Oct 4 in Jet HIstory: First Glimpse of Bad Rex, Sanchez
Oct 4, 2015 6:39:32 GMT -5
DDNYjets, 1greenNUT, and 1 more like this
Post by Lithfan on Oct 4, 2015 6:39:32 GMT -5
October 4, 2009
It was a battle of unbeatens as the 3-0 Jets travelled to the New Orleans Superdome to meet the Saints, who were also coming in at 3-0. For three weeks, the Jets and their fans had gotten to see the best of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. The rookie Head Coach and Rookie QB combination had led the Jets to a 3-0 start and energized a fan base behind a stifling defense and a ball control offense. The next three hours, however, would foreshadow many of the problems that would plague the Sanchez Ryan era -- especially in the 2011 & 12 seasons.
The Saints took an early lead as Drew Brees led a 13-play 60 yard drive that ended in a John Carney field goal. Late in first quarter, Mark Sanchez led a drive deep into NO territory. The JEts reached the red zone and appeared to be on the verge of either tying the game or taking the lead. ON the first play of the 2nd quarter, from Saints 15-yard line, Sanchez threw to the goal line. His pass, intended for Dustin Keller was picked off by Darren Sharper at the 1-yard line, and Sharper went 99 yards for the TD and a - lead.
Later in the 2nd, after a great goal line stand, stopping the Saints on downs after they had a first and goal at the 1, Sanchez would make another critical mistake. He lost ball on a strip-sack by Will Smith, the fumble was recovered by the Saints’ Remy Ayodele in the end zone and the Saints had a 17-point lead thanks to two defensive scores. The Jets cut the lead to 14 after a Jay Feely FG in the final 2 minutes of the half.
Early in the 3rd quarter, the Jets got their first big play of the game as Bryan thomas forced a Reggie Bush fumble. Dwight Lowery covered it at the Saints 34 yard line. 4 plays later, Thomas Jones carried in from 15-yards out and the Jets were within 7. It was as close as they would get. Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Sanchez threw 2 4th quarter interceptions as the Saints coasted to a 24-10 victory, handing both Ryan and Sanchez their first NFL loss.
"The Saints outplayed us today," Ryan said. "They forced a lot of turnovers and scored with them. You've got to give them a lot of credit. They ran the ball pretty effectively against us as well."
"My mistakes killed us. They absolutely killed us," Sanchez said. "The defense played well enough to win. That whole game is 10-10 without three interceptions and a fumble. You turn the ball over like that in this league, and you can't win."
The Jets went on the lose 3 straight falling to the Dolphins and Bills in the next two weeks. The Jets would turn the ball over 10 times during that 3 game losing streak. Sanchez was responsible for 9 of the 10 turnovers.
The 3 game losing streak would plague Rex and the Jets during his 6-year tenure. It was the first of two 3 game losing streaks in the 09 season and the first of 10 streaks of 3 or more losses during Rex’s 6 year reign as Jets head coach. In fairness he did have two 3 game winning streaks in the 09 season and led the Jets to 5 wins in their last 6 starts to capture a wild card berth in 2009 and an unlikely run to the 2009 AFCCG, which was repeated in 2010. We saw an awful lot of good Rex in 2009, but also caught some glimpses of bad Rex as well.
It was a battle of unbeatens as the 3-0 Jets travelled to the New Orleans Superdome to meet the Saints, who were also coming in at 3-0. For three weeks, the Jets and their fans had gotten to see the best of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. The rookie Head Coach and Rookie QB combination had led the Jets to a 3-0 start and energized a fan base behind a stifling defense and a ball control offense. The next three hours, however, would foreshadow many of the problems that would plague the Sanchez Ryan era -- especially in the 2011 & 12 seasons.
The Saints took an early lead as Drew Brees led a 13-play 60 yard drive that ended in a John Carney field goal. Late in first quarter, Mark Sanchez led a drive deep into NO territory. The JEts reached the red zone and appeared to be on the verge of either tying the game or taking the lead. ON the first play of the 2nd quarter, from Saints 15-yard line, Sanchez threw to the goal line. His pass, intended for Dustin Keller was picked off by Darren Sharper at the 1-yard line, and Sharper went 99 yards for the TD and a - lead.
Later in the 2nd, after a great goal line stand, stopping the Saints on downs after they had a first and goal at the 1, Sanchez would make another critical mistake. He lost ball on a strip-sack by Will Smith, the fumble was recovered by the Saints’ Remy Ayodele in the end zone and the Saints had a 17-point lead thanks to two defensive scores. The Jets cut the lead to 14 after a Jay Feely FG in the final 2 minutes of the half.
Early in the 3rd quarter, the Jets got their first big play of the game as Bryan thomas forced a Reggie Bush fumble. Dwight Lowery covered it at the Saints 34 yard line. 4 plays later, Thomas Jones carried in from 15-yards out and the Jets were within 7. It was as close as they would get. Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Sanchez threw 2 4th quarter interceptions as the Saints coasted to a 24-10 victory, handing both Ryan and Sanchez their first NFL loss.
"The Saints outplayed us today," Ryan said. "They forced a lot of turnovers and scored with them. You've got to give them a lot of credit. They ran the ball pretty effectively against us as well."
"My mistakes killed us. They absolutely killed us," Sanchez said. "The defense played well enough to win. That whole game is 10-10 without three interceptions and a fumble. You turn the ball over like that in this league, and you can't win."
The Jets went on the lose 3 straight falling to the Dolphins and Bills in the next two weeks. The Jets would turn the ball over 10 times during that 3 game losing streak. Sanchez was responsible for 9 of the 10 turnovers.
The 3 game losing streak would plague Rex and the Jets during his 6-year tenure. It was the first of two 3 game losing streaks in the 09 season and the first of 10 streaks of 3 or more losses during Rex’s 6 year reign as Jets head coach. In fairness he did have two 3 game winning streaks in the 09 season and led the Jets to 5 wins in their last 6 starts to capture a wild card berth in 2009 and an unlikely run to the 2009 AFCCG, which was repeated in 2010. We saw an awful lot of good Rex in 2009, but also caught some glimpses of bad Rex as well.
