For most of Sunday's game against the Patriots, Jets WR Eric Decker had a quiet day.
"Eric did a tremendous job of staying patient," said QB Ryan Fitzpatrick while addressing the media at the podium. "I missed him on a few throws and he didn't have a lot of balls come his way, but then he makes the biggest catch of the night. He's obviously a true professional the way that he approaches it and a great team player as well."
Decker finished the day with three catches for 47 yards and one touchdown. And his 6-yard catch in the right corner of the end zone from Fitzpatrick stamped the 26-20 overtime victory for the Jets, defeating New England, splitting the 2015 series, and keeping their playoff drive alive.
"Down there we had a pass/run option," said Decker in explaining the game-winning play on Jets Talk Live. "I got outside leverage on him, leaned him, the perfect ball, and I told Fitz he missed me in the first quarter, he couldn't throw it any better and I'm just so happy to get this victory.
"We always believed in one another and that's just a testament to it in overtime," added Decker. "Some big plays were made. Give credit to the offensive line for giving Fitz some time, him making the right reads, us coming up with some plays. We knew that when we got the ball in overtime it was going to be finished on that drive and we made sure that we took care of business."
In the excitement of the victory, Decker did his best New York Jets impersonation of the Lambeau Leap into the East end zone stands at MetLife Stadium.
"It's a beautiful thing," said Decker. "Those are the moments you cherish and remember. It's never really the stats you remember, it's those moments with your teammates in the locker room, the excitement. The way we've been playing the game the past five weeks is what it's all about."
Decker increased his season totals to 75 receptions, 977 yards and 11 touchdowns. He thus has improved his 2014 totals with the Jets in all categories. In fact, he needs five catches for his third 80-catch season and 23 yards for his third 1,000-yard season, and the touchdown leaves his two shy of his single-season best of 13 established in 2012.
"Games can be won in different ways," said the sixth-year wideout from the University of Minnesota. "Today I thought we did some good things in the second quarter. The second half we were a little slow on offense but the defense kept us in there. But we always said let's finish this drive, and we had an opportunity and we did."
The Jets have held up their side of the bargain by winning five straight games, a first in the Todd Bowles era.
"That's what football is all about," said Decker. "We control our own destiny now. You take care of business, you allow yourself to keep playing in January. We know that we have a lot of work to do. Buffalo beat us last time here at home. We have to get a good week of prep and get ready to go on Sunday."
