Sanchez getting work done on his neck and shoulder by the training staff during yesterday’s game. (AP)
PHILADELPHIA — Mark Sanchez never had a chance.
Saddled with an early deficit and poor pass protection, the third-year quarterback was just lucky to walk away after the Eagles 45-19 dismantling of the Jets yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field. And he almost didn’t.
With the Jets trailing 28-13 in the third quarter, Sanchez led the Jets into Eagles territory on their first possession of the half, but on 3rd-and-6 from the Eagles 39-yard line, Sanchez threw incomplete to Plaxico Burress and looked to be in severe pain after getting hit by Eagles defensive end Jason Babin.
Sanchez was helped off the field by teammates with his right, throwing arm hanging low and the Jets season hanging in the balance. Backup quarterback, 41-year-old Mark Brunell began warming up as Sanchez was worked on at the trainer’s table, where the staff worked on Sanchez’s shoulder and neck, who said he was feeling fine after the game.
“It was just pretty sore,” Sanchez said. “I’m feeling alright. I just took a good shot, but that was it. It’s a physical game.”
PHOTOS: EAGLES ROUT JETS, 45-19
Sanchez, who has only missed one game in his career, returned for the next series and finished the day throwing 15-of-26 for 150 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble, while being sacked four times.
Even at his sharpest, Sanchez couldn’t have helped the Jets avert this atrocity to the eyes. After the Eagles punted on their first possession of the game, the Jets handed the ball right back. On Sanchez’s second pass attempt, Santonio Holmes was stripped by Kurt Coleman after a seven-yard reception, which was returned by Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker for a 47-yard touchdown.
With under seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, Holmes hurt his quarterback again. Down 7-0, but with 2nd-and-10 at the Eagles 14-yard line, Sanchez threw a ball directly on target to Holmes, who let the ball sail right off his hands and into the arms of Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel at the 4-yard line, who returned it 19 yards.
“It just put our defense in a bad spot and we just made too many mistakes,” Sanchez said. “We dug ourselves a hole and we couldn’t come out of it.”
Sanchez had his moments, leading the Jets to the last 13 points of the first half, which included one of the best passes of his career.
Brunell replaced Sanchez late in the fourth quarter, but that decision had nothing to do with Sanchez.
“He never wanted to come out of the game, even at the end when we had Brunell in there,” coach Rex Ryan said. “Mark just wanted to go back in.”