EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—The New York Jets, who went a well-documented three preseason games before scoring even a touchdown while keeping their new-look Wildcat offense under wraps, jumped out of the gates Sunday with three touchdowns in the first 18 minutes against Buffalo (0-1) as the Jets (1-0) rolled to a 48–28 win.
“I had a pretty good feeling that we were going to play well,” said head coach Rex Ryan, according to a report on the team’s website.
Playing well for the Jets, after such a disappointing end to last season and horrific showing in the preseason, might have equated to getting in the end zone twice and squeezing by a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1999. But on Sunday Ryan’s Jets had already eclipsed their four-game total preseason scoring output of 31 points just two minutes into the second half when Antonio Cromartie returned an interception for a score to make it 34–7.
For the Jets it marked their third pick of the day against Ryan Fitzpatrick, and fourth turnover overall by Buffalo in seven possessions.
Among the heroes for the victorious Jets was much-maligned starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. After receiving criticism for his part in last season’s collapse and then watching the team acquire popular quarterback Tim Tebow in the offseason, the former first-rounder completed 19 of 27 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns while throwing one misguided interception on the team’s first drive of the game.
Rookie starting receiver Stephen Hill was another pleasant surprise, catching five balls for 89 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. Second-year wideout Jeremy Kerley had four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown reception as well as a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown that put the Jets up 21–0 early in the second quarter.
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