Jets Takeoff

Here’s what you need to know:

The Jets won on the road when they needed the game badly. That’s a good sign. Playing in Toronto on a short week against a team that embarrassed them at home earlier this season, the Jets deserve credit for this win. And it keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Mark Sanchez still needs to learn how to slide. He hurt his right knee in this one and left the game early. Fortunately for the rookie, it sounds like he’ll be back.

Sanchez’s go-ahead touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards right before halftime gave the Jets a 16-10 lead. With Kellen Clemens in for Sanchez, the defense took over the rest of the way.

Darrelle Revis, the best cornerback in the NFL, held Terrell Owens to to three catches for 31 yards.

Thomas Jones carried the ball 23 times for 109 yards.

Following Sunday’s 31-14 loss at New England, Rex Ryan had some interesting things to say to the media during his press conference on Monday. Among the highlights: He’ll spend more time with Mark Sanchez and be more involved with the offense. And he wasn’t happy with Bill Belichick’s decision to throw the ball with 30 seconds left in the game and the Patriots ahead by 17 points. From Randy Lange’s write-up on newyorkjets.com:

On Ryan’s involvement with Sanchez, the head coach said this:

“I’m going to be there. If that’s all I bring to him is how to protect the football and making sure he understands the situation in a game, then that’s what I’m going to make sure I do.

“We’ve got to look at that critically and find if there’s something we can do. I’m going to take that responsibility on my shoulders and we’ll see how it goes and how it plays out from here.”

“I’m going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Brian (Schottenheimer, his offensive coordinator). Brian’s got to run the offense, that’s not going to change. We’ve got great coaches. But if there’s something I can do, what is it? I’m here to help this football team. To me it’s giving Mark the understanding of the game: ‘Hey, right now, this is an opportunity where we can take chances’ or ‘We can’t take chances here. If you can make this completion, make it. If not, get rid of it or run with it.’

“I’m here to support Brian, Mark, everybody else. But I have to be demanding of that because right now that’s not getting done to my satisfaction or this football team’s satisfaction.”

“I’m making sure everybody understands it’s a supportive thing, that this is by no means a slap in somebody’s face. I’m here to support what’s already being done. Brian and [special teams coordinator] Mike Westhoff are clearly a hell of a lot more experienced in their fields than I would be. We don’t want me calling plays. But if I can support Mike or Brian, then that’s what I need to do. My stance needs to be more of a game manager, a team manager. I thought I was doing that but maybe I need to spend a little more time in those regards.”

As for Brady’s attempted pass to Moss in the game’s final minute, Ryan offered this:

“I looked at that as an opportunity for us. Throw it deep, our guy’s going to come down with it more than your guy.”

Was the call disrespectful?

“Yes. That’s why I called the timeout at the end of the game [there were five seconds left], to give our team another chance.

“Things happen. [Bill] Belichick, I don’t even know how much he had to do with it. It could’ve been more something that Brady or Moss wanted to do. … No biggie, but I was surprised by it and I did feel a little disrespected.”

Click here for Lange’s full report.

Well, I was right with regard to two things I said in yesterday’s post, the one where I predicted the Jets would beat the Bills 38-10. First, I had a feeling that Thomas Jones would finally have a breakout game, and he did. Second, I said that the Jets could erase the bad memory of the Miami loss with a blowout win. And I was right, they could have. Unfortunately, Mark Sanchez was awful, and now the Jets have to live with this loss for a week before they head to Oakland next Sunday.

Kris Jenkins left today's game with a knee injury.

Here’s what you need to know from today’s game:

First and foremost, this was Sanchez at his worst. Five interceptions on 10-of-29 passing. Jerricho Cotchery didn’t play and that didn’t help. Neither did the weather, which was cold and damp all game. Neither did the fact that Sanchez is a rookie and performances like this are going to happen. It wasn’t the first time this year that Sanchez didn’t played well, and it won’t be the last.

Next, New York had chance after chance after chance, especially against a Buffalo team that just isn’t any good. When starting quarterback Trent Edwards left the game early in the second quarter, the Jets should have wrapped this one up. When New York led 13-3 at halftime, it should have been over. When the Jets had the ball at the Bills’ 24-yard line on their opening drive of overtime, it should have been over. At 3-3, the season is far from over. But after the Jets’ third straight loss, it’s hard to think playoffs right now.

On the bright side, Thomas Jones ran for a franchise and career-best 210 yards on 22 carries, including a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Finally, Rich Cimini from the Daily News reports that nose tackle Kris Jenkins may be lost for the season. Jenkins went down with a knee injury in the second quarter.