Not Throwing in the TowelWith the Jets sitting at 3-6 following their Week 9 27-23 loss to the Dolphins, WR Brandon Marshall said the team made its own bed. However, the 11-year veteran will keep his head down and push ahead until the Green & White are mathematically eliminated from postseason competition.
"Until they tell us it's over, then that's when I'll start making plans to shift my focus on playing for pride or playing for the name on the back of my jersey, playing for the guys in the locker room," Marshall said. "But as of right now I'm still playing for the playoffs. I'm still playing to win every single ball game. It's harder, but until they tell me it's over, I'm going to stay focused and stay the course with what the approach and mentality that I have now."
Tightening Up the ScrewsDL Steve McLendon said head coach Todd Bowles continues to stress playing smart football. The Jets saw a lot of laundry on the field Sunday as they tied a season-high with 10 penalties for 77 yards. Additionally, the offense finished with just one touchdown on their five red zone trips. The team also lost the turnover battle as Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions and the game-deciding score came on a 96-yard kickoff return by Kenyan Drake.
"Guys understand that this is the game, we all love it. I think the biggest thing and like I've said before, we have to stay together. We will stay together," McLendon said. "We just have to play smarter. We have a long way to go. We have division games left, but we need to take one game at a time and this week will be a good time for us to go out there and correct all those little things we messed up this past game."
"Well we have to do a lot better job penalty wise," added Bowles. "Situational football we have to be better. Any time there's a turnover or a big play given up, it falls on the head coach so I take responsibility for everything."
Utility PlayerAfter playing RT in the Jets' first eight games, Ben Ijalana filled in for Ryan Clady (shoulder) at LT and protected Fitzpatrick's blind side against the Dolphins. The six-year vet originally entered the NFL as a left tackle and spent time under the wing of LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson after his time in Indianapolis.
"There's always work for improvement, but I feel like it went well," Ijalana said. "It was something I worked on during the week so I had an opportunity to get my sets in, get my work in during the week. So I'm happy that things went well with that transition."
InjuriesCB Marcus Williams suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday…Todd Bowles said both C Nick Mangold (ankle) and Clady will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.
