PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 20: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Houston Texans throws a pass against Stephon Tuitt #91 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter during their game at Heinz Field on October 20, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn’t hear the critics, or the calls for the Houston Texans to swap him out for Ryan Mallett.

Even if he did, the current Texans starter and 10-year NFL veteran said Wednesday that he’s used to it.

“At this point in my career, it doesn’t really affect me to be honest,” Fitzpatrick said. “As a quarterback, especially as a guy that really started at the bottom and has worked my way in every situation I’ve been in, I’ve faced and heard a lot of that.”

Near the midpoint of the season, Fitzpatrick is quietly having a career year under head coach Bill O’Brien. Through seven games, his completion percentage (65.1), yards per attempt (8.0) and quarterback rating (88.2) are all on pace for his best in a single season. Advanced stats site Pro Football Focus has also given Fitzpatrick the ninth-highest grade among quarterbacks at plus-9.2, just below Andrew Luck, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger and above Joe Flacco, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. This, despite Fitzpatrick working behind a shaky offensive line and with a lack of offensive weapons.

But, Fitzpatrick is a quarterback, and a quarterback of a team that is 3-4 and has lost three straight games and four of its last five. And so it goes.

In times like these, Fitzpatrick said, self-confidence is key. As is exuding it to the other guys in the locker room.

“It’s just always important, the message that I send to other guys,” Fitzpatirck said. “It’s the confidence that you have in yourself. You’ve gotta have confidence, you’ve gotta believe, and you’ve gotta go out there and play. Ignore the noise, ignore everything that goes on outside, and have confidence in who you are and why you’re in the situation you’re in and just continue to go out there and work hard and make plays.”

With Mallett having been acquired from the New England Patriots this offseason and having an expiring contract, and with rookie Tom Savage having been drafted in the fourth round in May, fending off scrutiny from the fans and media will be life for Fitzpatrick so long as he’s the starter. Which, given that he signed a two-year deal this offseason, could include 2015, too.

But if the Texans were to lose to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, and/or if Fitzpatrick were to struggle, that could be subject to change. As could the team’s quarterback situation.

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