Battle of Florida teams has a bit of magic, a bit of mania
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s the Beard versus the ’Stache in prime time. Fitzmagic on one sideline, Minshew Mania on the other.
Maybe the loser should have to shave.
Quarterback facial hair is sure to be front and center when the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) host the Miami Dolphins (0-2) tonight.
Miami’s Ryan Fitzpatrick has a bushy beard that covers much of his face and engulfs his chin strap; Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew has an unkept horseshoe mustache that seems to go perfectly
with his flowing locks.
“I think the beard is a cooler look,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. “I think guys that grow mustaches a lot of times have patchy sides for their beards, so they just stick with the mustache.”
The 24-year-old Minshew politely fired back at Fitzpatrick, 37.
“I’ll let mine speak for itself,” Minshew said. “I think I’ve shown I can grow a beard with no patchy sides. But you know, I’m going to have respect for my elders, especially when they’re much, much elder. I’ll be respectful.”
Both QBs looked just fine in close losses last week. Minshew threw three TD passes for the third consecutive game, but he had two somewhat-fluky interceptions in a 33-30 loss at Tennessee.
Fitzpatrick threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-28 loss to Buffalo. He put the Dolphins ahead in the fourth quarter before Josh Allen rallied the Bills against Miami’s struggling defense.
Fitzpatrick has won his past four starts against Jacksonville — each one with a different team. He beat the Jags with the New York Jets in 2015, with Houston in 2014, with Tennessee in 2013 and with Buffalo in 2012.
He’s a part of one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year and will be facing another one filled with first- and second-year players, led by Minshew.
“I haven’t seen him play a ton, but the few times I have, I like watching him,” Fitzpatrick said. “I enjoy his playing style. It looks like he’s out there having fun. It’s not easy to play quarterback in this league. It’s not easy to play as a young quarterback. He’s already had a lot of success.
“He’s had a great start to the season. He’s a guy that I don’t think I’ve played against him, so I’m excited to watch him play and see how he does.”