So much for the talk about coming off bye week with a different mindset and still making the playoffs - the Jets suffered another blowout loss in Seattle, as the offense once again failed to score any points. For the third time this season the Gang Green lost by 21 points or more and dropped to 3-6, following a 3-3 start.
The defense held their ground for 3 tough quarters, but even the best defense in the world would eventually get tired if they had to continuously come back onto the field with almost no rest. It was another case of ineptitude of the Jets offense, as QB Mark Sanchez and Co. once again could not move the ball down the field. And when they did move the ball, they turned it over. At the end of the day the Jets had only 11 first downs (2 of them on penalties), 185 total yards and 3 turnovers. Mark Sanchez was just 9 of 22 (40.9%) for 124 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1 lost fumble and an abysmal QB rating of 40.7.
Then, as many of us probably expected it, Rex Ryan backed up Mark Sanchez as his starting quarterback and dismissed any speculation of giving the starting role to QB Tim Tebow. It was Sanchez, however, who once again ultimately lost the game for the Gang Green. Early in the second quarter, with the score being 7-7, the Jets' signal caller threw an interception in the red zone, despite not being pressured at all and having all time in the world behind the offensive line. The Jets had a chance to take the lead, but failed. Then, in the fourth quarter, Sanchez turned it over again when he was sacked and did not hold onto the ball while the Gang Green were already in field goal range. This was ultimately the nail in the coffin, as the Seahawks took over at midfield and extended their lead to 28-7 eight plays later.
One can argue about Sanchez not being surrounded by talent at skill positions, but at the end of the day it's Sanchez who continues making the same mistakes that he was making in all previous years. Rex Ryan's stubbornness is an understandable one - if he replaces Sanchez, then he will pretty much admit that it was a mistake of drafting him to begin with. Sanchez will continue being the starter for as long as Ryan is the head coach, even though the entire league knows that Sanchez is subpar at best.
Is Tim Tebow the answer? I doubt it, but at this point it wouldn't hurt to at least give him a try. Earlier in the season they did not want to damage Sanchez's shaky mental toughness by even hinting at the possibility of replacing him, but it really doesn't matter now, as this season is lost anyway.
Next Sunday the Jets (3-6) will travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams (3-5-1) whose offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would like to get a revenge on his former employers. The early line has the Rams favored by 3.5 points.