QB Mark Sanchez threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including the winning score to WR Santonio Holmes, as he overcame his second quarter interception and led the Gang Green to a 28-24 comeback win against the Buffalo Bills. Sanchez might have been erratic at times, throwing into double and triple coverage, but when the game was on the line, he pulled himself together and orchestrated a 12-play game-winning drive that went for 77 yards. This was surely a morale booster for the Jets' signal caller that hopefully will help the Gang Green turn this season around, as they pretty much have to win all of their remaining games.
This game should have never been this close, but Sanchez's interception and CB Antonio Cromartie's muffed punt, both of which led to Buffalo's touchdowns, were pretty much the main reasons that kept the Bills in the game. Sanchez's interception in the second quarter allowed Buffalo to take a 14-7 lead. Then, in the third quarter, Cromartie's error helped the Bills tie the game at 21 apiece.
Brian Schottenheimer's at times questionable playcalling raised questions once again. We'd heard so much about the running game being the Jets' main priority on offense, but when they were averaging over six yards per carry, Schottenheimer for who knows what reasons decided to start throwing on every down. At the end of the day the Jets rushed for 138 yards (6 yards/carry), as the offensive line rebounded nicely after awful performances in the last two games. They were constantly able to create openings for RB Shonn Greene and did not allow a single sack.
Greene ran for 78 yards on 13 carries (6.0 yards/carry). Once again the question should be asked why a feature back receives so few touches in an offense that has to rely on controlling the game clock. But then again these are the Jets - they always have to make it more difficult than it should be.
Next week the Jets will take on the Washington Redskins (4-7) in another must win game.
The good:
QB Mark Sanchez - 17 of 35, 180 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT. His stats didn't look that impressive but he made the plays when needed.
Offensive line - what a turnaround! They went from being dominated for two weeks in a row to completely owning the line of scrimmage.
WR Plaxico Burress - he might have saved this game for the Jets with his acrobatic one-handed third down catch on the game-winning drive. Plax caught 4 passes for 54 yards, 1 TD.
LB Aaron Maybin - he was a mayhem in Buffalo's backfield, registering 2 sacks and busting several other plays.
The bad:
CB Darrelle Revis - this was probably the worst game of his career as we'd never seen him get beaten so often. Revis gave up a touchdown and got beaten on quite a few other plays by WR Steve Johnson.
CB Antonio Cromartie - this was one of those days for Cromartie, as he fumbled a punt and also gave up a touchdown to WR Brad Smith.
Pass-rush - Can anyone on this team, besides Maybin, rush the passer?