Greg Cosell's Look Ahead: Analyzing Ryan Fitzpatrick's interceptions

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a nightmare game last week.

The New York Jets quarterback threw six interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the worst of Fitzpatrick, between poor decision-making and inaccurate passes.

When you watch the interceptions on film, you can see what went wrong. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

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Quarterbacks need to make their money in the red zone, and Fitzpatrick made a couple poor red-zone decisions when his team was still in the game. On his second interception of the day, he clearly didn’t account for or see linebacker Derrick Johnson in the passing lane on the in-breaking route to Jalin Marshall from the slot. It’s a throw you can’t make in that situation, on second down trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter.

The Jets trailed 17-6 in the fourth quarter and were in the red zone again. Right tackle Ben Ijalana had an assignment mistake and Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali immediately came clean off the edge to Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was forced to move as the pocket collapsed from inside and outside, and he made an undefined, off-balance throw you simply can’t make on second-and-goal.

On the fifth interception of the game, it was a two-man route concept with a natural rub element, with running back Matt Forte running a wheel route. Fitzpatrick made the wrong throw. He threw it flat instead of putting some air under it and taking Forte up the field.

The Jets as a whole didn’t play well. Their receivers struggled to separate against press man coverage, and so the Jets couldn’t work outside the numbers in the passing game, as they did against the Buffalo Bills the week before. But Fitzpatrick really struggled with bad decisions. The things you saw in this game are reasons Fitzpatrick was not in demand as a free agent this past offseason.

Rodgers in rhythm

The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers played well last week. It was good to see him consistently making throws within the timing of the drop and the route concept. He played within the structure of the offense better than he has in quite a while — and still mixed in a few of the improvisational plays that he’s so good at, when his primary read wasn’t available.

Rodgers threw a couple nice touchdowns that came within the timing and rhythm of the offense. At the end of the first possession, Devante Adams was the No. 2 receiver on the trips side. The Lions ran a man free blitz out of the dime package, and Adams won off the line of scrimmage and presented to Rodgers right away. Rodgers threw it with great timing for a touchdown.

Another touchdown to Jordy Nelson came against a zero blitz, with no deep safety. Rodgers delivered it with three-step timing, delivering a great pass to the outside to Nelson against cornerback Darius Slay.

A few things really stood out from watching the Packers’ film. Coach Mike McCarthy used some different personnel packages, including “01” and “02” personnel (zero backs and one tight end, or zero backs and two tight ends). The Packers also used Nelson as an inside receiver, often lining him up in the slot with tight end Jared Cook split outside. And Rodgers was making throws within the timing of his drop and the route concepts. That had been lacking with any consistency for quite some time, going back to last season.

Colts new look

Here’s something to watch for early Sunday morning, when the Indianapolis Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Last week the Colts used more two-tight end sets than I can remember seeing from them.

The Colts were clearly committed to more multiple tight end sets and tighter formations, and were committed to running the ball. Dwayne Allen played 59 snaps against the San Diego Chargers and Jack Doyle played 53.

Doyle has become an important piece to the Colts offense, both as a receiver and a blocker in the run game. He aligns in multiple positions. He had an excellent lead block on Frank Gore’s 6-yard touchdown run.

Indianapolis was without receiver Donte Moncrief, so it made sense that they used two-tight end personnel more. But it also seems like the Colts could be changing their identity a bit on offense.

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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.