NFL

Sanchez, offense take big step backward

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Remember all that gushing enthusiasm that flowed from the Jets’ preseason opener for the performance of Mark Sanchez?

Remember coach Rex Ryan’s proclamation during the week that Sanchez was “the most improved” player on the team?

Hit the “pause” button. Let’s table the accolades until the real games begin.

Sanchez and the Jets’ first-team offense were an utter flop in last night’s 9-3 preseason win over the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

BOX SCORE

In the Jets first preseason game, a loss to the Giants, it was the second-team defense that irked Ryan.

Last night, it was the first-team offense that turned his stomach, though Ryan curiously gave the Panthers defense credit instead of tweaking his own players.

“They [the Panthers] played great on defense,” Ryan said. “I told [Panthers head coach] John Fox it looked like a pillow fight out there with both offenses struggling. Obviously on offense, we got it handed to us pretty good. But I know we can play better than that.”

All you need to know about how putrid the offensive performance was, was the fact Jets were the beneficiaries of three first-quarter Panthers turnovers — and yet led only 6-0 through the first 16 minutes.

Sanchez, who looked so sharp against the Giants after throwing an INT on his first throw, never looked in rhythm, completing just 5 of 10 for 12 yards. He was sacked twice and overthrew open receivers.

“We don’t accept a performance like this,” Sanchez said. “It just wasn’t a smooth night. It wasn’t our best night, but it’s nothing alarming. We’ll come back and do well Friday night [in the next preseason game, at home against Washington].”

Mark Brunell, running the second-team offense, fared no better than Sanchez, completing just 3 of 7 passes for 2 yards before halftime.

Cumulative numbers for the Jets quarterbacks in the first half: 7 of 18 for 14 yards and two sacks. With the two sacks of Sanchez totaling 15 yards, the Jets finished the half with minus-1 yard passing.

The Jets finished the game with a total of seven first downs and 112 yards in total offense.

The only consolation for the Jets was the fact their defense stifled the offensively inept Panthers, who were unable to score in the first half despite playing their starters the entire 30 minutes.

Panthers quarterback Matt Moore finished the half 6 of 17 for 57 yards.

The Jets’ second-team offense entered the game with 11:22 remaining in the second quarter.

Their second-team defense entered with 10:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Before the starters were removed, however, there was no shortage of chances for the Jets, who got three special-teams turnovers, all of which led to Nick Folk field goals of 43, 36 and 49 yards.

Jets linebacker Lance Laury recovered a Steve Weatherford punt that inadvertently touched Panthers safety Jordan Pugh in the first quarter. That led to the 43-yard field goal and gave the Jets a 3-0 lead.

The Jets’ drive after that turnover: seven plays for 10 yards.

A short time later, Jets receiver David Clowney recovered a punt muffed by Panthers receiver Armanti Edwards in the first quarter. That led to the 36-yarder that gave the Jets a 6-0 lead 49 seconds into the second quarter.

Ryan sent Kellen Clemens (4 of 6, 32 yards, three sacks) in to start the second half, and rookie running back Joe McKnight promptly fumbled the ball away on the second play from scrimmage.

That led to a 42-yard John Kasay field goal that cut the Jets lead to 6-3.

The Jets took advantage of a third special-teams turnover by the Panthers (a Chauncey Washington forced fumble on Panthers punt returner Kenny Moore) and converted it into a third field goal — this one a 49-yarder by Folk to give the Jets a 9-3 lead with 13:35 remaining in the game.

mcannizzaro@nypost.com