Biggest Takeaways from New York Jets' Week 14 Win

It's all smiles in the New York Jets offices at MetLife Stadium.

With a 30-8 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, the Jets moved to 8-5. With three games left to go in the regular season, the Jets are one of the two AFC teams leading the pack for wild-card spots.

This was a redemption game for the entire team. Of course, wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker continued their reign of terror, but the running game snapped back into form and the defense delivered a performance on par with some of its best of the season. 

And now, the Jets boast a top-10 offense and a top-10 defense. No wonder head coach Todd Bowles is smiling so wide.

Here are some of the other takeaways from Sunday's win. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick Was, Is and Remains the Right Choice at Quarterback

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Whether the Jets lucked into it or not, Ryan Fitzpatrick has proved to be the right decision at quarterback for this team. He's not putting up video game-like numbers, but he is managing the game, and over the past three weeks, he's completed 79 of his 123 passes (64.2 percent) for 930 yards with nine touchdowns, no interceptions and a 111.5 passer rating.

On Sunday against the Titans, Fitzpatrick put up 21 completions on 36 pass attempts for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He also added three rushing attempts for 23 yards and helped the Jets move the chains on seven of 15 third-down attempts.

He got some help from the offensive line, which allowed Fitzpatrick to be sacked just one time against the Titans pass rush. If Fitzpatrick keeps playing at this level, the Jets offense—not the defense—could be the unit that solidifies the team's status as a dark-horse candidate to make a deep playoff run.

Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker Are the Best Duo of WRs in Jets History

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Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall cannot be stopped; they can only be contained. And even containing them is a tall order.

Marshall and Decker have combined for 20 receiving touchdowns this season, the most ever by a duo of receivers in Jets history. They have also combined for 155 receptions and 2,062 receiving yards on the season.

Decker was good as the Jets' No. 1 receiver in 2014, but he has been even better in the No. 2 role, and has thrived in the slot (tied for fifth-most receptions in the slot with 44 this season, according to Pro Football Focus). Last season, he posted 74 receptions for 962 yards and five touchdowns. He has already exceeded his touchdown total by four, and he is just eight receptions and 87 yards shy of last year's totals in those respective marks.

That being said, Marshall's renaissance has been a sight to behold, and is arguably the biggest reason for the Jets' offensive success. He played 13 games last year, and in 13 games this year, he has already exceeded his 2014 totals by 28 receptions, 466 yards and three touchdowns. Each week, he's proving that last year wasn't the beginning of the end, but just an exception to the rule that he puts up big numbers year after year.

Long story short, the Jets need to do anything in their power to keep these two together as long as possible. Yes, Marshall will be 32 and Decker will be 29 next year, but the way these two are playing, the Jets would be foolish not to run this well dry to the bone.

The Jets Can Still Run It Down Their Opponent's Throat

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When the Jets were dominating opponents early this season during their 4-1 start to the year, the running game was one of the biggest reasons for their success. That dimension of their offense evaporated as the team hit a 1-4 skid, but has been revitalized over the past few weeks as the Jets have revived their playoff hopes.

Last week against the Titans, the Jets picked up 183 rushing yards on 34 attempts (5.4 yards per carry). Chris Ivory carried the ball 22 times for 101 yards on the day, which is more than he had in a single game since October 18. As a team, the Jets have rushed 92 times for 410 yards (4.5 YPA), the fifth-highest rushing total in the NFL from Weeks 12-14.

The passing game has been firing on all cylinders as of late, but with the running game playing at a high level as well, how does anyone expect to slow down the Jets offense?

The Jets Offensive Line Can Still Dominate an Opponent

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For as much praise as we've heaped on the skill position players on offense, the Jets offensive line might deserve just as much credit for the unit's success on Sunday against the Titans.

Not only did they keep Ryan Fitzpatrick upright all day, not allowing a single sack, but they also opened the holes up front that allowed the Jets to pile up 183 rushing yards on the day, their third-highest total of the season.

The offensive line play has been abysmal at times this year, and was one of the big reasons the running game struggled so mightily for such a long time. Even as they've struggled running the ball, they've fared well in pass protection. Fitzpatrick has only been sacked 15 times, or an average of just above one per game. 

But if the Jets offensive line keeps opening holes up front in the running game the way they have been, their offense could finally achieve the balance they need to make a postseason push. 

The Jets Have the Inside Track to a Wild-Card Spot

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Who knew, just three weeks ago, that the Jets could erase all doubt that they belong in the thick of the playoff hunt?

At 8-5, the Jets are once again at the front of the pack in the hunt for one of the two AFC Wild Card spots. The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers are both nipping at the Jets' heels, but if all three teams win all three of their remaining games, the Jets will snap their four-year postseason drought.

Two of those last three games are against the Dallas Cowboys (4-9) and the Buffalo Bills (6-7), both of whom have a losing record—although the Jets already lost to the Bills at home in Week 10. Of course, the Jets also have a tough test in Week 16 when the New England Patriots come to town for a rematch of the Week 7 showdown in which the Jets had a legitimate chance to pull off the upset.

The margin for error is small, if it exists at all. That being said, the Jets hold their fate in their own hands. With three weeks to go, there's not much else the Jets could ask for.