Jets football blog

Sanchez looks shaky vs Giants D in 17-3 win

Billed as the Plaxioc Burress Bowl, the annual preseason matchup between the Giants and Jets Monday night played out as a battle between two struggling passing games.

Giants QB Eli Manning, who threw 25 interceptions last season, was picked off twice by the Jets, first by S Leonhard and then by LB David Harris. He connected on 15 of 30 passes for 200 yards.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez did not fare much better. Able to sidestep a cornerback blitz by Antrel Rolle, he lost a fumble soon after and failed to connect with his receiving corps for the majority of the night. On one route, he hit top target Santonio Holmes in the back of his helmet. Sanchez finished 8-of-16 for 64 yards and one touchdown, a 17-yard connection with Holmes. (continue)

Burress shines in 27-7 win over Bengals

Plaxico Burress saw the ball coming his way and everything started to move in slow motion.

He stretched his arms out, grabbed the pass over his shoulder and fell into the end zone for a touchdown. After being away from the game for nearly three years, Plax was back.

"Everything feels normal," the wide receiver said. "It feels like football. To be honest, it feels like I never left."

Burress caught three passes for 66 yards, including a terrific 26-yard reception for a touchdown, in his first game since 2008 to help the Jets beat the Bengals 27-7 in a preseason game Sunday night.

"It's the tip of the iceberg," Burress said. "I'm just getting started."

Signed last month after serving 20 months in prison on a gun charge, Burress made his debut with the Jets (1-1) a memorable one. He caught a 20-yard pass from Mark Sanchez on the Jets' first offensive play, prompting huge cheers from the rain-soaked crowd at the New Meadowland Stadium. (continue)

Jets lose opener 20-16

 Mark Sanchez had the Jets on the move, driving deep into Texans' territory.

The Jets were banging on the door Monday night, poised to score on their first preseason drive. They were 10 yards from the end zone despite missing center Nick Mangold, guard Brandon Moore and wideout Plaxico Burress -- all key components.

But the drive fizzled out the same way so many did last season, when the Jets struggled in the red zone. Sanchez was sacked for a 5-yard loss on third down, forcing them to settle for Nick Folk's 33-yard field goal.

The first-team offense was fruitless in its only other possession, which ended with a punt.

The Texans won, 20-16, after Jets rookie Greg McElroy led a late drive that fell short. The Jets would have taken the lead if rookie receiver Michael Campell hadn't dropped a sure touchdown pass in the final minute. (continue)

Jets (2nd) offense puts points on the board

 Mark Brunell has already shared dinners, advice and 17 seasons of perspective with Mark Sanchez.

But tonight was the veteran quarterback’s opportunity to show what he can give the Jets, on the field, as their “predetermined” No. 2 quarterback.

Coach Rex Ryan had an idea of what he wanted to see against the Eagles in the fourth preseason game.

“I think we’d all feel a little better if we moved the ball,” Ryan said earlier in the week. “I think we’ll definitely feel better about it.” (Ledger)

 

Jets better shut out opponents or it'll be a long season

By the time the Jets headed into their sleek new locker room at halftime tonight, their offense’s checklist for the preseason game against Washington looked a little something like this:

Turnovers? Two.

Protection? A pair of sacks.

Touchdowns in the red zone? None.

Instead of erasing the shoddy performance last weekend at Carolina, the Jets only emphasized their offensive woes in a 16-11 loss to the Redskins. Their first time in the end zone? A 10-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to tight end Dustin Keller at the beginning of the fourth quarter,against Washington’s back-up defenders. (ledger)

Jets O a no-show in Carolina

Before the Jets make any Super Bowl plans, they'll have to clean up the litany of offensive errors that stained their 9-3 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers Saturday night.

Less than a week after Mark Sanchez looked sharp in the preseason opener against the Giants, the second-year quarterback was out of sync in four series, completing five of 10 passes for just 12 yards. There's certainly no reason to panic - the offense has plenty of playmakers - but Rex Ryan wasn't thrilled with the lack of execution.

"Obviously, our offense got it handed to us by a pretty good defense," Ryan said. "But I know we can play better than that. Clearly you're not going to win too many games that way. But we won this one." (Daily News)

Jets win 27-25, Sanchez looks poised

 You're the kid quarterback of the Jets. Your head coach, Rex Ryan, just handed you the keys to his new team, to Woody Johnson's franchise, even after a rather unceremonious welcome-to-the-NFL moment Monday night in Baltimore. Now all of New York's eyes were on you.

You started slowly during last night's 27-25 victory over the Giants, but then, with one magic moment, you gave your new fans, many of whom have been suffering long before you were born, the kind of hope franchise quarterbacks young or old are expected to bring to their city. Continue

Rocky start for Sanchez

Rex Ryan may need to take a delay-of-game on his quarterback decision.

The Jets' coach had hoped to name a starter this week, but his master plan may have been blown up Monday night by his old team, the Ravens, who rattled Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens into skittish, mistake-filled performances as they beat the Jets, 24-23.

It was all there for Sanchez, who made his first NFL start and could've made it an easy decision for Ryan, but the $50 million rookie took a step backward after last week's encouraging debut against the Rams. This time, facing a superior defense, Sanchez threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown on his first attempt. Continue

Vernon Gholston No. 1 disappointment for Jets this pre-season

Brett Favre looked sharp Thursday night - in his green Jets baseball cap, the style worn by the coaches. In the final game of the preseason, Favre was closer to the coaches than the huddle, as he was rested with the other starters in the Jets' 27-20 win over the Eagles.

As expected, Eric Mangini turned the last tune-up into a showcase for the second- and third-stringers, many of whom will be sweating out the final roster cuts tomorrow. The most prominent player on the field - certainly the one with the biggest paycheck - was rookie Vernon Gholston, who finished a disappointing preseason with another hollow performance. Continue

Brett takes one giant step

If this was the last we'll see of Brett Favre in the preseason, it looks as if he's quite ready for the real thing - the Jets' Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Dolphins in Miami. Favre, playing the entire first half in the Jets' 10-7 win over the Giants last night at Giants Stadium, didn't lead the Jets to a single point. But he made his point: He looks ready for the regular season.

"I felt more at ease in the huddle, I felt more at ease on the field and I felt more like myself," Favre said. Sure, there's still much cramming to go before the real stuff starts, but Favre's 9-of-12 performance for 96 yards was a good indication of how ready he is. Continue