National Football League

Banged-up Jets pull out 28-23 victory over Jaguars

Published Nov. 9, 2015 2:48 a.m. ET

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Brandon Marshall wasn't interested in style points.

Sure, the New York Jets' latest win was pretty ugly. There were mistakes, blown opportunities and more injuries. But hanging on and coming away with a 28-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday was the only thing that mattered.

''A win is a win,'' Marshall said. ''It doesn't matter how it looks, how it feels to win. It's hard to get in this league.''

The Jets (5-3) were facing an embarrassing loss at home and a midseason crisis in Todd Bowles' first season as coach. But Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes while playing with a torn ligament in his left thumb, Chris Ivory ran for two scores and the Jets took advantage of late mistakes by the Jaguars to squeeze out the victory.

Blake Bortles was 24 of 40 for 381 yards and two touchdowns, including a 20-yard pass to Bryan Walters with 2:16 left for Jacksonville, which was coming off a bye week.

But Marcus Williams came up with his second interception of the game on Jacksonville's next possession as the Jets sent the Jaguars (2-6) to their 13th straight road loss.

''We just didn't finish it,'' coach Gus Bradley said. ''You look back on it, a lot of these were self-inflicted, the turnovers and the penalties at inopportune times. We did it to ourselves.''

Marshall had a diving 20-yard TD catch after the Jets recovered a fumbled punt return late in the fourth quarter, and New York ended a two-game skid in a ragged performance by both sides.

''This game was a big game and a must-win game for us,'' cornerback Darrelle Revis said. ''We felt like we were the better team coming in, but at the same time, they gave us a run for our money.''

The banged-up Jets have a quick turnaround to prepare for former coach Rex Ryan's Buffalo Bills at home on Thursday night.

Here are things to know about the Jets' win over the Jaguars:

THUMBS UP: Fitzpatrick had no issues with his thumb, which was injured last week at Oakland. He finished 21 of 34 for 272 yards, including touchdowns to Marshall and Eric Decker.

During CBS' game broadcast, a sideline reporter said Fitzpatrick told them during a production meeting that he probably wouldn't wait until after the season to have surgery to repair the thumb, and the reporter speculated that Friday could make sense since the Jets play Thursday night.

While Fitzpatrick said things are still ''up in the air,'' he acknowledged after the game that Friday is a possibility. ''Yes,'' he said. ''I have to get surgery at some point.''

JAGS' GAFFES: The Jaguars were driving in the fourth quarter, but after a holding call pushed them back, Calvin Pace had a strip-sack of Bortles and recovered the fumble.

''I've got to get rid of the ball or take off and run or do something,'' Bortles said

The Jets couldn't do anything on the ensuing possession and were forced to punt - but Jacksonville's Nick Marshall fumbled it and Kellen Davis recovered to give New York the ball at the 25. Three plays later, Marshall made his big grab in the back of the end zone that made it 28-16 with 2:41 left.

Jacksonville had another chance after Walters' touchdown, but Williams ended it with his second INT.

TRAINERS' ROOM: The Jets are dealing with some new key injuries, including a strained right quadriceps for kicker Nick Folk. He was injured during pregame warmups and replaced on kickoffs and field goals by punter Ryan Quigley, who made all four of his extra-point attempts. Folk was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.

Center Nick Mangold left with a neck injury, saying it didn't respond well in the game after he was initially hurt at New England on Oct. 25. Wesley Johnson, who started in Mangold's place last weekend, replaced him again in the second quarter.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie also left with a thigh injury, and safety Dion Bailey has an ankle injury.

ROAD WOES: The Jaguars have the NFL's longest active road losing streak, even though they came close to snapping it Sunday.

Their last road win came on Dec. 1, 2013, at Cleveland - nearly two years ago. Jacksonville beat Buffalo two weeks ago at London, but that was technically a ''home'' game for the Jaguars.

''It was a positive step,'' said wide receiver Allen Hurns, who increased his franchise record to six straight games with a TD reception. ''At the end of the day, this one hurts.''

STUFFED UP: After an impressive start to the season, Ivory has been shut down in his last three games.

Jacksonville held Ivory to 26 yards on 23 carries. He had just 17 yards on 15 carries at Oakland last week, and 41 on 17 rushes two weeks ago - an average of 1.5 yards per carry in those three games.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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