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| BAL at NE | BUF at MIA | CIN at CLE | DAL at DEN | DET at CHI | GB at MIN | NYG at KC | NYJ at NO |
| OAK at HOU | SD at PIT | SEA at IND | STL at SF | TB at WAS | TEN at JAX | ||
Week 4 Game Recap: New York Jets 10, New Orleans Saints 24
New York Jets
| QB Mark Sanchez, Pass: 14 - 27 - 138 - 0 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 4 - 24 - 0 |
For the first time in his short professional career, Mark Sanchez was woefully ineffective as the Saints defense pressured him relentlessly and picked him off 3 times (twice by Darren Sharper). Sanchez's passing line of 14 for 27 for 138 yards only begins to tell the story of his rough day. Saints' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams blitzed Sanchez relentlessly forcing him to make ill-advised throws on a regular basis. Most of Sanchez's throws (and completions) were short distances as the Saints defensive backs played tight coverage on the Jets deep routes in a successful effort to take away the possibility of a Jets big play. Sanchez's longest completion came on a 27 yard toss to Jerricho Cotchery in the middle of the 4th quarter down the middle of the field. Sanchez followed that throw with a 17 yard completion to Cotchery but all momentum was killed two plays later when he was picked off by Darren Sharper for the second time that day. Sanchez's other, earlier reception was returned by Sharper from the Saints' one yard line for a 99 yard score. Sanchez was sacked four times and also lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter as he was hit as he dropped back to pass from his own endzone.
| RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 13 - 48 - 1 |
Running back Thomas Jones carried the ball 13 times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Outside of his 15 yard touchdown run and a 6 yard scamper in he 3rd quarter, Jones did not have a carry of longer then three yards. All of Jones's carries were between the tackles as the Jets chose to give the ball to Shonn Greene and Leon Washington when running sweeps and stretch plays. Jones ran strong in the first half but had little to show for it as the Saints linebackers met him in most every gap. He strung together a handful of 4 yard runs in the second half as the defense wore down a little but still was unable to break in to the open field. Jones did not have a reception in the passing game.
| RB Leon Washington, Rush: 4 - 17 - 0, Rec: 4 - 24 - 0 (5 targets) |
Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer involved Leon Washington in a number of plays and looks throughout the game as the Jets worked to penetrate the Saints stifling defense. He received direct snaps in the Wildcat formation, rushes out of conventional formations with Sanchez under center, and a number of targets out of the backfield that resulted in 4 receptions for 24 yards. Most of Washington's receptions and carries were stopped for short 3 or 4 yard gains except for a 15 yard screen pass to left side of the field where Washington wisely followed his blockers and gained a first down. Washington also had a 17 yard kick return on the day.
| RB Shonn Greene, Rush: 4 - 23 - 0 |
Greene carried four times for 23 yards and looked much more effective (even in limited duty) then starter Thomas Jones. Greene did not factor in the passing game. Greene entered the game in the middle of the 2nd quarter on the Jets 5th offensive possession and quickly ran for 9 yards and 7 yards off-tackle. He added another 4 yard run off-tackle later in the drive which eventually led to a field goal. Greene showed good burst out of the backfield, particularly on his first two carries and hit the hole at full speed, not dancing at all behind the line of scrimmage.
| WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 5 - 71 - 0 (9 targets) |
Jerricho Cotchery had a nice game against New Orleans in spite of the Saints relentless pressure on quarterback Mark Sanchez. He finished the day with 5 receptions for 71 yards including back-to-back first downs in the fourth quarter that counted for 44 of his yards. Cotchery showed excellent concentration on the second of those receptions along the sidelines, beating Jabari Greer to haul in the Sanchez pass. Cotchery spent much of the 2nd and 3rd quarters blocking for short/screen passes to Leon Washington or clearing out the defense with a downfield route while Sanchez tried to complete shorter passes to other receivers.
| WR Brad Smith, Rush: 2 - 20 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (3 targets) |
Brad Smith was inserted in to the 3WR set and one reception (4 yards) to show for his efforts. He was also targeted in the endzone from the Jets' 20 yard line but could not make the reception. Smith also had an 18 yard rush around the end on a handoff from Leon Washington out of the Wildcat formation. Later in the drive, Smith received a direct snap himself and rushed around the right end for a 2 yard gain. The Jets quick-pace, Wildcat look was abruptly stopped when Sanchez threw an interception immediately after Smith's direct snap rush.
| WR Chansi Stuckey, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (5 targets) |
Stuckey had only one reception on Sunday for 8 yards but was targeted frequently by quarterback Mark Sanchez on shorter routes. Stuckey was also the intended target for the Mark Sanchez pass intercepted late in the 4th quarter. He was on the field for most 2 receiver sets but was frustrated by the coverage he faced and only able to get remotely open on quick, short passing attempts by Sanchez. His deep routes were ignored and his lone reception came on a pass near the sideline where he gained 8 yards before being pushed out of bounds.
| TE Dustin Keller, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (5 targets) |
Tight End Dustin Keller had three reception for 31 yards against the Saints and was the catalyst for their longest play from scrimmage on a 21 yard reception that was followed by a Personal Foul on defender Darren Sharper. Keller was also the intended receiver on the second of Sanchez's interceptions on a short pass that Sharper picked off at the New Orleans' 1 yard line and returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
New Orleans Saints
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 20 - 32 - 190 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - 5 - 0 |
For the second week in a row Drew Brees was held without a touchdown pass and managed a pedestrian 190 yards through the air. But Brees did complete 20 of 32 throws and started the game with 5 straight completions leading to a New Orleans field goal. Brees only attempted three passes of more then 10 yards, completing 2, one each to Jeremy Shockey and Devery Henderson. Brees calmly weathered the mixed-looks offered by the Jets defense, using short passes to successfully negate the pass-rush.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 19 - 86 - 1, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (4 targets) |
Pierre Thomas once again had an effective game for the Saints, powering his way between the tackles for 86 yards on 18 carries. He had a touchdown from the one yard line but a fumble (recovered by Drew Brees) in Jets territory. Thomas ran aggressively through the Jets front 7, hitting the hole hard and gaining yards after contact. He only had 2 carries in which he failed to gain positive yardage and clearly appears to be the Saints choice as "bell cow" out of the back field. Thomas had a particularly impressive run in the 3rd quarter when he carried three successive times for 18, 7, and 18 yards. Thomas also caught 4 balls for 46 yards including a 36 yard screen pass that took the Saints to the Jets 1 yard line.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 6 - 37 - 0, Rec: 3 - 7 - 0 (4 targets) |
Reggie Bush started the game for the Saints and had 6 carries for 37 yards to go with 3 receptions for 7 yards. Bush accounted for 22 yards on the Saints first scoring drive and found a little bit of open space on a rush around the end (11 yard gain) in the 2nd quarter. Otherwise, Bush's carries were limited to short gains of 3 and 4 yards. Bush also had a lost fumble but remained in the gameplan. As the Saints' first drive showed, Bush can still be an effective weapon as both a rusher and a receiver but Sunday was another example of his inconsistent use of his ample speed. On multiple carries, Bush looked like he was one good step away from daylight only to be gobbled up by the defense for a short gain.
| RB Heath Evans, Rush: 3 - 12 - 0, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
Evans almost scored his third touchdown of the season, and he continues to get a few touches a game in this high-powered offense. He got three carries in addition to his red zone look in the passing game.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 3 - 21 - 0 (5 targets) |
Henderson caught three short passes from Drew Brees as he split time as the Saints second receiver with Robert Meachem. Henderson was also targeted on a deep pass in to the endzone near the end of the first half but was unable to make the catch.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 2 - 33 - 0 (6 targets) |
Wide receiver Marques Colston finished the day with a meager 2 receptions for 33 yards but was a huge presence in the short passing game, providing downfield blocks for Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush as they caught screen passes. Colston's best play came on a 17 yard reception on a crossing pattern on 3rd and 5 that resulted in a Saints first down. Colston was targeted by Brees 3 times on downfield throws but was unable to receive the ball, once due to the defense and twice as the ball was out of reach.
| WR Robert Meachem, Rush: 1 - 13 - 0, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Meachem finished the day with one reception for 19 yards. He also took the Saints first snap of the game for a 13 yard gain on a reverse that took advantage of the Jets looking for New Orleans to run early.
| WR Lance Moore, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Moore got back on the field, but his only reception was a less than one yard catch on third and 1.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 4 - 34 - 0 (5 targets) |
Jeremy Shockey continued his resurgence against the Jets catching 4 passes for 34 yards and providing a number of devastating blocks in the run game. Quarterback Drew Brees targeted Shockey twice deep down the middle of the field, leading to one completion for 20 yards. Drew Brees appears to look to Shockey primarily as an outlet when deeper routes by the receivers are covered. Shockey's greater impact was felt as a blocker for interior rushes and on screen passes. Shockey helped spring Pierre Thomas for a 36 yard reception on a screen pass and appears to be back to full health.