Sanchez, Burress sharp as Jets roll past Bengals

JETS 27
BENGALS 7

For the first time in almost three years Plaxico Burress stepped onto an NFL field to play a game. It has been a long road for the former New York Giant receiver, and he made the most of this opportunity. Buress, who was thrown in jail in 2008 for possessing an illegal firearm in a New York City nightclub, now knows the mortality of his life and football career.

Once considered a guy who was notorious for being lazy in clubhouse meetings and on the football field, he has been, as far as we know, a good soldier with the New York Jets. Everyone who knows him claims that Burress is playing with a chip on his shoulder that he has something to prove.

Sunday night, Burress looked like he had never left the NFL in November 2008. Out of the gate, Burress hauled in a 20 yard pass from Mark Sanchez for a Jets first down to open the contest.

Later in the first half, Burress dove for a Mark Sanchez pass near the end zone, caught it with one hand, tucked it in and scored a touchdown to give Gang Green a 17-7 lead. Redemption!

Overall, the Jets first stringers delivered a solid effort against the bumbling Bengals. Sanchez was very sharp, completing 13 0f 20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16 yard strike to Santonio Holmes for the Jets first score.

Still there were problems. For a period of time the Jets offense couldn't get off the ground. On their first drive, after the Burress 20 yard catch, the Jet offense stalled, forcing New York to attempt a 44 yard field goal, which Nick Folk missed in Nick Folk style.

Later in the second quarter, after the Jets got a turnover, with possession at the Bengals 10, they couldn't plug it in for the score, recording a net loss of two yards on the entire drive. The Jets again, settled for the field goal to take a 10-0 lead.

Defensively the Jets were crisp. They held the Bengals to 12 first downs, and kept rookie quarterback Andy Dalton in check with 86 yards passing on 8-of-19 passing with two picks. Also former Buffalo Bills bust Aaron Maybin, whom the Jets picked up as a free agent, looked good. He recorded a forced fumble on a clean hit to the quarterback and was in on a few plays as well. The Jets hope Maybin doesn't turn into another Vernon Gholston.