New York Jets

New York Jets: Rex Ryan Owns Ryan Fitzpatrick

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick really struggled against the Buffalo Bills last season. Due to Rex Ryan being on the sidelines, we shouldn’t be surprised.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was a huge surprise for the New York Jets last season. He was able to have the best season of his career, and set the single-season passing touchdowns record for the Jets. However, Fitzpatrick did really struggle against the Buffalo Bills and Rex Ryan.

After being fired by the Jets, Ryan went on to become the head coach of the Bills. Due to two losses against Ryan last season, the Jets missed the playoffs. In the two games, the Jets lost by identical scores of 22-17. The results for Fitzpatrick weren’t identical, but they also weren’t good.

In the first loss to the Bills, Fitzpatrick totaled 193 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and completed 15 of 24 passes. In Week 17, Fitzpatrick didn’t do much better, as he totaled 181 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and completed 16 of 37 passes.

“Rex’s defenses over the years, the thing about them is they’re so multiple,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday to Connor Hughes of NJ.com. “It’s changed a little bit. It’s gotten a little bit different based on personnel. When he’s here versus when he’s there, and year to year, you see differences too.”

According to NJ.com, Fitzpatrick’s stats and record are both very poor throughout his career against Ryan. In 10 games, Fitzpatrick has totaled a 2-8 record. There was one game in 2013 that Fitzpatrick did come in as the quarterback for the Titans, but those statistics weren’t counted.

His average statistics in those 10 games are not pretty. He averages per game a completion percentage of 47%, 165 passing yards, 1.45 touchdown passes, and one interception. While you don’t want to say that a game in the second week of the season is a must-win, that is the feeling surrounding this game.

“There (is a) sense of urgency,” Bowles said earlier this week. “We don’t want to go 0-2.”

For the Jets to be able to beat Buffalo, a good game from Fitzpatrick could simply be all that they need. As a Harvard graduate, Fitzpatrick is a very smart player, but he has yet to figure out the defenses of Ryan.

Furthermore, with a tough schedule coming after the game against the Bills, the Jets don’t want to be 0-2. Finally, if Fitzpatrick plays like he has in his career against Ryan, the Jets will lose.