Jets overcome injury to Sanchez to beat Bills

[December 04, 2009]  TORONTO (AP) -- Matching braces -- one for the right knee to go with the one Mark Sanchez already has on his left -- might just remind the New York Jets rookie quarterback how necessary it is to slide.

Rex Ryan certainly hopes so.

The Jets coach was visibly upset following a 19-13 win over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, when he watched Sanchez hobble off with a knee injury for the second time in five days.

"Sometimes, the kid's got to understand we're trying to teach him to slide," said Ryan. "I love the kid, but he's got to grow up and understand he represents our entire organization. We want what's best for him."

Sanchez sprained his right knee when he dived headfirst on an 8-yard scamper up the middle to pick up a first down on the Jets' second possession of the third quarter. And it happened in the same week in which the Jets brought in Yankees manager Joe Girardi to provide the first-round draft pick sliding lessons after Sanchez hurt his left knee in a 17-6 win against Carolina on Sunday.

This time, however, Sanchez did not return after being taken to the locker room.

Though Ryan said he's optimistic Sanchez will be able to play at Tampa Bay on Dec. 13, he added that further tests are required.

At least the Jets' bid to make a late-season playoff push is back on better footing after a second straight win evened their record at 6-6.

Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards for a go-ahead 13-yard touchdown late in the first half. Thomas Jones had 109 yards rushing to lead a Jets' ground attack that registered 249 yards, while Jay Feely hit four field goals.

New York's defense did the rest, limiting Buffalo to 36 yards and four first downs in the second half to spoil Buffalo's second annual home game in Toronto.

And in a game billed as "T.O. in T.O.," Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis did his part in limiting Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.

Revis sealed the win, ending the Bills final drive by intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick's underthrown pass up the right sideline intended for Owens.

"This is my first time going outside of the country. I got my passport for the first time," Revis said. "It was a good time."

Turns out, the Bills (4-8) still have a way to go to make an impression in Toronto. They're now 0-2 in regular-season games at the Rogers Centre after signing a $78 million deal with Toronto-based Rogers Communications last year to play five annual regular-season and three preseason contests in Canada's largest city and financial capital.

They opened the series with a 16-3 loss to Miami last year.

"Well, I'm hoping it was fun and exciting for the fans," Owens said. "Definitely, we wanted to put some points on the board and obviously we wanted to come out here and get a win. But that obviously didn't happen."

The Bills made a game of it for one half at least after Marshawn Lynch scored on a 15-yard run to put Buffalo up 10-6.

The second half was an altogether different story, as the Bills' young and banged-up offensive line -- which lost right tackle Kirk Chambers to an ankle injury -- couldn't protect Fitzpatrick.

Sanchez finished 7 of 15 for 104 yards in an abbreviated night that was a much better performance than his previous game against Buffalo, when he threw a season-worst five interceptions in a 16-13 overtime loss on Oct. 18.

Sanchez was disappointed in himself for the way he got hurt.

"I'm probably going to take some heat for not sliding. But in the heat of the moment I was just trying to get the first down," Sanchez said. "Tough play."

NOTES: Bills interim coach Perry Fewell, coming off a 31-14 win over Miami, fell to 1-2 since taking over as interim coach when Dick Jauron was fired. ... The Bills have lost 10 straight prime-time games since a 13-10 win at Jacksonville on Oct. 18, 2001. ... With 1,068 yards rushing, Jones broke the 1,000-yard plateau for a fifth straight season. Of that total, he has 319 in two games against Buffalo.

[Associated Press; By JOHN WAWROW]

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