to themselves (Steve Serby) New York Post December 12, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/we-can-win-out-jets-throw-down-the-gauntlet-to-themselves/

It is time for the Jets to stick the landing.

It is time for the rookie head coach and the journeyman quarterback, pilot and co-pilot, to fly through the December turbulence they historically have encountered between here and the playoff tarmac.

Run the table.

This isn’t the NFC Least. There is no division title to win, only a wild-card berth.

Win out.

In the unlikely event the 7-5 Jets, 7-5 Chiefs and 7-5 Steelers all win out, the Jets would not make the playoffs.

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Should the Jets and Steelers both finish 10-6 and the Jets’ loss comes against the Cowboys, the Jets would own the tiebreaker on better conference record (8-4 vs. 7-5).

Sunday’s game is Titanic if for no other reason than it is a conference game.

So run the table and let the chips fall where they may.

“I feel like we have one of the most talented teams in the NFL, we got some of the best coaches in the NFL, I feel like when we play at our best, we’re better than anybody,” Buster Skrine told The Post.

“We can win out for sure.”

Alex Smith has forgotten how to throw interceptions and the Chiefs can finish the season with a 10-game winning streak because the won-lost record of their remaining opponents is 14-34.

The scoreboard-watching for Jets fans begins in earnest Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Steelers visit the Bengals while the Jets are hosting Marcus Mariota and the Titans in the proverbial trap game.

The Jets? Keep your eyes on the prize and off the scoreboard.

If you fall for a trap now, with so much at stake, shame on you.

This is a franchise that too often has checked into Heartbreak Hotel in December. The Jets haven’t been this close since 2011, when 8-5 deteriorated into 8-8. In 2008 with Eric Mangini and Brett Favre, 8-3 became 9-7, over and out. In 2000 under Al Groh, 9-4 became 9-7, over and out. In 1997 under Bill Parcells, 8-4 became 9-7, over and out. In 1994 under Pete Carroll, 6-5 became 6-10, bring on Rich Kotite!

The 1998 Bill Parcells Jets won their last six regular-season games before losing the AFC Championship game in Denver. The 2004 Herm Edwards Jets started 5-0. The 2008 Brett Favre Jets won five in a row. The 2010 Rex Ryan Jets won five straight.

If these Jets lose to a 3-9 team at home, they do not deserve to be in the playoffs.

On the flip side, a third straight victory would send them to face Dallas and Matt Cassel next Saturday night with momentum.

A fourth straight victory would set up a colossal showdown at MetLife against the Patriots, who likely will need to win for a No. 1 or 2 seed, but may not have Julian Edelman back, and perhaps Rob Gronkowski won’t be 100 percent.

If the Jets could beat Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, they would be rolling a snowball of momentum into Buffalo, trying to avenge the Nov. 12 defeat, possibly with everything on the line for both teams.

The Steelers will need all their Terrible Towels when they host the Broncos next Sunday before road games in Baltimore, without Joe Flacco, and Cleveland, with Johnny Manziel.

Maybe it’s just a pipe dream, but there should be no excuse for the comeback win over the Giants not to be a unifying, galvanizing launching pad for this critical stretch run.

A first playoff berth since 2010 would be a compelling story, with compelling storylines:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, brought here as the backup to Geno Smith, desperate for his first playoff appearance with his sixth team.

“He understands the game and he has a great ability to adjust to the people that play on the field with him,” offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said.

Brandon Marshall, The Other Receiver in Odell Beckham Jr.’s town, even with his 83 catch, 1,062-yards, 10-TD heroics, desperate for his first playoff appearance with his fourth team.

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Eric Decker, who knows now there is Life After Peyton Manning, as Robin (59-801-8 TDs) to Marshall’s Batman.

Todd Bowles, who replaced Rex Ryan and promptly saw Smith get his jaw broken in an infamous locker-room spat. He has changed the culture. Now change the ending.

Gailey, the grizzled offensive coordinator who had been out of football for two years, though you never would have guessed it.

Run the table.

Win out.

Too much to ask?

Probably.

But no regrets that way.

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‘Unbelievable’ Damon Harrison is giving Jets D-line quandary (Brian Costello) New York Post December 12, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/unbelievable-damon-harrison-is-giving-jets-d-line-quandary/

Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison made waves this summer when he called himself the best player at the position in the NFL. But he has backed it up this year.

Harrison is having a tremendous season, and is giving the Jets front office a lot to think about this winter when he hits free agency.

“I think I’ve done pretty good thus far,” Harrison said. “Obviously, I’m not having statistical pass rush success [just a half-sack], but if you watch the film, I’m pushing the pocket. I’m active. I’ve actually come close to a lot of sacks this year. I’m just a step too slow. As a whole, stopping the run is something I do. I pride myself on being a good run defender. I could be better, but it’s been OK.”

The Jets do not count on Harrison to provide a pass rush. They rely on him to clog up the middle against the run, and he has been great at that. He had 12 tackles against the Texans a few weeks ago in his best game of the season.

Harrison will be a free agent in March. The Jets have to figure out what they are going to do along with the defensive line, with Muhammad Wilkerson also scheduled to hit free agency and Sheldon Richardson heading there in 2018.

It won’t be an easy decision if all three keep playing at a high level.

“Snacks is playing unbelievable, holding the nose position down,” Wilkerson said. “He made a comment before the season that he was the best nose tackle and he’s definitely playing like he’s one of the best.”

RB Chris Ivory’s production in the run game has dropped a bit since his hot start to the season, but he is having an impact as a receiver, too. Ivory has a career-high 24 catches this season. He had five catches against the Giants last week, another career high.

“You go in every week, I go in every week thinking we’re going to run the ball, we’re going to do this and what’s happened is we find people playing the run and so it’s opened up some of the pass game and now we’ve started to use him in the pass game some,” offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. “He’s making

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some big catches for us in the pass game and getting yards. We’re still trying to get him the ball, sometimes it might be via pass more than it is via run. I go into it every week trying to get the running game going, we just haven’t been as consistent as we need to be.”

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NJ ADVANCE MEDIA

NFL 2015: What TV channel, time is Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets? Livestream info (Darryl Slater) NJ Advanced Media December 13, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/nfl_tv_schedule_tennessee_titans_vs_new_york_jets.html#incart_river_index

The Jets host the Titans on Sunday.

Here are some things you need to know about this game:

What: Titans (3-9) at Jets (7-5)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

All time: Tennessee, 24-18-1

Last meeting: Jets, 16-11 (Dec. 14, 2014)

Line: Jets -7 (per Bovada)

Over/under: 43 (per Bovada)

TV: CBS, with Kevin Harlan doing play-by-play and Rich Gannon as the analyst

Will game be shown in your area? Please refer to this NFL coverage map

Live stream: NFL Game Pass (subscription required)

Radio: 98.7 WEPN-FM, with Bob Wischusen doing play-by-play and Marty Lyons as the analyst

Spanish radio: 1050 AM ESPN Deportes, with Clemson Smith-Muñiz doing play-by-play and Oscar Benitez as the analyst

Satellite radio: Jets broadcast on Sirius XM 232, SIRI 133, Internet 821. Titans broadcast on SIRI 108, Internet 830.

How will Jets finish regular season? (Poll Closed)

10-6 54.13%

9-7 24.35%

11-5 14.22%

8-8 4.05%

7-9 3.25%

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Tennessee Titans-Jets predictions: Our staff picks for Sunday's game (Dom Cosentino)

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NJ Advance Media December 13, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/tennessee_titans-jets_predictions_our_staff_picks.html#incart_river_index

This is how Team NJ Advance Media sees Sunday's game going down between the Titans (3-9) and the Jets (7-5) at MetLife Stadium. Per Bovada, the Jets are seven-point favorites. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Darryl Slater, Jets beat reporter (5-6-1 against the spread, 8-4 straight up): By losing this game, the Jets can instantly erase all the good vibes created by last week's win over the Giants. And be honest, Jets fans: You're bracing for disaster in this game, aren't you? Well, these Jets aren't a perfect team, but they're good enough to beat a Titans squad that has a promising rookie quarterback in Marcus Mariota, yes, but also lacks a legitimate range of offensive weapons. The Jets just need to make sure they cover tight end Delanie Walker down the seam. He is Mariota's top target, by far. You'll come out of Sunday's game impressed by Mariota — he is legit — but also pleased with another Jets victory, and their first three-game winning streak since 2011. (Yes, it has been that long.) Jets 27, Titans 17

Steve Politi, columnist (7-5 against the spread, 9-3 straight up): It would be a perfect Jets moment to lose to the Titans now—you were SUPPOSED to lose to them last year, fellas—but I don't see that happening. The Titans are bad, the Jets have a lot to play for, and I suspect the boost from beating the Giants in dramatic fashion last week will be considerable. Jets 31, Titans 10

Dom Cosentino, Jets beat reporter (6-6 against the spread, 7-5 straight up): Oh, dear. Another Jets game that has to absolutely terrify the team's fan base. They're 7-5, they're coming off a thrilling overtime comebacker against the Giants, and now they're at home against a Titans team that's already fired its head coach. This is exactly the kind of game the Jets should win, which makes it exactly the kind of game Jets fans are worried they won't. But they will. Jets 28, Titans 13

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Jets' defense on a sack surge heading into Tennessee Titans game (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media December 12, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/12/jets_on_a_sack_surge_heading_into_tennessee_titans.html#incart_river_index

After a slow start, the Jets' defense is starting to get its hands on opposing quarterbacks.

The Jets recorded just 11 sacks in the season's first eight weeks. But since Week 9, when they got to Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles six times, the Jets have 17 sacks—the highest total in the NFL during that span.

That recent surge gives the Jets 28 sacks for the season, which only ranks tied for 18th in the league.

The bigger issue for the Jets had been getting pressure, a problem that was glaringly obvious during that stretch in which they lost four of five between Weeks 7 and 11.

Getting pressure is key to the Jets' success (just as it likely is for most teams). Before their recent wins against the Dolphins and Giants, the Jets in their five wins had pressured the quarterback on 46.9 percent of all dropbacks; in their five losses, that figure fell to 31.8 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.

Interestingly, while the Jets relied more on coverage against the Dolphins and Giants—they blitzed on just 33 of 99 dropbacks, per PFF—they managed to get pressure 40.4 percent of the time.

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That's a sign that the defensive front—in particular end Muhammad Wilkerson, whose nine sacks are tied for fifth-best in the league—has been doing a better job with pressure in recent weeks. And rookie Lorenzo Mauldin, who's being used primarily on third downs, is starting to develop into the edge rusher the Jets want him to be.

Big number: 18

Brandon Marshall (10) and Eric Dekcer (eight) have combined for 18 receiving touchdowns this season, the most by a pair of Jets receivers since Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet in 1998.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets coach Todd Bowles has seen enough from Ryan Fitzpatrick that he wants QB back in 2016 (Manish Mehta) New York Daily News December 12, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-bowles-ryan-fitzpatrick-back-jets-2016-article-1.2463907

How does a guy destined for Wall Street wind up here? How does an economics major from a place that has produced U.S. presidents, foreign heads of state and Nobel laureates find himself doing this? How does it last so long?

How has Ryan Fitzpatrick done it?

The cookie-cutter storyline was supposed to be a footnote in his life: Scrappy rookie seventh-round Ivy Leaguer cut after No. 3 quarterback training camp battle.

Thanks for the memories, NFL. Time to find a real job.

Somehow, the story has stretched 11 years through six cities. Rejection has been the soundtrack for as long as he can remember. Stanford, Arizona State and Notre Dame passed on him long before NFL journeyman became a part of his permanent record.

Fitzpatrick has never been able to take a hint. He’s been cut or traded five times in the past nine years because teams held on to the promise of something he could never be: The next big thing. There was always someone younger with more potential on the horizon.

Fitzpatrick has been the eternal placeholder, the rebound in every team-quarterback relationship, the guy you forget about five years from now.

“That’s been my whole career: I’ve been the afterthought,” Fitzpatrick told the Daily News in a quiet moment. “I’ve gotten used to it. It’s kind of what everybody thinks. I like playing the role of the underdog. That’s fine with me. I just want to go out there and win. That’s it.”

Fitzpatrick was supposed to blend into the background this season too. The Jets traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Texans this offseason to get veteran insurance for Geno Smith. There was no quarterback competition. Fitzpatrick’s role was clearly defined: Hang out and be there... just in case.

Smith’s locker-room fight with IK Enemkpali on Aug. 11 changed everything and set in motion a career resurgence for Fitzpatrick.

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The guy not good enough to build around has given hope to a star-crossed franchise. The Jets might still be searching for a long-term solution at quarterback, but Todd Bowles told the News that he wants to re-sign Fitzpatrick for at least one more season.

“Definitely,” the head coach said when asked whether he wants Fitzpatrick back next year.

The veteran signal caller is in the final year of a two-year deal that he signed with the Texans.

“We got to work (it out) after the season,” Bowles said of the impending free agent.

How is Bowles so sure that Fitzpatrick should be back with the Jets in 2016?

“You can see it in his play,” Bowles said. “You can see it in his demeanor, his professionalism. Every day, the way he approaches his job. So, it’s somebody you definitely want around.”

Fitzpatrick has found a calm and peace unlike at any other time in his career. “It’s interesting the way that all the stars have aligned,” the quarterback said.

He’s smarter on Sundays too. His career highlight prior to this season came playing for Chan Gailey in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick averaged an interception every 28 attempts during those three gun-slinging years with Gailey. He’s averaging an interception every 37 attempts in his second go-round with the play-caller.

“In Buffalo, he was trying to make every play,” Bowles said of Fitzpatrick. “He was trying to be ‘the guy’ to make every play.”

His mindset has changed. He’s no longer Maverick. He’s not buzzing the tower with unauthorized fly-bys anymore.

Now, Fitzpatrick is just another 33-year-old Harvard graduate leading a billion-dollar organization.

“There’s so much about quarterback that’s the mental side,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s about experience. It’s about being able to think through the game.

I don’t know how long I’m going to play, but I feel that I’m better now than I’ve been at any point in my career. I feel that I’m better now than I have been in terms of football IQ, the way I’m seeing the game and the way I’m throwing the ball. I would love to continue to build off that.”

“I love playing for Coach Bowles,” he added. “I love being on this team.”

Few things in life actually upset Fitzpatrick. His kids’ penchant for bending playing cards during Skip-Bo is one of them. Questioning his ability to excel on the field just because he’s 33 is another (even though he’s too nice to admit it).

Perception likely won’t change even if he helps the 7-5 Jets, who host the Titans on Sunday, break a four-year playoff drought. Stereotypes don’t magically disappear. He’s destined to be “the other guy.”

“I think that’s definitely the perception whether it’s around the league or public perception,” Fitzpatrick said. “But it doesn’t really matter to me.”

Fitzpatrick is a terrible liar. It must bother him on some level, because it should bother him. He’s on pace to tie Vinny Testaverde’s franchise record for touchdown passes in a season (29). He’s developed invaluable chemistry with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, who are having the best combined statistical seasons of any wide receiver tandem in franchise history. Fitzpatrick has infused the locker room with “confidence, energy and fun,” according to Decker.

“He does a great job of managing,” Marshall told The News. “He’s in a leadership position. Some quarterbacks want it. Some don’t. Regardless, that position is a CEO. You have to be able to lead up to the

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board and you have to be able to lead down to the guys on the floor. ... He does a great job of managing all of our egos and personalities.”

Being well-traveled also has its privileges. Fitzpatrick’s past experiences in ever-changing environments have helped him adjust quickly to the Jets personnel. It’s been one of the critical reasons for his success.

“Moving around so much you get used to different types of players,” Fitzpatrick said. “Big, little, fast, slow. So that’s something that I think is one of my best traits. I’ve got a lot of experience with a lot of different types of players.”

Fitzpatrick’s toughness is the primary reason why he’s universally respected in the locker room. He missed only one practice after undergoing surgery to repair a torn thumb ligament last month. The thought of losing his job due to injury was “maybe in the back of my mind, yeah, who knows,” but the driving force to accelerate his return was simply to help the team win.

“If pain is the only thing that is going to maybe keep me off the field,” Fitzpatrick said about fast-tracking his return after going under the knife, “Then there’s no way I’m going to be off the field, because it’s not a big deal.”

Fitzpatrick’s post-op numbers have been better. He has 11 touchdowns, four interceptions and three 100-plus passer ratings in the five games since the surgery. He has six touchdowns and no picks in the past two weeks, prompting the question: Where would the Jets be without him this season?

“I don’t know if Geno would have taken us here,” Bowles said. “I don’t know if he wouldn’t have taken us here. It’s hard to say and do the what-ifs at the quarterback spot… but I don’t want to even think about that.”

Nobody does. There’s an unspoken understanding around this place, a belief that sometimes the answer is right in front of you no matter how tempted you are to look past it.

Ryan Fitzpatrick saved their season.

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Jets' Brandon Marshall says he once hid concussion to stay on field, but argues kids should not be banned from playing football (Daniel Popper) New York Daily News December 12, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/brandon-marshall-hid-concussion-stay-field-article-1.2463734

Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall has shared some scary details about his battle with a concussion.

In an open letter to Dr. Bennet Omalu — the forensic pathologist who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the brains of deceased football players — Marshall claims he suffered a serious concussion in 2010 that he never disclosed to his then-team. He refused to inform doctors because he was in his “contract year.”

“If I missed games, my value would suffer, and I didn't want to lose the security I was so close to having for me and my family,” Marshall wrote in the letter, published on The Huffington Post. “So I played through it, and I promised my wife I would never do that again. But for two weeks, I was woozy. I couldn't close my eyes without losing my balance. I definitely had suffered a concussion and kept playing like many other players.”

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Marshall didn’t explicitly write which team he was playing for at the time, and the timeframe is a bit confusing.

In 2010, Marshall was in his first season with the Dolphins. He’d been traded to Miami from the Broncos on April 14, 2010 after finishing the 2009 season in Denver. On the same day as the trade, Marshall signed a four-year, $47.5-million extension to stay in Miami. So it’s possible Marshall was actually referring to that final season with the Broncos as the year he suffered the undocumented concussion. Either way, his example shows just how far the NFL has come in terms of its awareness of concussions and willingness to

One of the big reasons behind that progress is Omalu, and in his letter, Marshall commends the doctor for his “groundbreaking work” in the research of head trauma and football. But Marshall wrote the letter as a response to Omalu’s Op-Ed in the New York Times, in which the doctor argues kids should not be allowed to play football because of health concerns.

Marshall disagrees.

“Would I set my dreams on an NFL career and go for it again?” Marshall writes shortly after describing his concussion experience. “Absolutely.”

Marshall goes on to give four reasons why kids shouldn’t be banned from football.

First, he writes, “football not only changed my life, it changed my entire family.” Marshall says because of football, he was able to get help for his borderline personality disorder. Also, his mom conquered her alcoholism while his sister entered a treatment facility.

Second, Marshall says the “reward is greater than the sacrifice.” Effectively, the Jets wide receiver argues he’d rather have kids play football than engage in the criminal activity prevalent in inner-city neighborhoods.

Third, Marshall claims “football brings people together.” He cites television viewership for Super Bowls as evidence.

Lastly, Marshall believes “football is getting safer” between techniques, equipment technology and enhanced concussion protocols.

He concludes his letter by again addressing Omalu directly.

“For me, football was a lifeline. And for many other NFL players, it was a lifeline. If it wasn't for football, a lot of us would be dead, or lost, roaming the streets somewhere,” Marshall writes. “With all due respect, Dr. Omalu, football doesn't give us an opportunity to play a game. It gives us a chance at life.”

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets - Titans: 3 things to watch for (kickoff time, TV channel) (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York December 13, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/jets-titans-3-things-to-watch-for-kickoff-time-tv-channel/zsJolk---A4joxwZc3Gc/

Back from the abyss, the New York Jets (7-5) are once again a playoff team, now riding a two-game winning streak. It is the team’s first two-game win streak since the season’s first two games.

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Two more wins in the final month might let them sneak in, but there are tiebreakers in place with the Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders that work against them. Three wins though would be a huge boost if this Jets team wants to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

And a win on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) against the Tennessee Titans would ensure first-year head coach Todd Bowles that his squad won’t have a losing record this year. It also would double the team’s win total from the previous year, this with three games left to play.

1. More Fitzmagic?

Since trimming his beard two weeks ago, the Jets are not only undefeated but their quarterback looks like Roger Staubach out there. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for 667 yards in those two games and has six touchdowns. Most impressive, he doesn’t have an interception in the stretch. Fitzpatrick continues to work his magic, systematically moving the ball down the field. And with that overtime comeback win last week over the Giants, the offense has great confidence in their leader.

This is Fitzpatrick’s first two-game stretch this season where he hasn’t thrown an interception.

2. It's never easy

The Titans have one of the league’s better pass defenses, No. 9 overall. They are aggressive and break to the ball well. What is concerning from their perspective is that they don’t have a ton interceptions and their run defense is very average. Look for the Jets to try and run early in this game, forcing the Titans to move their safeties into the box. Then Fitzpatrick can utilize the play-action and out patterns to get the ball quickly down the field. Last week in a win over the Jaguars, the Titans let quarterback Blake Bortles throw for over 300 yards and five touchdowns. So they are susceptible down the field.

3. Young gun

The Titans have their own burgeoning quarterback prospect, Marcus Mariota. Last week, the second overall pick in this spring’s NFL draft threw for 268 yards, completing 20-of-29 passes. He had three touchdowns in the win. Mariota still has a lot of transition to make from Oregon’s wacky, pass-friendly spread offense. But he’s making smart decisions and is growing with the early returns — showing that he’s the best quarterback of this draft class. His mechanics have also been solid even as he has had to adjust and grow now to a pro-style offense.

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'Predictalator' gives Jets ugly odds at making the playoffs (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York December 12, 2015

http://www.metro.us/new-york/predictalator-gives-jets-ugly-odds-at-making-the-playoffs/zsJoll---rMLkj6JYmLXA/

The New York Jets are currently 7-5, a two-game winning streak lifting a team whose season hung in the balance just a couple weeks before.

Last week in an overtime comeback win over the New York Giants, the Jets were given a 1 percent chance to win late in the game. Turns out they defied odds and they will have to defy odds again if they want to make the postseason.

Conventional wisdom sees an uphill battle for the Jets to get in. So do computers.

According to the fascinating 'Predictalator,' the Jets don't have a very good chance at making the playoffs. Currently heading into this Sunday's game at the Tennessee Titans, they have a 38 percent chance to make

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the playoffs as a Wild Card team. This is based off of PredictionMachine.com's most recent finding, based off of 50,000 simulations of the entire NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs at 77.5 percent and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 50.8 percent are currently ahead of the Jets in the hunt for the two Wild Card slots. The Chiefs are projected to go 10-6 as the Steelers and Jets both are predicted to have 9-7 records.

For those curious, the Jets have a 4 percent chance to win the AFC East and a 1.6 percent chance at the Super Bowl according to the site.

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SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

HOUSTON ASTROS — Traded RHPs Mark Appel, Harold Arauz, Thomas Eshelman and Vince Velasquez and LHP Brett Oberholtzer to Philadelphia for RHP Ken Giles and SS Jonathan Arauz.

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Designated RHP A.J. Schugel for assignment.

ATLANTA BRAVES — Sent RHP Ryne Harper to Seattle to complete an earlier trade.

NEW YORK METS — Announced the retirement of OF Michael Cuddyer.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Traded RHP David Whitehead to Pittsburgh for RHP Charlie Morton. Designated RHPs A.J. Achter and Dan Otero for assignment.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

ATLANTA FALCONS — Placed PK Matt Bryant on injured reserve. Signed DT Joey Mbu from the practice squad.

BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed OT Eugene Monroe on injured reserve. Waived OL Kaleb Johnson. Signed QB Bryn Renner and WR Chris Matthews from the practice squad.

CHICAGO BEARS — Placed WR Marquess Wilson on injured reserve. Signed S Demontre Hurst from the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Signed LB Eric Martin from the practice squad and RB Trey Williams to the practice squad.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Signed DE Stansly Maponga from Atlanta’s practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — Placed LB Neiron Ball on injured reserve. Signed DT Leon Orr from the practice squad.

ST. LOUIS RAMS — Placed S T.J. McDonald on injured reserve. Signed CB Eric Patterson from the practice squad.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS — Released WR Shane Wynn from the practice squad. Placed DT Corey Liuget and CB Brandon Flowers on injured reserve. Activated DE Darius Philon from injured reserve. Signed QB Brad Sorensen from the practice squad and CB Adrian Phillips to the practice squad.

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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Placed RB Carlos Hyde on injured reserve. Signed TE Brian Leonhardt from the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Placed LB Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil on injured reserve. Signed LB J.R. Tavai from the practice squad.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS — Fired coach Mike Johnston and assistant coach Gary Agnew. Named Mike Sullivan coach

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Recalled F Mike Blumden from Syracuse (AHL).

American Hockey League

NORFOLK ADMIRALS — Assigned F Alexis Loiseau to Norfolk (ECHL).

TORONTO MARLIES — Recalled F Eric Faille from Orlando (ECHL).

ECHL

BRAMPTON BEAST — Signed F Ben Power.

COLORADO EAGLES — Released G Julien Hernandez as emergency backup. Signed G Peter Di Salvo.

MANCHESTER MONARCHS — Signed F Matt Harlow.

COLLEGE

GEORGIA — Named Jim Chaney offensive coordinator, Sam Pittman offensive line coach and Glen Schumann defensive assistant.

TULSA — Announced the resignations of co-offensive coordinators Sterlin Gilbert and Matt Mattox to accept positions at Texas. Named Mike Bloesch offensive line coach.

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