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Some will make the the excuse that pass protection was a big problem for Mark Sanchez, but keep one thing in mind –the Pats had two sacks in the first quarter, and two more sacks on the Jets second to last possession of the game. They finished with a total of five sacks.
So there was plenty of time in-between he had ample time to throw, like on the first possession of the second half.
The Jets first possession of the second half was a three-and-out – three incompletions against the 32nd-ranked secondary with two starters out (CB Devin McCourty and S Patrick Chung).
If you recall, the Mark’s first pass of the second half went to nobody. He threw an out to the short left side, but Holmes, the intended receiver, headed up field – a clear miscommunication. The second pass of the possession was in incompletion to Shonn Greene, on the short left side, and it was behind him. Then on third down, Sanchez threw an incompletion on a slant to Burress. Plaxico felt like CB Kyle Arrington interfered with him on the play (but wide receivers feel that way on almost every incompletion).
The Jets next possession lasted four plays. They started off with two Shonn Greene runs, and then on third-and-seven, Sanchez hit Kerley for a gain of 20 down the right side. Kerley had a cornerback off the bench on him, Phillip Adams. Then, a pass to the Greene, on the short left side, bounced off his helmet, and was intercepted by LB Rob Ninkovich. The pass was thrown too hard considering how close Greene was to Sanchez.
The Jets finally got on board on a late third, early fourth quarter drive. Sanchez did some good work on this possession.
On first down, Holmes beat CB Antwaun Molden (filling in for McCourty) on a crossing route for a gain of 13. The biggest chunk play on this drive was perhaps Sanchez’s most impressive pass of the game. In the middle of the drive, Sanchez hit Dustin Keller deep down the right seam for a gain for a gain of 29. The pass was lofted perfectly over the outstretched arms LB Tracy White. A few plays later, Sanchez hit Burress on fade on the right side of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown. Molden made the same mistake San Diego’s Antoine Cason made – he didn’t get his hands on Burress on the line.
That was it for the scoring. On the third play of the Jets next drive, Sanchez threw a Pick Six to Ninkovich on a dump to LT over the middle – perhaps going to this well one too many times.
Sanchez did have one pass of note in the middle of the fourth – a 38-yard strike to Kerley down the deep middle over LB Jerod Mayo. This was a heck of a catch.
This is a game Sanchez would like to forget.
39 pass attempts is too much for Sanchez. He’s better off under 30. He’s not successful when he’s forced to be a gunslinger. His best work is supported by the “ground-and-pound,” where he’s able to compliment a consistent running game.
