Brandon Marshall says everyone shares blame for Jets' loss

In the wake of the Jets' fourth loss in five games, Brandon Marshall said there's plenty of blame to go around. Including himself.

The wide receiver had two more drops in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Texans, so go ahead and blame him. But he's got plenty of company after yet another dispiriting effort. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two late interceptions. The defense gave up a touchdown pass on a trick play and two more to star receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

"Players like myself have to make plays," Marshall said. "It's very frustrating. It [stinks], but at the end of the day, you have to pick yourself back up and fight."

At 5-5, the Jets still are in the thick of the wild-card playoff race. But with a host of other teams also in contention, including the 5-5 Texans, every loss becomes critical from now through the end of the season.

"We're not playing good football, and that's everybody in the locker room," said Marshall, who had five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. "I'm not going to answer any questions about this guy, that guy, this coach, that coach. For me, my answer is simple. Coaches coach, players play. That's all it is.

"Are we a better team? We are," Marshall said. "Can we do something these last six games? Yes. Special teams need to be better. Offense needs to be better. Defense needs to be better."

The outspoken receiver said it would be unfair to put the blame solely on Fitzpatrick, who failed to beat a Texans team that traded him to the Jets in the offseason.

Fitzpatrick was evaluated for a concussion shortly after scoring a touchdown on a 6-yard run up the middle with 4:20 to go. On the play, his helmet was knocked off.

"They came over to me, one of our doctors and an independent neurologist came over to me, and asked me a few questions, but I was fine," Fitzpatrick said.

If the neurologist had determined that Fitzpatrick was showing symptoms of a concussion, he would have been removed from the game. Fitzpatrick did not miss any plays, however.

"It's not all on Ryan," Marshall said. "It's the whole team. We have to make plays for Ryan to get him going early. The coaches have to put him in better situations. We're all interconnected. It's not one coach. It's not one player. It's not one play. It's all of us."

So what's it going to take to get back on the kind of roll the Jets enjoyed early in the season when they jumped out to a 4-1 record?

"We don't control our own destiny, but we just have to make one play," he said. "One play turns into one game, one game turns into a couple. That's what we have to do."

The solution isn't complicated.

"It's football, at the end of the day," Marshall said. "I grew up playing this game, just like all these other guys here. Started when I was 6 years old, and the game hasn't changed. Throw, catch. You run, you block, you tackle. Right? Simple stuff."

Just not for the Jets. At least not these last five weeks.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”