Sanchez Impresses As Jets Outlast Dolphins

JETS 31
DOLPHINS 23

As Jimmy Johnson once said to his Dallas Cowboys during the 1993 season. "If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk."

And right now, the Jets are walking the walk, after an impressive 31-23 victory over the hated Miami Dolphins in Miami Florida last night.

Defensively the Jets struggled without Darrelle Revis, as Chad Henne ripped up the Jets secondary for 363 yards through the air, but it didn't matter, because the Jets offense was spectacular.

Mark Sanchez grew up last week against the Patriots; and against the Dolphins, Sanchez looked more like a 30-year old veteran, rather than a 23-year old kid. He played with a kind of poise and zest that we haven't seen from him in the year plus he's been in the league. He held his head high, played big, and was more self confident than he has been in a long time.

On the opening drive Sanchez was sharp, completing passes of 16 and 11 yards to Dustin Keller and Brad Smith. Then he completed a 24 yard slant to the sideline to Keller for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, after LaDainian Tomlinson gashed Miami on a 21-yard run, Sanchez threaded the needle to Keller for the 12 yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Sanchez threw three touchdowns and no interceptions. He is developing excellent field perception and is looking to make the smart play, instead of the risky play.

After Miami grabbed a 17-14 lead on a touchdown to Brandon Marshall, Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards on a 67-yard catch and run to recapture the lead 21-17. For Edwards this was a shinning moment. After a week of public embarassment in the aftermath of his DWI, the Jets held him out for a quarter, before putting him back into the game. Good for the Jets to send the right message to Edwards, while not hurting the football team.

Then there is Jason Taylor. Taylor in his return to Miami, sacked Chad Henne in the first quarter, drawing boos from the Miami faithful. After Drew Coleman picked off Henne's desperation pass in the endzone to end the game, Taylor hugged Coleman as they were heading for the sideline. Moments later, Taylor was daused with Gatorade by Rex Ryan, as a way to welcome his successful return to Miami.

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