With critics rising up around him, Ryan Fitzpatrick silenced everyone in his four-touchdown win over the Miami Dolphins. Maybe it was the beard trim or maybe it was because the quarterback needed to prove something, but once again Fitzpatrick rose up and got the New York Jets a needed win to stay in the playoff hunt. Fitzpatrick continues to force questions about the Jets' future at the quarterback position, as a non-committal approach could be a sign of things to come.

Fitzpatrick must have heard the talk that he should be benched for the game against the Miami Dolphins. However, instead he threw four touchdown passes and looked as sharp as ever. That is the Fitzpatrick that can lead the Jets to the postseason as New York has to hope he sticks around. If Fitzpatrick can keep the momentum moving in his favor, the quarterback will set himself up for a nice pay day in the future and it could come from the Jets.

According to the New York Post, re-signing Fitzpatrick appears to be a priority for the Jets. The quarterback will be a free agent in the offseason and has proven he can still play and compete at a high level. At this point, unless the team is preparing a blockbuster trade, he is the best option moving forward. The question is what happens with Geno Smith. The quarterback started the season on top of the depth chart, but locker room issues and struggles on the field have him sitting on the bench. Head coach Todd Bowles has admitted he is not thrilled over Smith's antics while general manager Mike Maccagnan is taking a very non-committal approach to whether or not the quarterback will stick around.   

"The jury is still out, but not necessarily in a bad way," Maccagnan said, via the New York Post. "We're just going to see how it unfolds going forward. Obviously, Geno's under contract for next year. As of right now, I think Geno has dealt with some adversity with the incident this summer. I thought he's handled it very well. He's actually done a good job in terms of his practice, his approach, preparing."

Smith's trade value is very low. The Jets could keep him around in hopes that he develops under the guidance of Fitzpatrick, but the team also has Bryce Petty they would like to see become a star. With players like Muhammad Wilkerson and Chris Ivory needing new contracts, Smith could be on the outside looking in. Fitzpatrick could find himself the priority moving forward while the Jets potentially cut ties with the second-round draft pick. The direction of the rest of the season could impact that decision.