New York Jets Need a Big Night From Mark Sanchez

by John B on Dec 6, 2010 2:00 PM EST

Brace yourselves for a bit of generic sportswriter analysis. Anybody can talk about how important quarterback play is in the NFL. We can break down all of the matchups. We can talk about many areas where the Jets have an edge. Arguably the most important key to the game for Gang Green will be Mark Sanchez having a good night.

It has been an up and down year for Sanchez. There have been games where he has looked like a developing franchise quarterback. There are games where he has looked as helpless as he did during his worst stretches as a rookie. It is part of the maturity process for a young quarterback. Sanchez is a bit of an unusual commodity. Very few quarterbacks held in regard as high have had such sparse game experience. Mark only had 16 college starts. Most other hot commodities have much more game experience. Don't sell game experience in college short. It is very instructive on how to play the game. Think of any task. If you conquer something on easy difficulty aren't you in better shape to start medium difficulty than somebody without experience on easy? The same concept is at play here. Sanchez natural ability shines at times. As time has progressed, it has happened more frequently. He is still learning a lot of things, though, because he didn't fully master the college game. We see games like a week ago where he struggles, making poor throws and bad decisions.

If he plays like he did against the Bengals, all of the edges the Jets have on paper offensively go out the window. It doesn't matter when a receiver gets open if the quarterback cannot identify it and consistently deliver accurate throws on time.

Sanchez during his career has been at his best in big games. He seems to elevate his game when the stakes are highest. That's a good thing. The game speeds up for some guys in that spot. Sanchez seems confident. He threw 4 touchdowns against Penn State in the Rose Bowl. He posted a 92.7 rating in the Playoffs last year. Combine the Playoffs with the last two games of the regular season when a loss meant elimination, and Mark had a 2 to 1 touchdown to interception rate. There was also his clutch play against Detroit, Cleveland, and Houston.

The Jets need more of that tonight. If they don't get it, victory is a difficult scenario to imagine.

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If I had to sum up the Jets in a sentence..it would be

When Sanchez plays well the Jets are very, very tough to beat

by longsuffering but optimistic on Dec 6, 2010 2:31 PM EST reply actions

He hasn't had 2 'off' games in a row this year....

And seems to do best when the pressure is on. He’ll be fine.

And unlike the pats, we have have a running game and a defense too, not just a right arm.

by James Calvin on Dec 6, 2010 2:51 PM EST reply actions

this

I disagree with trhe premise that we need sanchez to play well to win. He can play avg and we can still win handedly. Like u say, we have a defense and running game, not to mention big play specials, that can dominate a game. If sanchez has a mediocre 10-17, 150 yards and a TD with a pick we can still win this game.

The Pats NEED Brady to play great to compete. If he doesn’t, and that’s just to compete. If he doesn’t, we’ll blow them out, just like last game.

by Crackback on Dec 6, 2010 3:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Browns Beat the Pats too

With second string rookie QB that didn’t have big numbers.

They beat them on both sides of the ball with a good D and strong run game.

Brady’s not effective from the bench.

by James Calvin on Dec 6, 2010 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

well what if we (meaning the D) do what the cowboys did to the colts?

then im guessing sanchez wouldnt really have to sweat that much it is possible but not likely

Gang green nation!

we won the f*#&ing game now lets go get a goddamn snack!

by JETSFANF0RLYF3 on Dec 6, 2010 3:07 PM EST reply actions

Win big guys!

I want this win more than any other win… probably ever in pro football. If we win this the BS is over about us being lucky. It’s the end of the Falcons and the Pats being in front of us in the power rankings every where. It’s the point where we become a team that can win purely based on our fearsome reputation alone.

It doesn’t matter how we do it, we just need to do it. (And how I would love a big win.)

The winner of this game is going to be considered the heir apparent of the first seed and the loser is going to be considered the “pretender.”

by cult hero on Dec 6, 2010 4:14 PM EST reply actions

I had so much confidence in Sanchez this week that I started him in my fantasy league over Peyton Manning. And that’s without the foresight of Manning’s 4 int game, thank you very much.

by SioneBAAOOOHA on Dec 6, 2010 4:55 PM EST reply actions

An error free night.

That’s what they really need from Mark S. tomight, and he’ll have his work cut out for him. The Pats defense will throw as many different looks at him as possible to confuse him (and cover up for an inferior secondary). Even if Sanchez plays well, it’ll be a tough game. But without him playing well and limiting turnovers, the task could prove impossible.

And to Cult, I get it. The decades haven’t been easy in this rivalry, whether they’re Boston or N.E. But I can tell you one thing. Even with a win and a sweep of the series this year, don’t look for respect for a while. The media pines for Brady and Company, and the real respect will come from within the Green fans. That, along with a W would be fine with me.

by oldskooljet on Dec 6, 2010 5:14 PM EST reply actions

Yeah but...

I think we’ll get it this year, even if just for this year. I’m not saying we’ll be anointed Super Bowl winners like The Colts last year, but I think the “luck” discussion will be gone.

Whenever the Falcons squeak out a game, it’s because “Matty Ice” is so clutch. The Jets? They just win ‘cause they’re lucky. That’s just getting annoying. After that it’s time to grind up the AFC and NFC North.

by cult hero on Dec 6, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions