Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for Jets vs. Dolphins

In Ryan Fitzpatrick's mind, it wasn't even a debate. Apparently, his coach felt the same way.

Less than 24 hours after the quarterback played his worst game of the season and the Jets (5-5) lost for the fourth time in five games, Todd Bowles announced Monday that Fitzpatrick will start Sunday against the Dolphins (4-6). And there wasn't much debate about it, he said.

"We went over the film like we always do and we judge everybody and we rate every player," Bowles said on a conference call. "He came out and he missed some throws, but like everybody else, he did a lot of things [wrong] and we did a lot of things wrong as a group that we have to correct."

After helping the Jets mount a fourth-quarter comeback in Houston, Fitzpatrick threw two late interceptions to help the Texans escape with a 24-17 win.

On Sunday, in the wake of another puzzling performance, Bowles appeared to leave open the possibility of making a quarterback switch to Geno Smith at some point. But a day later, he put the speculation to rest.

For Fitzpatrick, however, the question of who should start was simple to answer.

"Yeah, I do think I'm the right man for the job,'' the 11-year veteran said, although he added that he hasn't "played well the last few games.''

"I think, unfortunately and fortunately, I've got a lot of experience in playing for teams that have been in this situation, where we've lost a few games,'' said Fitzpatrick, who is with his sixth team.

"We've got to stay the course, we've got to right the ship, we've got to do all that stuff. And I think, at this point in my career, I've learned a ton, and all the different situations I've been in, I have no problem shouldering any blame that gets thrown my way and all the blame that I deserve and don't deserve.

"I think I'm the right guy to get this thing going back in the right direction."

His passer rating is 81.5, 27th in the NFL. But a feisty Fitzpatrick quickly dismissed criticism of his playing ability. "That's fine, but I'm still here," he said with a bit of an edge.

So why does his coach have faith in him?

"I don't think a lot of throws are Ryan's fault," Bowles said. "You have to look at the overall scheme, not just the quarterback, and as far as things are getting done, and a lot of times we just need to get on the same page. I think Ryan made some good throws. I thought he made some bad ones as well.

"But you don't give up on a quarterback just like that, because overall what he's done this year, he still proved he can do that going forward."