Sanchez Terrible, Smith Forgettable in Jets Preseason Opener

LIONS 26

JETS 17

What did we learn about the Jets quarterback competition?

We learned that the Jets are in for one horrible season, and the look on Rex Ryan's now svelte face tells the tale of a man who must know his clock is ticking like an episode of 24.

Mark Sanchez was putrid in his first game on a short leash.

On the first play of the first series of the night, Sanchez nearly took a safety, got out of pressure and nearly threw a pick on a dump off pass to Bilal Powell. Then, after he actually completed a 10-yard slant to Ryan Spadola on second down, Sanchez proved to be in mid-season form when he threw a pass right into the hands of defensive tackle Ziggy Ansah, who lumbered 14-yards for a touchdown giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.

From there Sanchez continued his mediocre play. He dinked and dunked with a lot of floaters, and nearly threw his second interception when a pass went in and out of the hands of a Detroit defender.

While some will point to his seven play 80-yard drive for a touchdown as a sign of good things, the fact is Sanchez proved once again that he is no longer the quarterback of the future, nor the present. He is the quarterback of the past. A failure that Rex Ryan has no choice but to dispose of as soon as he can.

The only thing Sanchez can be thankful for is that he was not playing this game at the Meadowlands, otherwise he would have been showered with boos by the same Jets' fans who booed him at training camp earlier this week.

As for Geno Smith, his performance was forgettable. He didn't move the Jets at all, and looked every bit of an inexperienced quarterback. Smith's night ended abruptly in the third quarter when he left the game with a ankle injury, after sliding awkwardly on second down.

If Smith misses any time it will most likely TKO any chances he can take the quarterback job from Sanchez before opening day, September 8.

That doesn't mean Smith won't take the job ever from Sanchez, because most likely Sanchez will play poorly enough in the season that the Jets may have no choice but to make a move. But right now, Sanchez has to be all smiles that the jobs is his by default.

The best quarterback on the field had to be Greg McElroy who led the Jets to a convincing touchdown score and a field goal; but he also fumbled the ball back to Detroit, which led to three points for the Lions. Overall, McElroy was 9-of-16 for 140 yards and the TD. Unfortunately for him, he's probably behind a needle and a haystack.