Jets' Sanchez starts but doesn't try to pass
Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets reacts on the side lines during their game against the Buffalo Bills. (Jan. 2, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Mark Sanchez was more cheerleader than quarterback Sunday, throwing high-fives on the sideline instead of passes on the field.
After playing only one series - in which he handed off the football eight times and never threw it - the Jets' franchise quarterback eagerly watched with a "pretty sore" throwing shoulder as 40-year-old Mark Brunell connected on two touchdown passes and third-string quarterback Kellen Clemens hurled his body into the end zone for another score in a 38-7 rout of Buffalo.
The plan all along had been to limit Sanchez against the lowly Bills, but the decision to prevent the second-year starter from throwing the football, even once, raised eyebrows. Despite the continued soreness in his right shoulder, the quarterback said there's no doubt he'll play Saturday night at Indianapolis in the first round of the playoffs. "It's no big deal," he said of his injury.
Coach Rex Ryan was adamant this week that Sanchez's shoulder wouldn't be further damaged by playing. So why have the kid trot onto the field just to hand off eight times?
"I never wanted him to get hit or anything else," Ryan said. "We weren't going to throw the football with him. We accomplished everything we wanted during the week. We kept his preparation the same way. We actually set up our schedule where we're assuming that we play on Saturday, so it's not going to feel like a short week for us.''
Sanchez said he had a "pretty good idea" what the game plan was.
"I didn't know exactly what we were going to do, but he let me know fairly early in the week," he said of Ryan. " 'Just be ready to play, but this is probably what we're going to do.' "
Brunell had his best performance in recent memory in Sanchez's absence. The Jets took a 17-0 halftime lead on his 17-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.
The lefthander then connected with Braylon Edwards for a 52-yard reception, marking the first time Brunell threw for two touchdowns in a game since Oct. 26, 2006, when he was a Redskin.
"Rex promised at the beginning of the year that everybody would contribute to our season,'' Sanchez said. "So I'm happy for them and I was proud to back up Brunell today.''
Despite playing only one series, Sanchez said there was one positive in starting the game.
"I was keeping the streak alive,'' he said with a laugh. "Look out, Brett."
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