Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to build his resume here in Miami and with one game left to play, we’re facing the prospect of the best season of “Fitzmagic” the NFL has ever seen being completed in South Florida. A career journeyman quarterback, Fitzpatrick has made a living off of his free wielding, fearless style of play. And it seems to have struck a lasting impression on some of Fitzpatrick’s teammates.
DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki are playing the best football of their young careers with Fitzpatrick at the helm, and Fitzpatrick himself is pulling rabbits out of his hat on a weekly basis despite poor offensive line play and no running game to lean on at all.
Now? Fitzpatrick has added another feather to his cap — he’s won the NFL’s AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his career best 419 yard passing performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16.
Offensive Players of the Week (Week 16):
AFC: @MiamiDolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(by @Headshoulders) pic.twitter.com/9inrHVUOTj
— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2019
The Dolphins moved the ball at will against Cincinnati through the air. Miami surpassed 500 yards of offense for the first time this season, nearly all off the right arm of Fitzpatrick.
According to Alain Poupart of Dolphins.com, Fitzpatrick is the first Miami Dolphin quarterback to win the honor since Matt Moore did so in December of 2016 after taking over for injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Moore tossed four touchdowns on 18 pass attempts against the New York Jets to lead the Dolphins to a 34-13 victory.
Fitzpatrick’s winning performance was a little more dramatic, but that’s with no fault to Fitzpatrick. After all, the offense didn’t touch the field as the Bengals ripped off 16 unanswered points in the final minute of regulation.
No matter. The overtime period provided Fitzpatrick the needed opportunity to set his career high in passing yardage — it was all for the best.
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