Sanchez, Cotchery half right for Jets
Photo credit: Getty Images | Mark Sanchez of the Jets calls a play against the Patriots at Giants Stadium. (September 20, 2009)
Sept. 20: Jets 16, Patriots 9
Jets-Patriots rivalry through the years
As poised as Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was in his winning NFL debut at Houston, you had to figure his real baptism would come Sunday against the three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots and defensive guru Bill Belichick. Sure enough, the Jets held the ball for only 20 plays in the first half, managing all of four first downs and minus-2 passing yards.
"We put our defense in a bind with the guys coming in tired at halftime," receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "They said, 'Hey 'O,' we need you. Just get us off the field for a little bit.' "
Up to that point, Cotchery said the Patriots succeeded in taking him away. But offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told him: "Be patient. We have stuff that we are going to dial up with you."
>> PHOTOS: Jets beat Patriots, 16-9
After Leon Washington returned the kickoff to the Jets' 44-yard line, Schottenheimer dialed up a deep slant-in; Sanchez hit Cotchery, and he made it to the Patriots' 11-yard line for a 45-yard gain. "We expected them to take away something outside, so we snuck in on them inside," Cotchery said. "It was a great call and a great throw by Mark. Any time you make a play like that, it gives you a breath of fresh air and allows you to function as an offense."
Two plays later, Sanchez connected with tight end Dustin Keller for the only touchdown in the Jets' 16-9 victory over New England. By the time it ended, Sanchez had completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 yards, no interceptions and a 101.1 rating. In the process, he might have developed some chemistry with Cotchery, who on the next drive caught a 22-yard pass to move the ball to the 7 and set up a field goal that gave the Jets a 13-9 lead.
"The chemistry with this guy is easy," said Cotchery, who caught four balls for 87 yards. "We talk a lot throughout the week about things we are going to see in the game. He has been the leader we need him to be, and that is going to take us a long way."
Sanchez admittedly found he couldn't relax in the first half. This was different from the opener in Houston, where success came early. But Sanchez bounced back in the second half.
"I think we opened things up," he said. "We threw the ball a little more, and it balanced our attack . . . We needed to set the tempo and make a statement on offense, and I felt like we did."
Sanchez shouldered the blame for overthrowing a wide-open Chansi Stuckey in the end zone before the field goal that made it 13-9.
But he also can take credit for avoiding interceptions while relying on the Jets' defense to maintain control.
In fact, watching the Pats' Tom Brady falter under pressure from the Jets' defense, Sanchez said he "felt" for the man regarded as one of the best QBs in the NFL. "Our defense is full of studs," Sanchez said. "I play against them every day, and I know how hard it is. It feels like you're playing against 20 people."
Compared with that, 11 Patriots wasn't so bad.
>> PHOTOS: Jets beat Patriots, 16-9
