Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six INTs vs. Chiefs

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had what we call a bad game on Sunday, throwing a half-dozen interceptions.

The Jets lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, 24-3. It was an ugly game for Gang Green, made worse by Fitzpatrick treating the football like a hot coal. Throw it anywhere, just get rid of it. That will do just fine.

Fitzpatrick tossed six interceptions, something thought to be impossible in this pass-friendly age. Yet it happened, and we are going to break down how each one occurred.

Interception No. 1

The Chiefs are in man coverage with a blitz coming out of this nickel formation. New York is going four-wide on this 3rd and 9. Eric Berry is the lone safety in this Cover 1 concept. Look at the top of the screen, where Marcus Peters is in off-coverage against Jalin Marshall. That’s the matchup to watch.

Halfway through the play, Fitzpatrick has good protection despite Kansas City bringing six. Note that Peters has only backed up three yards. He’s waiting for Marshall to break one way or the other. Looking at the other receivers, nobody is open. Fitzpatrick knows that with a blitz, time is ticking.

This is about a millisecond after the ball comes out. Marshall is yet to come out of his break, while Peters, who continued to backpedal, sees the throw. He plants his left foot in the ground and breaks in, eyeing the interception.

The end result is Peters beating Marshall to the ball, undercutting the route.

Interception No. 2

This play is a case of a great player being great, and a poor throw. The Chiefs are once again in man coverage (they play very little zone), with Berry as the lone safety. Frank Zombo also drops into underneath coverage. New York goes four-wide again in stack formation to the left.

The right side also had a stack until Jalin Marshall went into motion (ending up against Ron Parker in the slot). Notice the man arrowed, Derrick Johnson. He starts yelling immediately. While it’s impossible to know his exact instructions, I’m taking my best shot with the following statement…

Johnson was supposed to guard Matt Forte out of the backfield, with Tamba Hali rushing. However, when Marshall went in motion, Johnson realized the call. He knew that without him in the middle of the field, Parker would have a very tough cover. He wanted to drop and help.

Fitzpatrick’s read is to the right side. He sees Quincy Enunwa completely blanketed by Peters and looks to Marshall. For all the world, he should be open if he beats Parker.

Hali got the message from Johnson and covers Forte, swinging out of the backfield. Johnson takes a few steps toward Forte to guard him, but sees Hali has that assignment (thus why I believe the above). He reverses course, and back toward the middle of the field.

This is where Fitzpatrick makes a horrid decision. Looking at the coverage, it’s perfect. He should simply throw the ball away, especially with Dontari Poe getting pressure up the middle. Instead, Fitzpatrick tries to fit the ball into Marshall, who is guarded closely by Parker with Berry in pursuit. Also, look where Johnson is from this angle…

Right in the passing lane. There is no way this ends well for New York, barring penalty.

Johnson deflects the pass into the air, giving Berry an easy interception. The Jets are thwarted late in the third quarter, trailing 17-3.

Interception No. 3

This is the next drive, and it’s 2nd and GOAL from the Kansas City 6-yard line. The Chiefs are actually in zone this time, playing to flood the field with seven defenders. New York is in 11 personnel with a back, tight end and three receivers. It runs a spacing play to the left, hoping to confuse the defense with myriad patterns.

This play has no chance from the start. The Jets completely blow the protection up front. Hali comes free off the right edge despite there being five blockers against four rushers. Meanwhile, look at each side of the field. Kansas City, because it drops seven, has numbers on both sides.

Fitzpatrick climbs the pocket but right into Jaye Howard. With Hali and Howard about to crush him, the veteran makes a rookie mistake, again. He forces the ball into coverage, this time going for Quincy Enunwa at the goal line, covered by second-year man Steven Nelson.

Look at the coverage across the board. It’s air-tight. Fitzpatrick has to simply throw the ball into the stands and live for third down. Also, note Peters (arrow) who starts sliding toward the middle of the field.

The result is a tipped, contested ball by Nelson. Peters, who was in zone, recognized the right side clearing out and slid toward the middle. His instincts and reaction was spot-on, and resulted in his league-leading fourth interception.

Interception No. 4

Desperation time. It’s 4th and 10 with just over four minutes to go and still trailing 17-3. Fitzpatrick has four wide, two on each side. The Chiefs are countering with a Cover 2, press-man scheme. Derrick Johnson and Frank Zombo also drop into underneath cover, taking away both a quarterback scramble or a dump-off to Forte.

Kansas City does a great job on the left side, but the right gives the Jets a chance. Brandon Marshall starts in the slot but gets great release to the outside with Eric Decker crashing inside on the pick play. Marshall’s cover, Steven Nelson, gets caught in the wash. Fitzpatrick has to make this throw.

The throw is woefully placed. Fitzpatrick should have thrown it to the boundary, but instead throws it to the inside shoulder. Marshall is forced back toward the middle, allowing Nelson to close the gap. Meanwhile, Daniel Sorensen (arrow) is screaming toward the spot.

The end result is another pick, with Sorensen getting to the ball with Marshall being frustrated.

Interception No. 5

Still trailing by two touchdowns, New York is putting together one last, desperate drive. The Jets are going four-wide (sensing a theme?) and the Chiefs are in Cover 2 with off-man principles.

New York is trying to get Bilal Powell out on a swing route, but Johnson reads the play and runs with him. Meanwhile, the Chiefs only bring three rushers but Hali easily earns the right edge. With the pressure, Fitzpatrick throws well before he wants to.

Johnson makes an athletic play, turning and catching the ball in front of Powell. At this point, it’s a race to the end zone, which Johnson wins for a 53-yard touchdown return. The score becomes 24-3.

Interception No. 6

This is basic Cover 2 with man-to-man principles. Peters is in off-man at the top of the screen, with everyone else in press. The Jets are in 10 personnel, once more going four-wide.

Look at the bottom of the screen. Rookie sixth-round pick D.J. White is covering Brandon Marshall, and gets him to take an outside release. Looking at the picture, Fitzpatrick has nowhere to go and with Hali getting pressure again, the clock is ticking.

At this point, you can call the following either lazy or desperate. Fitzpatrick has to see that Marshall isn’t remotely open, but throws it his way regardless.

This is the point of release. White has perfect position and Berry is coming over, taking away any windows on the outside shoulder. There’s nowhere for this pass to go except a red jersey, which is exactly what happens.

Next: Marcus Peters: The Kansas City Thief

All told, the game can be broken down easily. The Chiefs had exceptional coverage throughout the afternoon, and Fitzpatrick’s strong-suit isn’t throwing receivers open. New York needed to run the ball to draw more defenders into the box, but it never happened.

The result was a turnover-filled afternoon with Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton dropping seven men into coverage consistently.