In the end, it wasn’t Rex Ryan taking a handful of first-team practice snaps away from Mark Sanchez that got the kid’s attention. And it wasn’t the boo-birds raining down from all over MetLife Stadium for too many bad decisions from the quarterback, and too many miscommunications with his receivers, and too many inaccurate throws, and one grievous interception.
It was first-and-season from his 18 with 5:44 left, Bills 24, Jets 21.
“As a quarterback, If you’re playing at this level, I hope you have the confidence that you’re gonna go down and score and win, or kick a field goal and tie it and beat ’em in overtime,” Sanchez said after Jets 28, Bills 24.
PHOTOS: JETS BEAT BILLS, 28-24
He was asked if he expected to score a touchdown on first-and-season.
“Every time, you do,” Sanchez said.
He was one of the few inside MetLife-And-Death Stadium who did. He had thrown three touchdown passes, two to Dustin Keller, one to Plaxico Burress, but on the preceding series, a third-and-2 pass for Santonio Holmes had fallen 7 yards behind him.
“He adjusted his route when I didn’t think he would,” Sanchez said.
Then there was the matter of 4-for-13 for 20 yards at one point in the first half.
“I think just the discipline in our passing game,” Sanchez said. “It just wasn’t where we need to be, and we’ll get it corrected. ”
But he was the one who threw the Drayton Florence interception that set up the go-ahead Buffalo touchdown.
“I’m expecting ’Tone to sit down, and he said he got pushed in,” Sanchez said. “So when I don’t see him clear enough like that, you gotta anticipate the throw, so I don’t really take back the decision, but I just need to be aware of that when the DB undercuts him like that. … he’s got contact, maybe [check] down to your back or eat the ball and throw it away, whatever. ”
First-and-season for Dead Team Walking.
“If we lose, we’re done,” Matt Slauson said.
Ryan was asked if Sanchez ever makes him nervous.
“The only time I get nervous,” Ryan said, “is when he doesn’t get up.”
He was one of the few inside Met Life-And-Death Stadium who wasn’t.
“Nobody’s talking about a field goal,” Keller said. “We’re not playing for overtime, we’re playing to win the game.”
Burress reaching high to make a one-handed catch of a Sanchez floater over Jarius Byrd for 18 yards by the Jets sideline on third-and-11 from the Buffalo 36 allowed them to play to win the game.
“It felt like a regular catch to me,” Burress said. “You just make the signal and hike the ball and just say, ‘Let’s play basketball, and my guy is better than your guy.’ ”
Second-and-season from the 16, following a quick QB sneak to beat a potential Buffalo challenge of Burress’ catch. And here came the blitz.
“I started running, knowing I’m ready to throw it away or get a couple of yards and get out of bounds and save some time,” Sanchez said.
He started running to his right, then pointing.
“[Quarterbacks] Coach [Matt] Cavanaugh just reminds us to remain a passer and keep your eyes up,” Sanchez said.
Coach’s eyes up.
“I’m sittin’ back, [saying,] ‘Oh run it, run it, run it … or throw it for a touchdown!’ ” Ryan cracked.
Sanchise eyes up.
“’Tone freed up, gave me his hand and let me know where he was going, and that was it,” Sanchez said.
His career-high four-touchdown day only saved the season.
“That’s what he is, I mean he’s a stud. … Sanchise, that’s who he is.,” Ryan said.
Ryan was eager enough to point out that Sanchez was 9-for-14 for 114 yards, two TDs and a 123 quarterback rating in the second half, and said: “And, that’s what we always said about Mark, that he’s at his best at big moments, and certainly today, you can’t get a bigger moment than what we had.”
When first-and-season began, Keller had tapped Holmes on the shoulder and informed him he would catch the game-winner from Sanchez.
“No matter what he goes through, he continues to play to the last seconds of the game,” Holmes said.
Sanchez dismissed Ryan’s motivational practice ploy.
“This game and this season is a lot bigger than that,” he said.
Sure he heard the boos.
“That’s the last thing on my mind. There’s bigger things on our plate than that,” Sanchez said.
There’s running the table.
“We don’t need to fight it at the end, and grind it out, and bite our nails at the end of the game,” Sanchez said. “We won’t win every game like that, is what I’m saying.”
Indeed. But thanks to Sanchez, Ryan summed up yesterday best when he exhaled: “Whew!”