paths have taken divergent paths this season

CLEVELAND -- Maybe Ryan Fitzpatrick can stop worrying about what the New York Jets coaching staff and front office thinks of him. The proof came at halftime of a 31-28 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.Fitzpatrick walked into the locker room having completed just three of 14 passes for 30 yards while getting sacked twice and having his helmet go flying during a first-quarter scramble.Yet head coach Todd Bowles refused to turn to backup Bryce Petty. The way Bowles figured it, the issues the Jets were facing little to do with its quarterback.Ryan doesnt play defense and Ryan doesnt block, catch or run, Bowles said. We had to play better as a team.Fitzpatrick included. The veteran repaid his coachs patience by passing for 222 yards and a touchdown in the second half as the Jets (3-5) put together the biggest road rally in franchise history. New York has won two straight after dropping five of its first six. The fact the victories have come over reeling Baltimore and luckless Cleveland (0-8) hardly matters.Starting off the season the way we did, its hard to come back from, Fitzpatrick said. It takes a veteran group of guys who have been through these things and know that each week you can change your fortune by winning a game. That is the track we are on right now. Hopefully we can continue to put the work in and continue to win games.The plan, for now, will continue to include Fitzpatrick. Bowles made Petty the backup behind Fitzpatrick on Sunday while rookie Christian Hackenberg was inactive, a small acknowledgement from Bowles that Petty has separated himself in the race to perhaps become Fitzpatricks eventual successor.Bryce has been here a year and has a little more experience so we went that way, Bowles said. I thought Bryce was ahead of him, but Hack is not too far behind.In the end, it didnt matter. Fitzpatrick played well enough after halftime and the defense responded to a challenge from cornerback Darrelle Revis for the Jets to avoid the kind of loss that would have pretty much ended the competitive portion of their season before November.This is a great boost for us, Revis said. We can build off this. We showed a lot of courage today.ANOTHER COLLAPSEThe Browns have dropped 11 straight overall and 26 of their last 29 dating to 2014. They were good enough for long stretches to win for the first time in 322 days, but failed to make pivotal plays. Quarterback Josh McCown passed for 341 yards and two scores, but also tossed interceptions on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter and the defense was pushed around in the second half after doing the pushing in the first.Three times, Clevelands been up at the half this season. And, all three times, the Browns have lost. Cleveland, however, is trying to draw some inspiration from the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers and baseballs Cleveland Indians, who have put together an unlikely run to the World Series.It is encouraging just to see how organizations fight through things and turn things around, McCown said. It is awesome ... but at the same time, when you feel like the city has momentum like that, you want to be a part of that.HAPPY TRAILS?Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall downplayed the idea he could be traded before Tuesdays deadline. The 32-year-old caught four passes for 68 yards on Sunday, while 24-year-old Quincy Enunwa did the heavy lifting. Marshall stressed he likes playing in New York and is nowhere close to giving up on the season or the Jets.I want to finish what we started here, Marshall said. Were not out of it. Were going to continue to fight, rally the troops, and get this team on the right track.GLORY DAZEThe Browns paid tribute to the 1986 team that captured the AFC championship game, bringing in more than two dozen former players and coaches, including head coach Marty Schottenheimer. It was a nice bit of nostalgia to take the mind off the murky present.Schottenheimer stressed theres nothing like Browns football.Maybe, but the day didnt exactly go off without a hitch. A series of banners held by the fans in the beloved Dawg Pound second behind one of the end zones got scrambled, leading to a spelling error symbolic of Clevelands disjointed season.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Montravius Adams Super Bowl Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Blake-Martinez-Jersey/ . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Marcedes Lewis Super Bowl Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Rashan Gary Super Bowl Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. INDIANAPOLIS -- Adam Vinatieris reunions usually consist of a personal trip down memory lane.At least there he can take a few moments to reflect on the six AFC championship teams he played on, the four Super Bowl rings he won and all those famous kicks he made along the way.One day, the Indianapolis Colts seemingly ageless kicker figures hell finally be able to participate in some of those memorable halftime celebrations, such as the one taking place Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.Until then, the leagues oldest player at age 43 will focus on what he does best -- making kicks -- and those former teammates enjoy the showThere have been a few (missed reunions), the Colts kicker said Wednesday. Some in New England, too. Yeah, they gave me the token invitation, knowing that I couldnt go because I was still playing.Forty players, nine coaches and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian are all expected to attend the 10th anniversary of Indianapolis Super Bowl title.Some of the household names -- Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Jeff Saturday -- are expected to attend.Some of the postseason stars -- Joseph Addai, Marlin Jackson, Dan Klecko and Dominic Rhodes -- also are coming back. Even a handful of forgotten players, such as Rocky Boiman and Bo Schobel, have made plans to attend.There will be several noticeable absences, too.Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy will miss the reunion because of his Sunday Night Football duties. Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the year Bob Sanders and record-setting defensive end Dwight Freeney, now with the Atlanta Falcons, are not on the current list of confirmed guests.Then there are Vinatieri and Robert Mathis, the only remaining players from the title team still on the Colts roster.While they may try to sneak out for a team dinner Saturday night or find a few spare moments to meet with some old pals, they know this is a working weekend that may force them out of most of the festivities around town.Its a good problem to have, Vinatieri said.While Vinatieri and Mathis are still focused on collecting another ring, their paths have taken divergent paths this season.The 35-year-old Mathis was slowed early by a bad knee and he has struggled to round into form in the finnal year of his current contract.dddddddddddd Through nine games, the Colts career sacks leader has 19 tackles, only two sacks and four tackles for loss.Vinatieri, meanwhile, has thrived . Hes made an NFL record 44 consecutive field goals, including his past nine from 50 yards or longer.Regardless of where their careers stand now, neither has forgotten the lessons from their postseason success.Just four weeks after allowing 375 yards rushing to Jacksonville in mid-December, the defense completely shut down Kansas Citys Larry Johnson, the leagues No. 2 rusher. In the divisional round, Vinatieri made five field goals at Baltimore -- in a 15-6 win that featured no touchdowns.In the conference championship game, the Colts used two touchdowns from linemen to rally from an 18-point deficit to defeat their biggest nemesis, New England.And they capped off their title run by pulling away from Chicago in rainy Miami.Basically it was our time and we just followed our leader, Tony Dungy, Mathis said. He drove the point home that it was our time and stayed the course. Faith is a powerful thing when you believe you can get things accomplished.Now, like then, the Colts (4-5) are trying to defy those who have been counting them out. The quest continues Sunday against surging Tennessee (5-5) .But while other guys spend the weekend retelling stories, rekindling friendships and relaxing, Vinatieri and Mathis will happily spend this weekend working.Its for them and we were part of that, Vinatieri said. But for me its about trying to win a game.Game notes Three players missed Wednesdays practice with injuries -- right guard Denzelle Good (illness), defensive end Kendall Langford (knee) and cornerback Patrick Robinson (groin). ... Defensive tackle Henry Anderson (knee), left guard Jack Mewhort (triceps) and right tackle Joe Reitz (concussion) all were full participants at practice. ... Andrew Luck was selected as the Colts Ed Block Courage Award winner after returning from a lacerated kidney that forced him to miss the final seven games in 2015.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '