Turnovers cause Fitz for Jets again

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brandon Marshall was downright frustrated — by another tough loss and increasing questions about his struggling quarterback.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three more interceptions, giving him nine in the last two games, and the New York Jets couldn’t get much going on offense in a 27-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks yesterday.

“I am shocked,” a dejected Marshall said. “I expect more out of our offense. Every year is different. It’s a little deflating, man. You think you’re really close and right when you think it’s going to be easy, whether in sport or life, you get slapped in the face and humbled. It’s disappointing, but that’s just the story of life. It’s never easy.

“This is hard, football is hard. It’s not for the weary.”

With all the turnovers the past few weeks, it’s easy to point fingers at the quarterback first.

Marshall, however, insisted that his confidence in Fitzpatrick has not wavered, even with the Jets 1-3 and staring at the season possibly spiraling with road games up next against Pittsburgh and Arizona.

“I’m standing in the ship with him,” Marshall said of Fitzpatrick. “Obviously, right now, we’re all looking each other in the eyes and holding each other accountable and pushing each other. At the end of the day, I’m going down with the ship with him. I don’t like how any of us are playing. Him, myself, all the starters. We’ve got to pick it up and play better.”

Marshall, who had four catches for 89 yards and his first touchdown of the season, bristled when he was asked if the Jets need to assess the quarterback spot. New York also has former starter Geno Smith on the roster along with two others.

“I am. Going down. In a boat. With Ryan Fitzpatrick. OK? You got it?” said Marshall, measuring his words. “So can you not ask me any more questions about that? I am. Going down. In a boat. With No. 14.”

Fitzpatrick was re-signed just before training camp opened in July to a one-year, $12 million deal after a contract stalemate between the quarterback and the team dragged for months.

“I don’t worry about questions about his play,” coach Todd Bowles said of Fitzpatrick. “I just worry about turnovers. He knows he can’t have turnovers.”

Russell Wilson was sharp and efficient despite playing with a sprained knee, throwing three touchdown passes. He finished 23-of-32 for 309 yards.