FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Vinny Testaverde watches his old team from afar, and it takes him back to 1998. That was his signature year, when he came off the bench and led the New York Jets oh-so-close to the Super Bowl. He became a great New York story, a Long Island kid who came home and found bliss after years of being ridiculed in other cities as an interception-prone quarterback.

Testaverde likes the current team, perhaps because he sees so much of himself in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who also has discovered happiness in the latter stages of his career.

"You look at this team and him, and there are a lot of similarities to the '98 team," Testaverde said in a phone interview. "He's about the same age as I was, really having his best year. I'm assuming it's his best year, as it was mine at the same age. I've always questioned: Is it the player that changes or is the team around him better? His abilities are the same as always, but the talent around him has allowed him to showcase his abilities more."

Ryan Fitzpatrick is five touchdown passes shy of breaking Vinny Testaverde's franchise season record of 29. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Testaverde was 35 when he signed with the Jets, initially as Glenn Foley's backup. He arrived with a .366 winning percentage as a starter, plus a 72.7 career passer rating. He was known as an inconsistent passer, but he flourished with a terrific supporting cast and excellent coaching. He set the franchise record with 29 touchdown passes in '98.

Fitzpatrick was 32 when he was traded to the Jets last March, ostensibly as Geno Smith's backup. His career winning percentage was .375, and his passer rating was a mediocre 79.5. He, too, had a reputation for turnovers, but he made a seamless transition to the starting role and needs only five touchdown passes to break Testaverde's record.

"For both of us, we came into the situation virtually as backups," Testaverde said. "Maybe it helped, coming in and not having that pressure to be the No. 1 guy. You could take your time to sit back, look and learn and get a feel for what the team's about and the best way to approach. You could create a strategy on how to play quarterback with that cast of people."

Unlike Fitzpatrick, Testaverde didn't ascend to the starting job because of a freakish locker-room altercation. Foley was banged up and ineffective, prompting Bill Parcells to make a change. Todd Bowles had no choice but to promote Fitzpatrick when Smith's jaw was broken by a teammate, but it turned out to be the best decision he never had to make.

Testaverde can relate to Fitzpatrick, who was discarded by three teams in three years. Testaverde, a former No. 1 overall pick, was released by the Baltimore Ravens, but he never lost confidence in himself. He knew he was a winner -- he just needed to find the right environment.

"You get to a place and the talent is better, you just feel comfortable and you develop relationships with players and coaches," Testaverde said. "You get a break, things fall into place and the team rallies around you. All of a sudden, you become better as a quarterback, and everybody believes in you. You get on a roll and you take it into December and January.

"At a certain point in your career, if you last long enough, you get comfortable with everything -- the mental, the physical and your teammates trust you. That happens over a period of time. It looks like it's happening with Ryan."

Fitzpatrick has galvanized the many egos on the offense with his easygoing personality. He has a strong rapport with Brandon Marshall, who had a history of clashing with his quarterbacks. Testaverde faced a similar challenge. The Marshall of that era was Keyshawn Johnson, who wrote a book in 1997 trashing teammates and coaches. Testaverde used humor as an icebreaker, telling Johnson in their first meeting that he'd purposely throw high passes over the middle if he ever wrote anything nasty about him. Johnson laughed. They got along great.

Testaverde says he hopes Fitzpatrick breaks his touchdown mark. He believes a record-breaking performance would be something the Jets (8-5) could rally around.

"Late in the season, you need that little bit of extra confidence," he said. "It would be great for them and him. Hopefully, they can do what we weren't able to do in '98 -- make the AFC Championship Game and take that next step, and make it to the Super Bowl."