FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Two years ago, Ryan Fitzpatrick got benched by the Houston Texans after a Week 9 loss. He lost his starting job to the inexperienced Ryan Mallett, and he publicly expressed his displeasure.

Two weeks later, the Texans went back to Fitzpatrick, who responded with the game of his life -- six touchdown passes and 358 yards in a rout of Tennessee.

In 2014 with the Texans, a fired-up Ryan Fitzpatrick rebounded from his benching to toss six touchdown passes. Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Maybe an angry Fitzpatrick is a good Fitzpatrick.

The New York Jets hope so. They're counting on him to channel his post-benching emotions into positive results when they face the Cleveland Browns.

"Just going off his comments, he seems pissed off," wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. "If this is the thing that helps us all play better, I'm all for it. Say whatever you want to say; we need to win games."

After replacing the injured Geno Smith and rallying the Jets to a win last Sunday, Fitzpatrick made headlines by accusing team brass of losing faith in him. He's right -- the owner, general manager and coach bailed on him -- but he gave them cause by playing at an unacceptable level. Desperate for a spark, they turned to Smith.

Now they need him because Smith, playing the role of Mallett, wrecked his right knee and is done for the season.

Coach Todd Bowles downplayed Fitzpatrick's comments, saying he's cool with a "pissed off" quarterback as long as he cut downs on the turnovers.

"Whatever fuels the fire to play and be competitive, that's what it is," Bowles said. "I know Fitz, I know what he means. I have no problem with him venting his frustrations. He can use it as a positive. If that's going to cause us to win ballgames and be pissed off, so be it. As a player, I was pissed off at my coaches sometimes. That's just part of being an athlete."

Sometimes an athlete needs that extra edge to elevate his play, although it's not like Fitzpatrick lacked motivation at the start of the season. He signed a one-year, prove-it contract, hoping to cash in by leading the Jets to their first postseason appearance since 2010. It hasn't worked out.

Now he has a second chance, probably his last chance. Wouldn't it be crazy if he flips the script from Week 3? That day, he threw six interceptions.