MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Not even Peyton Manning got this many yards throwing to Eric Decker.
Instead, Decker got his career day catching passes from Geno Smith.
Decker was targeted 11 times in Sunday’s season-ending 37-24 victory against the Miami Dolphins and came up with 10 receptions for a career-high 221 yards and one touchdown. His 10 catches tied a career high.
“We did a good job sticking with the run, and once there were some chances where there were blitz zero, cover one, we took advantage,” Decker said. “Geno made some nice throws, and we connected.”
This was surely the kind of day Decker was hoping for when he signed a five-year, $36 million deal with the Jets in March.
Instead, he has battled through nagging injuries, missing two games and being less than 100 percent in some others.
He also dealt with the Jets’ inadequate quarterback play. The Jets started the season with Smith, benched him in favor of Michael Vick, and ultimately went back to Smith.
The Jets finished the season 4-12, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, and face an offseason of uncertainty at key spots -- quarterback, coach and general manager.
“Obviously, there will be change next year,” Decker said. “We just have to keep getting better.”
Decker’s best plays on Sunday came over the top of the Dolphins defense.
In the second quarter, he caught a 40-yarder pass that was floated over the head of cornerback Cortland Finnegan, leading to the Jets’ second touchdown.
In the third quarter, Decker caught a 74-yard touchdown pass in similar fashion, beating Finnegan over the top.
Later in the third, Decker beat Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes on a 50-yarder.
“Decker did a phenomenal job getting open,” Smith said.
Decker briefly left the game late in the third quarter after being hit by safety Jordan Kovacs, but he returned to catch two more passes, showing his toughness.
For the year, Decker finished with 64 catches for 741 yards, four touchdowns and a career-low 11.6 yards-per-catch average in 14 games.
It was also Decker’s lowest totals in terms of receptions and yards since 2011, when his quarterback in Denver was Tim Tebow.
