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The Jets were rolling on their first offensive possession, and it looked like it might be a good day for them, but then disaster struck, repeatedly. Let’s take a look . . .
Shonn Greene had four carries for 33 yards on the first four plays, but then we they turned to the air, and the next two plays didn’t work out very well for them.
First, they threw a screen to LaDainian Tomlinson on the left side, and LB Casey Mathews read it all the way, and stopped it for a loss of four.
Then on second-and-14, Sanchez hit Holmes on the short right side, and S Kurt Coleman issued a big-time hit on Holmes, causing a fumble, and Juqua Parker picked it up, and ran in for a 47-yard TD.
On the first play of the Eagles second possession, Sanchez threw a quick slant on the left side to Holmes, it was incomplete, but CB Asante Samuel was called for interference.
Two plays later there was a Jason Babin sack, and this possession ended up going nowhere.
The Jets got the ball back after a muffed punt by the Eagles, but two plays later, Sanchez threw a pick.
It was a pass intended for Holmes on the short left side. It was a little high and behind Holmes, who was sprinting across the field, and it went off Holmes and was picked off by Samuel. Holmes deserves most of the blame on this play, perhaps thinking of what he was going to do after the catch, instead of securing the ball, but the pass could have been a little more out in front of him. It you truly want to take advantage of Holmes as a runner after the catch, you need to lead him, and not force him to break his stride.
The Jets next possession was a three-and-out, ending with another Babin sack.
The Jets falling behind early in this game, played right into the Eagles hands. Babin is a sack machine, but lousy against the run. They gave him way too many chances to rush the passer.
On the Jets next possession, on third-and-two, Sanchez under some pressure, scrambled up the middle, and fumbled, and it was recovered by CB Joselio Hanson, and the Eagles scored two plays later, going up 28-0.
The Jets had one of their best passing plays of the game on their next possession – Sanchez hitting Keller for a gain of 41. Sanchez did a nice job of looking right, and then throwing left to Keller going down the left seen, wide open. There was a major mismatch on this play; Keller with DE Trent Cole on him. That is a ridiculous matchup, and the Jets took advantage of it.
But two plays later, Sanchez was sacked by former CFL star Phillip Hunt, and then on third-and-11, threw to Patrick Turner in the middle, who really wasn’t open, and had a couple of defenders around him, and it was broken up by LB Keenan Lewis. There had to be a better option, and the Jets kicked a field goal.
The Jets forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and on first down, drew a pass interference call on Nmadi Asomugha who obstructed Plaxico Burress. Three plays later, Sanchez had one of his most impressive throws of the season, throwing a rocket to the middle of the end zone for a 25-yard TD to Holmes.
We will have Part II of Sanchez by 11:30 am on Monday.