Jets' Sanchez picks up his game after interceptions

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan noticed a little something different about his second-year signal-caller's performance at the base of the Rocky Mountains 11 days ago.

Mark Sanchez reverted to his turnover-prone rookie ways, tossing a pair of bad interceptions in the Jets' 24-20 come-from-behind victory over Denver. Ryan hasn't been able to put his finger on just why Sanchez was off his game until their final drive when he led the Jets downfield for the go-ahead touchdown, and isn't quite sure why Sanchez was "bailing out" so soon when he dropped back in the pocket.

"He never looked as comfortable as he normally does," Ryan said Wednesday. "We need to get back that confidence. Let's get back to knowing exactly where the ball is going. That was a short week and those situations are tough. Hopefully, we'll get back more into a routine now where he'll feel more comfortable."

Sanchez had been on a roll before his Mile High hiccup, throwing eight touchdown passes with zero interceptions heading into their matchup with the Broncos' 16th-ranked passing defense. He was the youngest passer in NFL history to throw eight touchdown passes without a pick and only the second player since the merger to start the initial five games without an interception after throwing at least 20 the previous season, joining Vinny Testaverde.

He had gone 149 attempts this season without an interception before getting picked off by the Broncos on his third pass of the game. He threw for just 198 yards and a touchdown, was sacked twice and posted a quarterback rating of 60.1.

Sanchez also appeared to have happy feet, moving around in the pocket way too much. "This last game, was just getting away from some of the fundamentals - holding the ball in one hand, getting my feet set," Sanchez said. "I was pleased with the way we rallied and won the game, but [there were] just ball-security issues last game. Up to that point, I was doing pretty well."

Perhaps the most encouraging thing was the way Sanchez engineered the Jets' final drive, getting them into the end zone when they were trailing 20-17 with just under four minutes left. He went 4-for-7 while getting the ball from their own 20 to Denver's 48, before heaving the bomb to Santonio Holmes that drew a pass interference penalty on Renaldo Hill, setting up LaDainian Tomlinson's 2-yard touchdown run for a four-point lead with 1:13 left.

"It's huge for us," Sanchez said. "When we don't play well and win, throw two picks, lose the turnover battle and win the game, that's pretty rare in this league. You count your blessings there and the onus is on me to improve. Just think how well we would've done not throwing those picks.

"Early in the game, giving them momentum when our defense is playing well and just giving them the ball back in their territory is terrible. It can only get better and that's what will happen."

Despite his struggles, Braylon Edwards thought Sanchez still oozed a certain calmness on that last drive. "His demeanor was, 'We need a play, let's make a play' and that's it," the wideout said.

That's the same approach Ryan hopes to see again in three days - this time from the opening snap. "We'll get him back. The kid's fine," Ryan said. "He knows what I want at quarterback: Be yourself and go out there and play like Mark Sanchez is capable of playing."