Fitzpatrick gets lampooned, then excels. Here are the unusual feats he achieved Thursday

If you turned on an NFL studio program on Thursday, you were bound to see TV commentators breathlessly calling for the Miami Dolphins to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick with Tua Tagovailoa, and NFL Network’s Michael Irvin lampooning the bearded quarterback’s high career interception total (164 in 159 games) and poor career record (56-85-1), while comparing Fitzpatrick to a basketball because he “bounces” so frequently from team to team.

Fitzpatrick isn’t one to gloat, at least not publicly, but Thursday reinforced why he’s the ideal caretaker for the job as Tagovailoa develops, and still capable of the type of moments that continue to sustain a 16-year career that has earned him nearly $70 million.

Here’s some historical perspective on what Fitzpatrick achieved in completing 18 of 20 passes for 160 yards and leading Miami to a 31-13 win in Jacksonville:

▪ In connecting on 90 percent of his passes, he broke the Dolphins’ all-time record for completion percentage in a game with a minimum of 20 attempts. The previous record of 85 percent (17 of 20) was set by Chad Pennington on Sept. 21, 2008 at New England.

▪ Fitzpatrick began the game with 12 consecutive completions. Adding his nine straight completions to finish last week’s game against Buffalo, Fitzpatrick completed 21 passes in a row, which is the second-longest streak in team history.

Ryan Tannehill had a 25 consecutive completion streak from Oct. 18-25, 2015. That’s also tied for the longest streak in NFL history.

▪ Fitzpatrick’s 133.3 passer rating was the fourth-best in his career (minimum 20 attempts) and his best since Sept. 16, 2018 against Philadelphia when he played for Tampa Bay.

▪ His 90 completion percentage was the best of his career (minimum five attempts).

▪ Fitzpatrick became the second player since at least 1948 to produce at least two touchdown passes, at least one touchdown run, a 20-plus yard rush and a reception in a single game.

The other? Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, in Week 3 of the 1983 season against the Saints.

The reception was Fitzpatrick’s third of his career, a statistic he volunteered after the game.

▪ Three times since turning 35, the 37-year-old Fitzpatrick has had both a 25-plus yard run and a rushing touchdown in the same game.

The only players in the Super Bowl era with more such games at that age are Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, John Riggins, Emmitt Smith and (the only other quarterback on this list), Steve Young.

“Fitz is out of his mind,” tight end Mike Gesicki said. “He’s [37] years old and still playing the game like he’s 23.”

▪ Fitzpatrick is now the first NFL quarterback since at least 1950 to beat the same opponent as the starting quarterback with six different teams. He has now beaten the Jaguars as starting quarterback for Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee, Houston, the Jets and Miami.

▪ He had a perfect 158.3 passer rating under pressure on Thursday, per Pro Football Focus.

And, as usual, teammates couldn’t say enough nice things about him afterward.

“Fitz is cool, calm and collected and it rubs off on us,” Dolphins right tackle Jesse Davis said. “Third-and-long is not a big issue. How he conducts the offense really reflects on how he performs.”

Gesicki — who caught his seventh touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick since late November (tied for the NFL lead) — said simply: “It’s so fun to play with him.”

And running back Myles Gaskin said: “I love sitting next to him and listening to him talk.”

Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who has repeatedly expressed his respect and appreciation for Fitzpatrick, was more measured after the game.

“I thought Fitz played well,” Flores said. “We moved the ball efficiently in the first half. Could have been better in the second half. I thought he made good decisions. Ran it when he needed to run it.”

Fitzpatrick relished the moment afterward, telling NFL Network’s cast in a live interview that “for all the ladies out there, I’m taken, I’m sorry” — and then telling local reporters:

“I feel like the luckiest guy in the world being able to go outside and play football with my friends. It’s why I still play. I enjoy playing. Especially when you’re having success, driving the ball down the field, scoring touchdowns.”

Meanwhile, as if all of that wasn’t enough, Pepsi announced Friday that it will sell a limited edition bottle “immortalizing Fizpatrick’s beard” at South Florida retailers later this season.

▪ Cornerback Xavien Howard, who was holding the back of his leg after a late-game interception, said it was a “little cramp” and he’s fine.

Here’s my Friday piece on the Dolphins’ improved boundary cornerback play Thursday and everything notable Brian Flores said in his Friday news conference.