JETS 24, TEXANS 7So much for the old formulation that a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback equals a slow start.
The Jets not only beat the Houston Texans, they blew the doors off and sent a message to the NFL that the New York Jets are here to win this season.
Mark Sanchez took a huge step in his development as the starting quarterback of the team. He was sharp all afternoon, avoiding every blitz the Texans threw at him by completing lasers to his receivers who were in tight coverage for most of the day. Sanchez was in complete command of his offense, looking more like an experienced veteran instead of a 22-year-old kid making his first NFL start.
You have to give a lot of credit to the Jets offensive line. They keep Sanchez clean, not allowing the young gun to sacked at all in this game. At times Sanchez was given a lot of time to make his throws, including a beautiful 30 yard touchdown to Chansi Stucky on a go-route to give the Jets a 10-0 lead.
When pressured, Sanchez usually scrambled around the pocket; for example, on one play just before half time, Sanchez was flushed out of the pocket. Moving toward the sideline, he found a wide open Dustin Keller on the other side of the field. Remembering not to cross the line of scrimmage, Sanchez lofted a bullet to Keller across his body for a 25 yard gain. The gain didn't result in points, but it proved that the young quarterback was not afraid to make the big throws at the crucial time, even when the throws may be ill advised in the play book.
The only mistake the rookie made on the day was an interception to James Busing, who Sanchez didn't see covering Keller in the flat. Busing fumbled the ball only to have his teammate,Darren Barber, pick it and dash into the end zone for the lone Houston touchdown.
With the score now 17-7, and with the Houston fans going absoultely ballistic, one would expect Sanchez to shrink under the pressure, but he did not; he kept his head about him. On a key 3rd and three at their own 27 yard line, Sanchez dropped a pass into Keller's hands, who streaked down the sideline for a 40 yard gain. Two plays later, Thomas Jones, who had been invisible up to this point, pranced into the end zone for a 38 yard touchdown to close out the game, 24-7.
Even with Sanchez's impressive performance, it cannot be forgotten how well the Jets defense played. They shut down the Texans high powered offense, keeping the group off the score board for the entire game, as well as holding wide receiver Andre Johnson to nothing but 35 yards on four catches.
The Jets defense harassed quarterback Matt Schaub all day, sacking him twice and putting the oft-injured quarterback on his back most of the day. For years Jet fans have gotten accustomed to seeing a passive defensive game plan. Not today. The Jets new 46 D played with such reckless abandon that it was impossible for the Texans to stymie the Jets level of intensity. Box Score.
Gang Green is now 1-0 on the year and faces a really tough challenge when they play the New England Patriots next Sunday at 1:00.
Comments