Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez came into yesterday’s game having heard criticisms of his performance and calls for his job. Gang Green’s beleaguered starter answered with his first accurate and efficient performance since the season opener.
Sanchez led Gang Green to a 35-9 thrashing of Indianapolis, throwing two touchdowns without a single turnover. He shook off his month-long malaise, shut up the throng of fans calling for Tim Tebow and steered the Jets to their most impressive offensive performance since that Week 1 rout of Buffalo.
“That’s part of the job. It’s all right. It was big just for the team in general,’’ Sanchez said of dealing with the criticism. “As long as we’re winning, I’m happy. So we just have to keep doing that, trying to stay efficient and block everything else out and keep playing for the guys in our locker room.’’
Sanchez got back weapons Dustin Keller and Stephen Hill and benefitted from a ground game that kept the Jets on schedule with 252 rushing yards. And in the end, he avoided the criticisms that would have come from being outdueled by Colts rookie Andrew Luck.
After failing to complete half his throws in four straight games, Sanchez’s stock plummeted faster than space-diver Felix Baumgartner. But Sanchez was an efficient 11-of-18 for 82 yards and looked in control of the huddle and the contest, the Jets’ first turnover-free day in 17 games.
“It felt good during the week of practice knowing exactly who was going to be in,’’ said Sanchez. “When I go through the gameplan looking at specific plays and knowing exactly who’s playing X, who’s playing Z, and … you know it’s not “Oh, it could be this, it could be him too, it could be him if somebody goes down.’ That’s tough.’’
Coming in, Sanchez’s 48.4 completion percentage was on pace for the worst of any full-time starter since 2009 — discounting Tebow, inserted into Denver’s lineup during last season — but Sanchez avoided any game-changing gaffes.
“We wanted to put the game in Sanchez’ hands, and get him to make some mistakes,’’ admitted Colts safety Antoine Bethea. “[But] they were doing a great job of running the ball.’’
Using a myriad of max-pro sets — including two tight ends in the backfield — the Jets allowed just one sack. Sanchez threaded the ball into some tight spaces, and tossed a pair of 5-yard touchdowns in the second quarter, the first to Stephen Hill for a 7-3 lead and the next to Jason Hill for a 21-6 cushion just 27 seconds before the half.
brian.lewis@nypost.com